THE ESSENTIAL
- A study reveals that, even without adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet, consuming more plants improves the composition of the microbiota, favoring beneficial bacteria.
- Conversely, a diet rich in red meat is associated with microbes linked to inflammatory and cardiometabolic risks.
- Plant food diversity is more important than diet type, allowing omnivores to achieve similar benefits.
What are the secrets of the relationship between plant-based diet and intestinal flora? A new study, carried out by researchers at the University of Trento (Italy), shows that people who consume more plant-based foods have a microbiota that is more favorable to their health, even without being vegetarians or vegans. . Details were published in the journal Nature Microbiology.
Meat versus dietary fiber
First lesson, omnivores who consume a lot of red meat see their intestinal microbiota dominated by microbes like All kinds of rottennesslinked to protein fermentation. However, some of these bacteria are associated with increased risks of cardiometabolic diseases and inflammatory disorders, in particular chronic inflammatory bowel diseases or an increased risk of colorectal cancer, we can read in a press release.
Conversely, vegans exhibit a microbiome rich in bacteria like those of the genera Bacteroides et Firmicutes. These microorganisms participate in fiber fermentation, producing short-chain fatty acids, known for their anti-inflammatory effects and their role in metabolic and immune regulation.
Vegetarians share common traits with vegans, but their consumption of dairy products enriches their microbiota by Streptococcus thermophilusa microbe used in the production of yogurt and having probiotic properties.
-Diversity and balance: the key to gut health
The central point of the study is that the diversity of plant foods consumed matters more than the type of diet. Thus, an omnivore who integrates a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts can improve their microbiota in the same way as a vegetarian or vegan.
This research paves the way for nutritional strategies adapted to the profile of each microbiota. In the future, health professionals may indeed recommend specific foods to stimulate beneficial bacteria. In the meantime, following current recommendations for a balanced, fiber-rich diet remains a safe approach to improving gut health.
Health
