While "The 7" team is off for the holiday, you can still read the newsletter version of the seven most important and interesting stories you need to know here. And we are bringing you another useful listen today. The Washington Post's Cristina and Dr. Trisha Pasricha break down what the microbiome is, where it lives, and how it influences everything from digestion to disease. It's the first episode of The Post's latest season of "Try This." Pasricha explains how the gut microbiome acts as a key player in our overall health and why fiber may be one of the most underrated tools in supporting it. She also offers insight into what science currently understands about gut function and what’s still being uncovered.

Read more of Pasricha’s work, including 8 tips to improve gut health and why probiotics can be a waste of money. For more advice, follow her on Instagram.

Now “Try This” has a newsletter! Think of it as a supplemental guide and sign up here.

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