1. Diet

2. Antibiotics, 3. Distance from nature, 4. Herbicides and pesticides, 5. Stress and poor sleep

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

3. Distance from nature

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.