Gut feelings

Pop star Rachel Stevens speaks to HELLO! about staying happy and healthy - and helping her daughters do the same 

Rachel Stevens is passionate about looking after yourself from the inside out – which is why the S Club singer has teamed up with Activia to promote the importance of gut health through its A-Z campaign. “Our health comes from the gut and affects our overall wellbeing,” says Rachel, who is mum to daughters Amelie, 12, and Minnie, nine. “Dancing, managing my stress levels and eating a balanced diet are my go-to's to support mine.”

Rachel, 45, took time away from rehearsals before the start of S Club’s The Good Times tour – marking 25 years since the band formed – to discuss the conversations about wellbeing she has with her daughters and how she tries to maintain balance in her life.

Rachel, have you always looked after your wellbeing?

“I didn’t think about it so much in my teenage years, but we’re so educated now about what we should eat, and as we get older, we learn more about our bodies and what we need.

“Being a part of this campaign with Activia is great, because it’s all about the inside out, which I’ve always been passionate about, from mental to physical wellbeing. Looking after your gut health, which fuels your whole body, helps with your sleep, digestion and energy levels. It’s something I’ve wanted to learn more about, to be at my optimum health.”

An Activia survey says that 47% of Brits don’t know how to start looking after their gut health. What advice would you give?

“It’s clean eating, as much as possible – we need to cut out as much processed food as we can – but it’s all about balance. We’ve still got to live, so small changes make a big difference: a high-protein diet, fibre and lots of vegetables and fruit, as well as keeping hydrated.”