Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Did you hear about Madonna’s diet? It’s full of fermented foods rich in probiotic bacteria to which her personal chef attributes Madonna’s excellent health. “The diet that Madonna is following is very sensible,” stated David Topping, chief food-nutrition researcher at Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization in Adelaide, Australia, “The bacteria that live inside you are fulfilling very important functions.”

Mayumi Nishimura prepares foods such as tempeh, miso, and fermented grains for Madonna, and states, “We eat food processed as little as possible.” The results are obvious—Madonna’s next world tour with 75 stops is slated to begin this month. At 53, she shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.

Remember that over a century ago Elie Metchnikoff hypothesized that certain intestinal bacteria “produce compounds useful against a premature ageing.” He was the first to introduce the idea that ingesting lactic acid bacteria—later identified as Lactobacillus—could reduce gut putrefaction and aging. Although the science behind specific anti-aging effects of probiotic bacteria is perhaps in its infancy (despite the hundred-year gap), probiotics are increasingly being studied for their beneficial effects for a wide range of health conditions.

After all, optimal digestion is the foundation upon which total-body health is built. Madonna’s on the right path if she’s cultivating a healthy gut flora.