That Gut Feeling!
by Niamh Lonergan | 26th May 2022
With the whirlwind of information that is out there at the moment around fad diets, calorie deficits and hitting specific macros it can sometimes lead us to forget about the main role of food- to keep our bodies healthy and our bodily functions working properly! One such example of this is the relationship between what food we are eating and our digestive health- how often do you feel bloated after a few days of eating takeaways or have stomach pain after eating a big meal on holidays?
With the summer holiday season well and truly underway, we thought it may be helpful to share some tips for looking after your gut day to day, and reduce uncomfortable digestive symptoms such as bloating, constipation or stomach pain. Looking after the little microbes in our tummy will keep your gut feeling healthy and happy during the summer holiday season- so how does one maintain that happy gut feeling?!
Fibre
One of the most important nutrients needed for a healthy gut is fibre. The recommended daily intake of fibre is 25-30g but the majority of us don’t meet this requirement.
So how does one know if a food contains fibre? Food labels will contain the nutritional value for fibre; high fibre foods contain at least 6g fibre per 100g, and 3g fibre or more per 100g means that the food is a source of fibre.
If you’re away on holidays try to snack on fruit or whole grain breadsticks/crackers during the day or ask for an extra portion of veggies with your dinner at the restaurant!
Reduce stress
Did you know that your gut and brain communicate with each other? Stress can affect the normal functioning of our digestive system causing bloating, stomach pain, diarrhoea or constipation. Life can get busy and stressful during the busy summer months so try to allow yourself time to relax, adopting breathing techniques and mindfulness if you are feeling particularly stressed.
Keep active
Getting your body moving has great benefits for your gut and digestive health. This doesn’t have to mean doing 100 press-ups a day; who wants to do that on their holidays! Walking is not only a great way to explore your new surroundings but also an easy way to get movement into your day and in turn help digestion after a big meal!
Eat moderately, slowly and regularly
Take time over your meals and chew your food properly! Try not to skip meals, make sure you’re having breakfast, lunch and dinner and aim to follow a consistent eating pattern as much as possible.
How Can Gourmet Fuel Help?
Whether you're just back from holidays and feeling the post-holiday bloat, or you are looking to improve your digestive health before the busy summer season begins, we're here to help! We can work with you to reduce the stress of cooking and meal planning, be your motivation to keep active and eat well and also design a personalised meal plan to ensure you're hitting your fibre targets each day. Let us help you to maintain that happy gut feeling!