Inside Out

•Take the “huh?” out of gut health. Five smart foods make it simple.

When you have a balanced microbiome—the colony of more than 100 trillion bacteria, yeasts and viruses that reside in your digestive tract—digestion improves, the immune system strengthens, and stress and anxiety are more easily regulated. While factors like age, environment and genetics can influence your microbiome, what you eat also plays a role. A balanced diet rich in probiotics can help, and these gut-friendly foods are a smart place to start.