April 15, 2025

Beyond Baby Food: How Plants Build a Strong Infant Gut

10 minutes

Story at-a-glance

Introducing a wide variety of plant-based foods after age one speeds up gut microbiome maturity, helping your child build better digestion and stronger immunity early on
Children who consume diverse plant fibers develop higher levels of beneficial bacteria like Faecalibacterium and Bacteroides, which reduce inflammation and protect the gut lining
Between 12 and 18 months is the most important window to introduce a range of solid foods, laying the groundwork for a healthy, adult-like gut by age 2
Local, fiber-rich foods like millet, banana, and rice work best in supporting gut health — expensive superfoods are not necessary for strong gut development
Restrictive or processed replacement foods damage gut bacteria balance, but breastfeeding combined with diverse, real foods builds a more resilient, long-term gut foundation

...more

By Dr. Mercola

4.6

14671,467 ratings

April 15, 2025

10 minutes

Story at-a-glance

Introducing a wide variety of plant-based foods after age one speeds up gut microbiome maturity, helping your child build better digestion and stronger immunity early on
Children who consume diverse plant fibers develop higher levels of beneficial bacteria like Faecalibacterium and Bacteroides, which reduce inflammation and protect the gut lining
Between 12 and 18 months is the most important window to introduce a range of solid foods, laying the groundwork for a healthy, adult-like gut by age 2
Local, fiber-rich foods like millet, banana, and rice work best in supporting gut health — expensive superfoods are not necessary for strong gut development
Restrictive or processed replacement foods damage gut bacteria balance, but breastfeeding combined with diverse, real foods builds a more resilient, long-term gut foundation

...more