Five easy food to swap to if you wan improve your gut health - Expert
Wia dis foto come from, BBC and Getty
- Author, Dr Xand
- Role, Morning Live doctor
- Read am in 3 mins
Scroll through social media or check supermarket and you go see plenti products wey claim to improve your gut health.
E be like say everybody dey tok about looking after dia microbiome - wey be di trillions of tiny organisms wey dey live inside our digestive system – wey dey influence everything from digestion and immunity to mood and sleep.
Gut health na all about having di right mix of bacteria and enough fibre-rich food to keep everytin moving and to make your body feel im best.
Di key to keeping di microbes happy na to feed dem di right food and e dey easier dan you tink to maintain a healthy gut.
Instead of going for dat expensive probiotic shot or snack, expert - Dr Xand - recommend making dis five easy food swap to give your gut a boost.
- Swap crisps for popcorn. Popcorn na wholegrain so e dey packed wit fibre wey dey feed di good bacteria for your gut and e also dey lighter and far less processed dan a bag of crisps.
- Swap sweet for dried fruit. Dis fit be hard swap to make if you love sweet but dry apricots, raisins or dates fit still hit dat sweet spot while e go also deliver fibre, vitamins and natural sugars wey your gut and your energy levels go thank you for.
- Add lentils or chickpeas to your bolognese. Pulses - legumes - dey full of prebiotic fibre wey dey act as food for your gut microbes and dem fit help to bulk out your meal, making am go further while adding texture and extra plant-based protein so na a great way to eat less meat without feeling like say you dey miss out
- Swap flavoured nuts for plain ones. Flavoured nuts dey often dey loaded wit salt and sugar while plain nuts dey give you healthy fats and fibre without di additives your gut fit do without.
- Swap ice cream for frozen berries and kefir. Ice cream fit make your taste buds happy, but frozen berries wit kefir (wey be fermented milk drink) go give you natural sweetness, antioxidants and live cultures wey fit ginger your microbiome.
Of course many oda foods dey wey you fit consume to improve your gut health like drinking kombucha or eating fermented food such as kimchi or sauerkraut, but e no dey necessary to focus on dat too much.
Di most important tin for your gut and overall health na eating a range of whole foods wey dey rich in fibre like fruits and vegetables.
And wen e come to supplements and probiotics, Dr Xand advice na di same - no evidence dey say e go do you any good and products like probiotic drinks and powders wey dey promise miraculous results fit cost you hundreds of pounds wey di expert say e see as a waste of money.
Additional reporting by Yasmin Rufo
