When Catholics talk about caring for the body, we often focus on avoiding sin through excess — gluttony, sloth, indulgence. But what if caring for our bodies also meant feeding the smallest, unseen parts of God’s creation living within us; the trillions of microbes in our gut?
According to The Washington Post, these microbes, known collectively as the gut microbiome, play a vital role in our health. “If you take good care of your gut microbes, they’ll take good care of you,” said Karen Corbin, a registered dietitian and associate investigator at the AdventHealth Translational Research Institute of Metabolism and Diabetes in Orlando, according to Washington Post. In other words, how we feed our bodies affects not only our physical well-being but also how we honor the body God gave us.
Stewardship of the Body
Catholic teaching calls us to care for the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). This care goes beyond avoiding harmful behaviors — it extends to the daily act of eating. When we nourish our bodies with wholesome, natural foods, we participate in an act of stewardship that glorifies God.
Science affirms this wisdom. Corbin explained that when we eat foods rich in fiber — such as beans, lentils, apples, and whole grains — we feed the “good” microbes that protect us from inflammation and disease. These microbes convert the fiber into “short-chain fatty acids,” which lower inflammation and help regulate blood sugar and appetite (Washington Post).
In contrast, diets heavy in processed foods “starve” these microbes. Without the fiber they need, they begin to consume the protective mucus lining of the gut, leading to illness and inflammation. Corbin put it plainly: “When you don’t feed your gut microbes properly, they get hangry — they literally do” (Washington Post).
The Virtue of Temperance in Eating
This call to balance echoes one of the cardinal virtues: temperance. Eating thoughtfully, with moderation and gratitude, allows us to practice self-control while caring for the intricate creation God designed. Temperance doesn’t mean we never enjoy sweets or processed foods — as Corbin said, “one terrible day of eating is not going to mess up your whole life” — but it means recognizing that our daily choices matter.
When we “upgrade” our meals, as Corbin suggests, we live this virtue in a tangible way. She encourages replacing low-fiber, highly processed options with simple, nourishing alternatives: whole-grain bread instead of white, oats instead of sugary cereals, fresh vegetables mixed into sauces, and fruit instead of dessert snacks (Washington Post). These small choices cultivate discipline, gratitude, and awareness — the foundations of Catholic living.
Nourishing the Whole Person
The gut and the soul may seem worlds apart, but they are deeply connected. A healthy body can sustain longer prayer, clearer thought, and greater joy in serving others. When we eat foods that bring life to our bodies, we align ourselves with the Creator’s design.
As Corbin advised, it’s worth asking ourselves each day: “Have I fed my gut microbiome today?” For Catholics, we might take that question one step further: Have I cared for the temple of the Holy Spirit today — body, mind, and soul?
When we do, we embrace a spirituality of wholeness — one that sees even the smallest organisms within us as part of God’s great symphony of life.
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