Dietitians emphasize that gut health plays a significant role in immune function, with the gut housing about 70 percent of the immune system and hosting a microbial ecosystem influenced by daily food choices. What we eat can either nourish beneficial gut microbes or harmful ones.
Registered dietitian Julia Zumpano from the Cleveland Clinic states, 'It is crucial to understand what happens to the gut because the gut houses 70 percent of our immune system and an ecosystem of microbes that may affect our overall health.' She adds that daily food choices influence this system.
Mckenzie Dryden, a registered dietitian with HonorHealth, explains that the primary soluble fiber in apples, pectin, acts as a prebiotic that feeds good bacteria in the gut, supporting a healthy microbiome essential for digestion, immune health, and mood. She also notes that apple skin contains insoluble fiber, which aids digestion and prevents constipation.
Dryden adds that eating an apple daily or several times a week can improve gut health within days or weeks, with consistent long-term benefits. Amanda Sauceda, another registered dietitian, says apples provide ongoing fuel for gut microbes and help maintain regularity, and that making apples a daily habit can lead to broader healthy eating changes over time.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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