Hello, I'm Monica Reinagle, and you're listening to the Nutrition Diva podcast Welcome.

Today, we're going to be talking about a surprising connection between fiber and bone

health.

One of the best ways to boost the health of your gut microbiome that's the bacteria living

in your intestines is to eat foods that contain fiber, especially soluble fiber.

Although humans lack the enzymes to digest these large carbohydrate molecules, the bacteria

that live in our guts rely on them as their primary food source.

Diet that are high in fiber support a healthy and a diverse gut microbiome.

And as we are learning, a healthy microbiome is essential to a healthy body.

There's already an impressive list of benefits associated with a higher fiber diet, including

appetite control, weight management, digestive health, and improved immune function.

Prebiotic foods can also help improve the absorption of minerals and other nutrients,

which may play an important role in building strong bones early in life and then preventing

or slowing bone loss later in life.

Now, first, I want to just quickly clarify the terms that I'm using because it's easy

to mistake prebiotic as just another word for fiber.

But the two terms are not exactly synonymous.

All prebiotics are types of fiber, but not all fibers are prebiotic.

That term prebiotic is reserved for fiber sources that have been shown to selectively

promote the growth of specific bacteria linked to health benefits.

Inulin, which is found in chickory root, sun chokes, onion, garlic, and leeks, is one

of the more common prebiotic fibers.

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