© Shutterstock iStock

1. Diet -

We all know that processed foods aren't good for the gut. Crops like wheat, soy, and corn are the most profitable for farmers, so they have become the most readily available products for consumers.

© Getty Images

1. Diet - Unfortunately, they don't contain the fiber that we need to promote biodiversity in the gut.

© iStock

1. Diet - For human beings, it's essential to have a good variety of wholegrains, fruits, and vegetables to feed the 'good' bacteria in the gut, which have healing and anti-inflammatory properties.

© Shutterstock

1. Diet -

Each generation has less and less fiber in their diet, but the physical effects are passed down along with the poor diet.

© Shutterstock

1. Diet -

A study performed on rats showed that a low fiber diet reduced the microbial diversity in the following generations. With each generation, it became harder to reverse the effects.

© Shutterstock

1. Diet -

A Harvard study on the Hadza tribe from Tanzania showed they had approximately 40% greater microbial biodiversity than the average American.

© Shutterstock

1. Diet - The Hadza people are one of the few remaining hunter-gatherer communities in the world. The study concluded that they have the standard microbial balance natural for a human being, which means the average American has lost 40% of their good bacteria due to generations of poor diet.

© Shutterstock

1. Diet -

It's still possible to revert the effects of poor gut health, at least partially. Switching to a high fiber diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables and minimizing intake of processed food is a good place to start.

© Shutterstock

2. Antibiotics - Antibiotics are an incredible lifesaving benefit of modern medicine. However, the CDC predicts that 30% of all antibiotics prescribed in the US are completely unnecessary.

© iStock

2. Antibiotics -

Antibiotics don't just kill the bacteria causing an infection, they can also kill the good bacteria we need for a healthy body. It can take the body anything from four weeks to six months to recover.

© iStock

2. Antibiotics - In addition to this, the unnecessary over-prescription is contributing to the creation of dangerous, antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

© iStock

2. Antibiotics -

A rather scary statistic is that 80% of antibiotics in the US are actually being administered to livestock and not humans.

© Shutterstock

2. Antibiotics -

Although more research is required, it's possible that the antibiotics given to farm animals can end up in our bodies when we eat animal products and cause problems in the gut.

© Getty Images

2. Antibiotics - This doesn't mean we should refuse to take antibiotics prescribed by a doctor, but it's better not to visit the doctor over a seasonal cold. Limiting consumption of animal products may also help.

© iStock

3. Distance from nature - Experts believe that our increasing separation from nature is also contributing to poor gut health.

© Shutterstock

3. Distance from nature -

This is another benefit of the lifestyle of the Hadza tribe. They are in constant contact with nature in their daily lives.

© Getty Images

3. Distance from nature - Researchers believe that the gut is an extension of the environment you live in. In cities, our microbiome grows smaller as we're exposed to less natural bacteria. By  comparison, the Hadza people had an incredibly diverse range of bacteria.

© iStock

3. Distance from nature -

On one occasion, missionaries delivered boxes of antibiotics to the Hadza tribe. They didn't understand what to do with them, so they ate them like candy in one night.

© Shutterstock

3. Distance from nature -

Researchers tested them afterwards and found that their bacterial balance was unchanged. They concluded that proximity to nature significantly lessens the damage external factors can cause to the body.

© iStock

4. Herbicides and pesticides -

Levels of weed killers such as glyphosate have been steadily increasing in our food and in our bodies.

© Shutterstock

4. Herbicides and pesticides -

Glyphosate kills weeds by blocking essential nutrients, but it also does the same thing in the gut. It can prevent the growth of healthy bacteria that our bodies need.

© Getty Images 

4. Herbicides and pesticides -

Researchers from MIT believe that a high intake of glyphosate is directly linked to celiac disease, an immune condition where the small intestine is damaged and cannot tolerate gluten.

© Getty Images 

4. Herbicides and pesticides -

The use of these chemicals are widely protested, as they also strip fresh produce of their nutrients.

© Getty Images 

5. Stress and poor sleep - It's becoming clearer and clearer that the gut and the brain are closely linked. Chronic stress and poor sleep directly impact your digestive health.

© Shutterstock

5. Stress and poor sleep -

It's been proven that poor gut health can influence your mental health, and vice versa. Some gastroenterologists say that their most challenging patients are those who have experienced trauma or eating disorders.

© Shutterstock

5. Stress and poor sleep -

Sleep impacts your gut by upsetting your circadian rhythm. If your sleep schedule is off, it directly alters your gut's microbiome.

© iStock

5. Stress and poor sleep -

Frequent jet lag and long haul flights have been shown to mess with the body's microbiome, sometimes resulting in weight gain.

© iStock

5. Stress and poor sleep -

Staying awake late watching Netflix or being glued to your cell phone doesn't have quite as severe an effect, but it can definitely still mess with your gut.

© Shutterstock 

Conclusions - Meditation and exercise can help to relieve stress and get your sleep cycle back in order, which will help your gut get back on track too.

© Shutterstock

Conclusions -

Increasing the amount of fiber and plant-based foods in your diet will help to restore the natural balance in your gut, particularly if you choose organic options.

© iStock

Probiotics -

Probiotic foods and supplements might be the best way to restore the balance of your microbiome. These direct hits of 'good bacteria' have been shown to improve gut health and reduce digestive issues. Check out this list of the best probiotic foods to add to your diet.

© iStock