By Dr. Priyom Bose, Ph.D. Reviewed by Lauren Hardaker May 24 2026 A new systematic review suggests yoga and Buddhist meditation may support beneficial gut bacteria and metabolites, but plant-based diets and limited clinical evidence make the true microbiome effect harder to untangle. Effect of Yoga and Meditation on Human Gut Microbiota: A Systematic Review . Image Credit: PeopleImages / Shutterstock A recent study published in the  I nternational Journal of Yoga presented a systematic review