container, along with ingredients like Lactobacillus bulgaricus or
Streptococcus thermophilus.
NOW IT’S TIME FOR SOME CRITICAL CAVEATS:
First, the research on the microbiome is still in its early
days. Although it’s incredibly promising, there’s much we
don’t yet know, such as how eating a certain diet affects the
immune system, in terms of general human biology, and
about unique differences between people based on various
health conditions like allergies—the personalized dimen-
sion of the diet-microbiome connection.
Some fiber is better than others. Dozens of additives are
used in mostly junk food products so the manufacturers
can list high fiber attributes on the package. These “isolated
fibers” are distinguished from fiber occurring naturally in
foods. You’re better off with the fiber found in real, whole
foods (the beneficial package of an apple, say).
Dietary supplements, whether they’re prebiotics, pro-
biotics, or some other nutrient, aren’t well regulated. In
general, you should treat them with more wariness than
whole foods. Plus, one pill doesn’t seem to have nearly the
same effect for fostering a diverse microbial community,
which is as important as its total population. Check with
your doctor before taking a supplement of any kind.
LOOK IT UP: If all this really revs your engine, check out
uBiome.com and have your stool analyzed. The test
results will provide your gut’s unique microbial portrait.Stuff that Comes from the Ground 55