Gut Health

Gut Health

The term ‘gut microbiome’ refers to the unique population of predominantly bacteria that inhabit in our gastrointestinal tract (where our food is digested and absorbed). This population includes more than 1000 different species and literally trillions of micro-organisms! Research shows links between the gut microbiome and many aspects of our health including the immune system, cardio-metabolic health, and digestive symptoms and conditions (such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and digestive cancers) (Valdes et al., 2018). There are many different species of gut bacteria found at each stage of the digestive tract - all the way from the mouth to the large bowel. Now let’s look at three ways we can eat to give our gut bugs the love they deserve.

1. Get Friendly with Fibre

Irish dietary guidelines state we should consume between 24-35g of fibre per day - but up to 80% of Irish adults are not consuming enough dietary fibre (INDI, 2016). Fibre keeps our bowel habits regular, reducing constipation, and helping keep us fuller for longer. Studies show an optimal fibre intake has been associated with lower risks of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and cancers including colorectal and breast (Reynolds et al., 2019). Simple ways to boost your fibre intake include consuming 5-7 portions of fruits and vegetables per day, increasing your intake of wholegrains, and adding plant protein foods sources high in fibre into your diet, such as beans, chickpeas and lentils. Boosting our fibre intake is the simplest way to start improving our gut health. Why not start this week and try making a homemade hummus for a plant-based snack with raw vegetable sticks, or try this Sweet and Smokey Bean Chili for dinner!

2. Prebiotics and Probiotics

Probiotics are live beneficial bacteria and yeast, while prebiotics are non-digestible food substances that are used BY your gut bacteria (BDA, 2018). Think of probiotics are being good gut bugs, while prebiotics are like fertiliser or food for these good guys. Both exist in food and supplement form. Examples of probiotic food sources include ‘fermented foods’ such as yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut, miso, kombucha, and tempeh. Prebiotic food sources include bananas, leeks, onions, chicory, asparagus and artichoke. Oats contain the prebiotic fibre beta-glucan – more reasons to try Overnight Oats for breakfast! Importantly, not ALL fibres are prebiotics, because prebiotics are the fibres digested by our GOOD gut bacteria, while other non-prebiotic fibres can be digested by the potentially harmful bacteria that live in our gut. It is thought that regular consumption of prebiotics provides our good gut bugs with a steady source of food to chow down on, allowing them to survive and increase in population numbers (i.e. in greater numbers than the bad bugs). Why not try getting some natural prebiotic sources into your diet by making these Banana Oat Cookies, or adding probiotic kefir or yoghurt to your morning oats!

 3. Dont forget the Healthy Lifestyle Basics!

Maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle can really help our gut bugs thrive too. Some examples of how we can do this include:

1. Making mealtimes mindful, ensuring we chew our food well and eat slowly
2. Staying hydrated – aiming for a minimum of 2 litres of water per day
3. Moderating caffeine and alcohol intake, both of which can be irritating to the digestive tract
4. Ensuring we get regular physical activity, which helps keep your bowel habits regular too
5. Prioritising getting a minimum of 7 (ideally 8) hours of sleep per night
6. Optimising stress management. Research shows the gut and the brain talk to each other via the nervous system – anyone who has experience butterflies when nervous will understand this! You’ll find some simple stress management tips in a recent article here

 By Ciara Kelly (UCD Masters of Public Health)