The gut microbiome helps us assimilate vitamins, and other nutrients from food. It also helps us avoid inflammation and many of the associated diseases such as insulin resistance which can lead to diabetes. Good foods also help in addition to fiber keep the gut healthy too. It is understood that heavy drinking can cause dysbiosis as it causes an imbalance of “good” and “bad” bacteria in their guts. This eventually can cause a leaky gut where the lining that usually acts as a filter to prevent things from getting into the bloodstream becomes more permeable causing problems with autoimmune reactions to food and food sensitivities. Do you want to know more? Check out the article from the NY Times below. How Does Alcohol Affect the Gut Microbiome? Scientists are just beginning to explore the relationship between drinking and the good and bad bacteria in your gut. By Alice Callahan Published Jan. 30, 2024 A frothy beer or a glass of wine can enhance a meal and settle the mind. But what does alcohol do to the trillions of microbes living in your gut? As with much of microbiome science, “there is a lot that we don’t know,” said Dr. Lorenzo Leggio, a physician-scientist who studies alcohol use and addiction at the National Institutes of Health. That said, it’s clear that happy microbes are essential for proper digestion, immune function and intestinal health. And as scientists begin to explore how drinking may influence your gut, they’re learning that overdoing it could have some unhappy consequences. Read more