Why Gut Health Matters
Gut health is about much more than just digestion—it's at the core of your overall well-being. A healthy gut can affect your mood, immune system, and even mental clarity!
Recent studies show that 80-90% of people in Ireland and the UK don’t get enough fibre in their daily diet. Blame it on processed foods and fast-paced lifestyles, but we’re only getting about half the fibre we need.
!But what exactly makes gut health so important? Let’s dive in.
Meet Your Gut Microbiome: The Crew Inside You
Think of your gut microbiome as a bustling little community inside your intestines, made up of trillions of bacteria. Everyone has their own unique mix of these microorganisms, but one thing is the same for everyone: these little helpers need to be fed well to keep you healthy.
That’s where prebiotics come in. Prebiotics are the fibre that feeds the good bacteria in your gut, helping them thrive and do their job—keeping you healthy from the inside out. Here’s the good news: each can of crew contains 5 grams of prebiotic fibre, giving your microbiome added fuel to keep running smoothly.
The Benefits of a Happy Gut
Your gut microbiome is home to hundreds of different strains of good bacteria.
When you feed these bacteria the right stuff, they repay you with some amazing health benefits. A nourished microbiome promotes better digestion, a stronger immune system, and can even improve your mood and mental wellbeing.
Here’s the cool part—what you eat has a direct effect on how these good bacteria work. Prebiotics and fibre-rich foods are the fuel your microbiome thrives on. Eating a variety of fibre sources is key to making these bacteria happy, and when they’re happy, you’re healthy! Examples of foods that are prebiotics are garlic, onions, bananas, apples, berries, oats, rye, wheat, walnuts, flaxseed and chia seeds.
How to Feed Your Gut Right
So, what’s the best way to keep your gut in tip-top shape?
A diverse diet packed with fibre-rich, plant-based foods like fruits, veggies, and whole grains is your gut’s best friend. Experts recommend 25-30 grams of fibre each day for optimal gut health.
When increasing your fibre intake, you should up this slowly to avoid any gut discomfort. Think upping by a couple grams each day to build this up gradually, adding more variety in rather than cutting things out. Small swaps can make a difference - like mixed nuts instead of just one type, mixed peppers instead of one colour.
Sounds easy, right? Not necessarily, in today’s busy world, it can be tough to pack in enough fibre from whole foods alone, especially if you are on the go and not cooking from scratch on, so it is something to be mindful of and work towards, the more diverse range of plant sources the better.