TRUST YOUR GUT

Nutritionist Dr Megan Rossi tells us why focusing on five a day' might not be the best thing for your stomach

Dietitian and nutritionist Dr Megan Rossi – aka the Gut Health Doctor – has teamed up with high street store Holland & Barrett to help you Find Your Gut Thing. The aim is to help shoppers understand the small and simple changes that can help their gut health and give long-term benefits.

According to H&B’s research, 34% of us don’t know how to look after our gut health proactively, so it is introducing “plant points” on its packaging to help shoppers track their plant intake.

“Small steps and simple switches can make a big difference,” says Megan (inset below right).

Here, the Eat More, Live Well author shares advice on how to eat more mindfully, up your plant consumption and adapt your diet to help with a range of conditions – including menopause symptoms.

Megan, what’s the best way to start looking after your gut health?

“Diet is a really helpful place to start. What we put into our bodies doesn’t just feed our skin and hair cells; it also feeds this community of trillions of bacteria. This Holland & Barrett campaign is so exciting because we’re not just thinking about the digestive system. One of the fundamental principles of good gut health and diet is plants, essentially. Most of the nutrients in plants feed our good gut bacteria like a fertiliser.”

Tell us about “plant points”…

“‘Five a day’ is a good concept, but it’s very much focused on fruit and veg and it’s outdated in terms of scientific literature, because we now understand that it’s not just fruit and veg that’s important.