A study published in Nature Microbiology involving over 21,500 individuals revealed that diets rich in plant-based foods may enhance gut microbial communities beneficial to health. By analyzing the diets and gut microbiomes of vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores, researchers found that omnivores had more gut microbes linked to meat digestion, associated with poorer cardiovascular and metabolic health. In contrast, vegans had higher levels of microbes from fruit and vegetable consumption, promoting cardiometabolic health. Vegetarians exhibited an intermediate microbial profile. Importantly, across all dietary patterns, higher consumption of plant-based foods increased health-favoring gut microbes.