Your gut health affects more than just digestion—it can impact your mood, immune system, and even lower your risk for diseases like diabetes.
The key to a healthy gut is having more “good” bacteria than “bad” bacteria.
Good bacteria help break down food, fight off illness, and support mental well-being.
In fact, researchers even call the gut your “second brain” because it sends signals to your real brain!
Stress, mood, and depression can have a negative impact on gut bacteria. Other things like lack of sleep, pollution, and antibiotics can also harm your gut health.
And gut bacteria can influence your appetite and food choices, too.
That means what you eat can affect how you feel—and how you feel can affect what you eat!
Also known as “gut microbiota” or “gut flora”, are the bacteria, fungi, and viruses in your gut. Some are good, some are bad.
Live, good bacteria found in some foods and supplements. The more variety of probiotics in your diet, the better!
Certain types of fiber-rich foods that feed good bacteria. If you’re new to eating these foods, start slow, as they can cause gas!
Probiotics introduce good bacteria, while prebiotics feed those bacteria so they can thrive.
Breastfeeding helps babies build a strong gut microbiome. The probiotics in breastmilk may protect against diarrhea, infections, and inflammation.
Drinks like Olipop and Poppi have less sugar than regular sodas and contain added prebiotic fiber (about 9 grams per can). They’re low in calories and could be a fun occasional treat that also supports gut health!
Taking care of your gut means more than just good digestion—it can boost your mood, support your immune system, and even improve overall health.
By eating more probiotic and prebiotic foods while limiting processed and high-sugar options, you can help the good bacteria in your gut thrive.
Small changes to your diet can make a big difference, so start today and give your gut the support it needs!
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Hua, Y., Fan, R., Zhao, L., et al. (2020). Trans-fatty acids alter the gut microbiota in high-fat-diet-induced obese rats. British Journal of Nutrition, 124(12), 1251–1263.
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Author: Bridget Swinney MS, RDN, LD
Continue to nurse on-demand, about 4-6 times in 24 hours.
Babies may experience a growth spurt around 6 months of age and may feed more often.
Offer breast milk in a cup.
24-32 oz. per day of infant formula.
Offer formula in a cup.
Breast milk is the most important source of nutrition for your baby, even after you start offering solid foods.
Continue to nurse on-demand, 3 or more times per day.
16-24 oz. per day. Offer in a cup.
Feed solids with a spoon. Never put cereal in a bottle.
Continue nursing on-demand, at least 4 times in 24 hours.
If your baby seems less interested in nursing after you introduce solids, try nursing before you offer solids.
Offer breast milk in a cup.
24-32 oz. per day.
Offer formula in a cup.
4-8 Tbsp. per day.
Plain iron-fortified infant cereals.
Plain rice or pasta.
Baby crackers, small pieces of bread, or soft tortillas.
8-12 Tbsp. per day.
Plain cooked vegetables, mashed with a fork.
8-12 Tbsp. per day.
Peeled soft fruit in bite-size pieces.
Unsweetened canned fruit.
4-8 Tbsp. per day.
Finely ground, chopped, or diced meats, poultry, eggs, fish, or cooked mashed beans.
Cottage cheese or mild cheese.
Thinned, smooth peanut or nut butter.
Around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months of age, babies may experience a growth spurt when they feed more often.
As they grow babies can hold more milk, so feedings may become further apart and take less time.
To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.
Start offering whole milk when your baby is one year old.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months and beyond.
Wait to offer solid foods until your baby:
To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.
Try one new food at a time. Wait 5 days before trying another new food to watch for allergies. Food allergies may include wheezing, rash, or diarrhea.
Introduce peanut butter around 6 months. Spread a small, thin smear of peanut butter or nut butter thinly on a cracker. Watch your baby for any reaction for the next 2 hours.
Babies under one year should NOT have honey due to the risk of botulism. Also, babies should not have foods that can cause choking like nuts or whole grapes.
All babies are different. Talk with WIC or your baby’s healthcare provider about your baby’s needs.
Before teeth come in, wipe gums with a soft, clean wash cloth after each feeding, especially before bed.
Nurse your baby on-demand, at least 7-9 times in 24 hours.
When your baby starts teething, they may want to nurse more often.
25-45 oz in 24 hours.
Your baby needs about 4-6 oz of iron-fortified formula every 3-4 hours.
Your baby may start to feed on a schedule. Instead of focusing on fixed amounts, let your baby tell you when they have had enough.
Newborns have tiny tummies and need to be fed often. In the first few weeks, you may need to wake your baby to feed if they sleep longer than 4 hours.
Many babies are fussy during a growth spurt and will want to nurse longer and more often. This is called cluster feeding. This is your baby’s way of helping you increase your milk supply so that you can keep up with their needs. Remember, the more your baby nurses, the more milk your body makes.
Growth spurts can happen at any time, and every baby is different.
They often happen at these ages:
2 to 3 Weeks
6 Weeks
3 Months
6 Months
Breastfeed 8-12 times in 24 hours to help your newborn stay healthy.
Nurse on-demand and when your newborn shows signs of hunger, such as sucking on hands or smacking lips.
In the first few days, newborns need 2-3 oz. of iron-fortified infant formula every 3-4 hours.
By the end of the first month, your newborn needs about 4 oz. every 4 hours.
Feed on-demand and when your newborn shows signs of hunger.