TAKE CARE OF YOUR GUT

Simple lifestyle and dietary changes can improve digestion, boost immunity and enhance your overall wellbeing

- REBECCA JONES

Eating richer food, staying out later and exercising less are just some of the things we tend to do as Christmas festivities start filling our diaries, all of which can leave our guts feeling sluggish and our tummies bloated.

But there are strategies you can follow to keep your gut happy over the festive period, such as avoiding caffeinated coffee, which can cause diarrhoea because it stimulates the intestine, and not indulging in fizzy drinks, which can cause bloating and constipation.

Celebrity trainer Steve Chambers from Ultimate Performance says, “The gut is often known as the ‘second brain’ in the body and is a complex part of the body. When our intestines become inflamed — which is a risk if you go off the rails with your nutrition — it can lead to increased intestinal permeability, which causes the gaps in the gut wall to widen. This means that it is easier for bacteria, toxins and undigested foods to get through into our bloodstream and cause all sorts of problems.”

So keeping on top of our gut health is crucial if we want to avoid feeling unwell over the festive period.

Steve advises anyone wanting an alcoholic beverage to choose a spirit with a sugar-free mixer. Meanwhile, Dr Alexis Missick, a GP at UK Meds, encourages those with sensitive stomachs to change the way they eat broccoli and cauliflower.

“These tree-shaped vegetables are not the easiest to digest, even for people without IBS. So if someone with IBS eats them, that tricky digestion can result in trapped wind and constipation. Grating these vegetables can help, but a lot find that cutting them out altogether is best. Aim for soluble fibres by serving vegetables like carrots and parsnips with your dinner.”