It has been revealed that 20 per cent of Irish people would only discuss a gut related problem after it had become too painful to bear. The findings are part of research commissioned by probiotic experts Yakult, to mark Gut Week 2009. The research also revealed some surprising statistics in relation to the embarrassment felt by people when discussing digestive health problems. It showed that nearly 20 per cent of Irish people would turn to the internet for information and advice before they would discuss a bowel problem with their doctor, partner, or friend.
To help you on your way to a healthier digestive system, nutritionist Sarah Keogh has shared her top five gut health tips. The tips are relatively easy to incorporate into your everyday routine, and are designed to improve your overall wellbeing as well as your gut health.
Aim for five portions of fruit and vegetables per day. These can be fresh, frozen, canned, or dried. Although fruit juice is a good source of vitamins, it doesn’t have any fibre so you can only count it as one serving of fruit, no matter how much you drink. Aim for a ‘rainbow of colours’ — select a wide range of fruit and vegetables in order to benefit from the different vitamins and minerals they contain.
Look for foods with the word 'whole' in them, for example wholegrain, wholemeal, and wholewheat. Wholegrain foods, such as porridge and wholegrain cereals, have a natural combination of fibre and nutrients, which are vital for maintaining good digestive health.
Aim to drink six to eight glasses of fluid a day. This doesn't have to be just water, for example squash and fruit juice in moderate amounts can add to your daily water intake to keep your body well hydrated.
Try a daily probiotic such as Yakult. Probiotic products contain live bacteria that reach the intestines alive to ‘top up’ good bacteria in the gut, which are vital for good digestive — and therefore overall — health.
Exercise as often as you can. Experts recommend short sessions of exercise several times a week. This can be anything — going to the gym, walking the dog, swimming, or even cleaning the house all count as valuable forms of exercise.
If you have any doubts, worries or questions about gut health, visit www.loveyourgut.com where you will find practical advice and information on how to maintain gut health and ensure a regular bowel habit.
