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Studies, including one at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands in 2016, found that people who drink coffee have a more diverse microbiome, with more good bacteria.
Coffee contains polyphenols, plant chemicals that increase the number of health-boosting bacteria in the gut such as bacteroidetes, lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. They also stop the growth of harmful bacteria such as clostridium. Green and black tea have a similar amount of polyphenols. They are both made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant so they start out with the same type of polyphenols, known as flavonoids.
But green tea is made by steaming and drying leaves, while black tea is made by letting leaves ferment. During fermentation the flavonoids change, resulting in different properties to those of green tea.
If you suffer from anaemia, avoid drinking tea with a meal as tannin – a polyphenol – can hamper the absorption of non-haem iron found in plant-based foods such as dark green veg and dried fruit. While it’s great news for chocoholics that dark chocolate is rich in polyphenols and is a better alternative to milk chocolate, it still contains quite high levels of sugar and fat.
Drinking unsweetened cocoa is the healthiest way to get your chocolate fix as you get the benefit of the polyphenols without the sugar and fat. The odd tipple could also boost your gut health. Dutch researchers have found that drinking a glass of wine can help people maintain their levels of good bacteria. Resveratrol is the main polyphenol found in wine. It also contains soluble sugars called polysaccharides which are also prebiotic.
Red wines are more beneficial than whites. Research shows red boosts bacteroidetes levels, linked to a healthy weight, as well as bifidobacterium and lactobacillus.
The American Gut Project set up at the University of California in 2012 found that people who drank at least one alcoholic drink per week had more diverse microflora than teetotallers.
Extracted from The Happy Gut Guide by Wendy Green, published by Summersdale Publishing (£8.99). To order please call The Express Bookshop on 01872 562310, send a cheque/PO payable to Express Bookshop to Express Bookshop, PO Box 200, Falmouth TR11 4WJ, or order online at expressbookshop.co.uk UK delivery is free.