You might think that your microbiome is only impacted by what you eat, but your lifestyle choices can also impact your gut independent of diet and other factors.

A study that recruited 18 lean, and 14 obese sedentary adults sampled their gut microbiomes before starting them on an exercise program, which consisted of 30-60 minutes of cardio exercise, three times a week for six weeks. They found that many of the participants had an increase in gut microbes that assist in the production of short-chain fatty acids, which reduce the risk of inflammatory diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.

After the initial six-week period, the participants returned to their sedentary lifestyle, and their microbiomes were sampled again. The researchers found that their microbiomes reverted back to how they were before the exercise period.

Although the benefits of exercise on the gut microbiome appear to be transient, a lifestyle that incorporates daily exercise is a key component to optimal long-term gut health.