Did you know when you eat you are feeding a hundred trillion microbes?
According to Prof Tim Spector who has studied twins over a 25 year period where one twin weights over 6 stone heavier than her sister. Professors Spector believes a lot of their weight differences are down to the tiny organisms – microbes – that live deep in the gut.
“The greater the diversity, the skinnier the person. If you’re carrying too much weight, your microbes aren’t as diverse as they should be,” says Prof Spector, who found the same pattern in a study of 5,000 people.
Having a healthy and varied diet, rich in different sources of fibre, has been shown to create a more diverse range of gut microbes.
Prof Spector warns most Britons eat only half the fibre they should.
Good sources of dietary fibre include:
- wholegrain breakfast cereals
- fruits, including berries and pears
- vegetables, such as broccoli and carrots
- beans
- pulses
- nuts