Paleo is the way to go, Keto is best, you’re not healthy unless you’re Vegan, actually Vegetarian is the best diet out there…there’s always someone out there claiming why one diet is best. The world of health is downright confusing. No matter what diet is trending, or what the latest fad is, one thing will always hold true: your daily behaviors shape your health and wellbeing. And it all starts in the gut. 

Here’s a startling fact: there are more bacteria in your body than cells. Crazy right? Your gut alone can hold roughly two kilograms of bacteria and other microscopic organisms. Together, over 1,000 species of small organisms live in your gut creating an ecosystem known as the gut microbiome.  

These microscopic organisms fall into one of two camps: beneficial or harmful. In the beneficial camp, we find a variety of bacteria that are responsible for several body functions inside and outside of the gut. Inside the gut, they impact how you process your food, your ability to absorb the nutrients from your food, how efficiently you eliminate toxins, and the strength of your immune system.

When it comes to the health of the gut microbiome, we are looking for both richness and diversity, in other words, a large community of diverse friendly bacteria. So, how do we achieve this? It starts with what you allow in. It starts with your diet. 

Back to the beginning, Keto, Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian—which diet should you choose? After a quick Google search, you will be thoroughly confused, maybe even more so than you are now. Why is this? Well, every body and every microbiome is different. What works well for one doesn’t necessarily work well for another. 

For example, one person could be practicing a keto diet and experiencing amazing digestion while another person experiences constipation. So, what’s the solution then? 

It starts with listening to your gut. Here’s the cool thing about digestive wellbeing, you are constantly receiving feedback from your gut in how you feel after eating. When a meal agrees with your gut and body you will feel satisfied, light, and filled with energy. On the other hand, when it doesn’t agree things can get a little more confusing. You may experience a variety of symptoms including brain fog, digestive discomfort, sleepiness, skin irritation, weight gain, and more. These symptoms are so diverse that it can feel a bit overwhelming to keep track of what could be causing them. 

Here’s a pro tip for you: keep a health journal. Simply track what you eat and how you feel after you eat. After about a week’s time, you’ll begin to notice patterns and will be able to identify what foods are agreeing with you and what foods are not. 

So forget focusing on rigid rules and following a certain diet. Rather, listen to your gut and feed it high-quality, whole foods that leave you feeling satisfied, nourished, and filled with energy.