Why 30 Plants a Week Could Change Everything

Your gut doesn’t need a cleanse. It needs company.

You don’t need to punish your body into feeling better. You need to feed it variety.

Seriously. Your body already has a detox system, it’s called your gut. And it doesn’t want punishment, it wants partnership. It wants variety. Thirty different plants a week, to be exact.

Not just kale and carrots. Seeds. Spices. Mushrooms. Berries. Even that bunch of cilantro you keep forgetting in the back of your fridge (yes, I’m calling you out).

Because here’s the truth: the way you feed your gut changes the way you feel… your energy, your focus, your mood, even your ability to handle stress. And if you’re running on fumes, wired but tired, brain-fogged by 3 p.m.? That’s not “just life.” That’s your microbiome waving a white flag.

Meet Your Microbiome: Your Inner Roommates

Your microbiome is the bustling community of trillions of bacteria and microbes that live in your gut. Think of them as your inner roommates: some scrub the counters, some make a mess, and the mix of who’s living there decides whether your house feels calm or chaotic.

When that community is diverse, you feel it everywhere:

• Digestion works like it’s supposed to (aka you don’t bloat after salad).

• Energy stabilizes instead of crashing mid-afternoon.

• Your mood balances out.

• Even your hormones and immune system play nicer.
  

When it’s starved? The mess-makers take over.

The 30-Plant Rule

Here’s my golden rule: aim for 30 different plants every week.

Why? Because each plant feeds different bacteria. Every blueberry, mushroom, sprinkle of cumin, or handful of cilantro is a different dinner guest at your gut’s table. The more variety you serve, the stronger, more balanced, and more resilient your gut community becomes.

And yes, seeds and spices count. Your cumin and coriander habit? Points on the board. Flax in your smoothie? Bonus points.

If 30 Sounds Like a Lot, Start Small

If 30 feels like climbing Everest right now, here’s my personal non-negotiables list to get you started:

• Shiitake mushrooms: Immune boosters that help your body fight back.

• Kiwi: Tiny, fuzzy vitamin bombs (vitamin C, K, potassium, fiber—all in one).

• Avocado: Brain-loving healthy fats + fiber.

• Lemons: Gentle detox support + digestive kickstarter.

• Broccoli sprouts: Small but mighty, rich in sulforaphane to support detox pathways.

• Blueberries: Antioxidant superheroes for your brain and cells.

• Bell peppers: Crunchy, colorful vitamin C powerhouses.

• Cilantro: A natural detoxifier that supports your liver (and yes, it belongs in everything).

And my seed + spice squad: cumin, coriander, fennel seeds, sesame seeds, chia seeds, basil seeds, flax seeds.

The One-a-Day Rule: Fermented Friends

Alongside plants, your gut thrives when you invite in some reinforcements—aka fermented foods. Yogurt, kimchi, miso, sauerkraut, kefir, kombucha… pick one.

I’ve made daily kefir shots at 5 pm my ritual. It’s quick, it’s simple, and it feeds your gut the good guys. (Yes, I’ll keep asking you: have you had your shot yet?)

Why This Beats a Cleanse

Cleanses strip away. Fiber builds up.
Juice spikes your blood sugar. Plants stabilize it.
“Detox teas” dehydrate you. Cilantro and sprouts actually help your body detoxify.

Your gut doesn’t need restriction. It needs fuel. Fiber is the real detox hero, sweeping toxins and waste through your body the way it was designed to.

How to Start Today

• Track for a week: Write down every different plant you eat. Count herbs, spices, seeds.

• Shop with curiosity: Try one new plant each grocery trip.

• Think in color: Each hue = different phytonutrients. Eat the rainbow (Skittles don’t count).

• Anchor your habit: Add one fermented food daily at the same time. Consistency wins.

The Takeaway

You don’t need to overhaul your life. You don’t need to punish your body.

You need to feed your gut the way it was meant to be fed: with variety, with fiber, with the little daily choices that add up.

Every plant you add is a vote for your future energy, focus, and resilience.

So skip the cleanse. Toss some sprouts in your salad. Add cumin to your soup. Have a kefir shot at 5.

Your gut, and the rest of you, will thank you.