Yes, that’s right. Your body needs healthy fats. Healthy fats aren’t just good for the heart; they may also help good bacteria survive the journey through the digestive system and settle into your gut lining. Fat helps bacteria survive stomach acid and make it to the intestines, where they do their work. “Healthy fats like extra virgin olive oil and avocado help those bacteria survive the trip through your gut,” the gut doctor shares.

Feel free to drizzle extra virgin olive oil on meals, eat avocados, and snack on nuts like almonds, walnuts, pistachios, and cashews. Seeds such as flaxseeds, chia, hemp, and sunflower are also excellent choices.