How do you keep your gut healthy? Find out what Mumsnet users told Nairn’s Oatcakes

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Many of us are becoming more aware of how our gut can affect our overall wellbeing and the importance of taking care of it in order to stay healthy and happy. The majority of us have all been there when bloating and/or indigestion strikes, and this is why Nairn’s would love to hear your tips for maintaining good gut health.

Here is what Nairn’s have to say: “We’d like to think we know a thing or two about the superfood that is oats – we’ve been baking with them for over 100 years. We know how good oats are for your gut and we know that gut health as a topic is no flash in the pan either!

Oats are one of the foods that can help keep our gut healthy. They’re high in gentle fibre, which not only helps us stay regular, but also ‘feeds’ the friendly bacteria in the gut and helps keep the gut lining healthy. Oatcakes in particular can also be a good alternative to wheat-based products such as cereals and breads to keep our gut happy, as wheat can trigger digestive problems for some. The topic itself can be a bit daunting to the less familiar, so it makes sense for us to work with some lovely experts to help us spread that Good Gut Feeling in a simple, accessible, achievable way. Our website covers a number of Good Gut Health areas including The Family, Fitness and Managing a Free From Diet so do drop by and check them out. In the meantime, don’t be shy, and please share your own tips and tricks – they’ll really help others, and we can’t wait to hear them.”

What are your go-to and no-go foods and drinks when it comes to maintaining a healthy gut? How have you been eating oats outside of your morning porridge? If you already eat oatcakes, how do you eat yours? How do you encourage your family to follow in your footsteps? Did you find you had any digestive problems when you were/are pregnant and how did you deal with this? Or maybe you noticed some surprising benefits to keeping your gut health in check (e.g. a new-found spring in your step or blemish-free skin)?

Whatever your advice for maintaining a healthy gut, share your experiences on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list) and a bumper box of Nairn’s Oatcakes.

Thanks and good luck

MNHQ

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I eat and wide and varied diet and do not limit any food groups. I don't particularly eat a lot of oats, apart from muesli or granola with oats. I do love live yogurt which I believe is good for gut health.

I try to eat plenty of fruit and veg, and drink lots of water. I think exercise is important too. Listen to your body and get to know what triggers your gut problems - I don't think everyone has the same triggers.

I don’t know about gut health but I personally feel better if I limit carby and sugary things generally. On the topic of oatcakes the Nairn’s fine milled ones got me through my pregnancy!

I probably haven’t done enough in the past, I’ve started to try and make as many meals as possible from scratch and adding as much green veg as possible such as kale and spinach. I struggle with healthy snacks so this has been a reminder that oats are a good idea so on the shopping list will go oatcakes as a healthier alternative.

Our go to snack in the house is jumbo oats, Greek yoghurt with either maple syrup or berries, even the youngest DC fill up like this. We don't have flavoured yoghurts anymore as they just aren't eaten. I take oats/yoghurt for my lunch at work (short break, very physical job) as it fills me up quickly & without feeling bloated and sluggish like a large meal or sandwiches would.
We also prepare overnight oats for breakfast but we usually add chia seeds & fruit to that. We love oats in this house lol

I don't really know what specifically to do, but i have noticed that my gut is more sensitive the older i get. I try and eat a good mix of fruit and veg and fibre etc but i have yet to identify what my "trigger" foods are

Try to eat healthily plenty of wholemeal/wholegrain fruit and veg. I like snacking on stuff like oatcakes and crackers at lunch. I find bread/past a lunch makes me a bit sleepy. Occasionally have a probiotic drink. No problems so far

I try to eat from fresh every day. This means anything I cook I know exactly what the ingredients are and anything processed I try to examine the ingredients first.

I do have 2 oatcakes a day with my hummus and carrot sticks.... Nom nom.

My digestive system is kapput! Noruibg has helped from eliminating wheat, dairy, nuts, seeds, all.soets of medicines, relaxation techniques, exercise, high fibre, low fibre... Nothing seems to work. Iam constantly bloated, constipated and gassy. I have noticed beetroot and butternut squash are out of bounds else Iam doubled up in two in pain. I'd love a solution. I like oatcakes with peanut butter. The Nair s ones with dried fruit in are gorgeous. I add milled oats to cereal and make raspberry flapjacks with oats too. I give my children porridge and a well balanced diet.

I really don't do enough.

Bread, particularly white bread, and sugar bloats me terribly but I'm rubbish at cutting things out. I always feel so much better when I have cut back.

Love oatcakes with chilli cheese and chutney though 😋

I take probiotics and eat live yoghurt. I also limit sugar. We all love oatcakes here!

I try and cook from scratch as much as possible and avoid processed foods. Avoiding white bread. We eat oatcakes with cheese and chutney.

I very rarely have bread, as it makes me bloat. I only have it as part of a meal, so maybe a burger in a bun. I LOVE toast, but it doesn't agree with me, so instead I have porridge for breakfast. I also avoid too much sugar as it also seems to make me gassy & bloated.

I've done a few things recently:
Cut down on bread (a lot!)
Eat more fruit & veg (ie. raw carrots for snacks instead of biscuits!)
Swapped breakfast cereal to 100% wholegrain one
Less processed / red meat
Less alcohol

Oatcakes are a favourite snack with the DC!

I stopped eating bread in all variations for a week and noticed a huge difference in both my gut and my weight. As the difference was massive I gave it up altogether. On the occasions I have eaten some bread I have noticed straight away that I am bloated and feel stodgy.

I always start the day with berries and yogurt, try to have a salad lunch and cook using fresh vegetables at night. I love oatcakes chocolate and nuts for snacking.

I love porridge but probably undo it's goodness with sugar. My husband's weight issue have made us limit our carb, bread and pasta, intake. To satisfy cravings I eat oats bars and biscuits. No processed foods where practical. My biggest failing is refined sugar but I hate artificial sweeteners. My aim is to use more honey and introduce pro and prebiotic foods. Ignorance of these is what stops me.

I am on a low Fodmap diet to deal with IBS and it seems to be helping. I’m slowly reintroducing foods to work out which ones make my symptoms worse and which ones I can tolerate. I’ve been eating Nairn’s oatcakes with peanut butter for elevenses every day since I started low Fodmap diet

I have overnight oats for breakfast at work most mornings - Alpro yoghurt, oats, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, blueberries and raspberries, usually. I really enjoy them and they keep me full for a couple of hours.

Love oatcakes, and will happily just eat them dry. Best with some sharp Cheddar and some grapes though.

Eating fresh when i can, and cutting down on lots sugar. I drink plenty of water

I love the fermented fad and it is not a fad for me, but means there are more great foods that aid my digestion. Kimchee, kefir, kombucha, all of that. Really feel good on them.

I've been having over night oats for the last few months and since Easter have cut out sugar, and so have switched to whole wheat carbs.
I love oat cakes as a low sugar snack option for the kids, with peanut butter and banana before a training session or with goats cheese and aubergine pickle in front of the telly.
Since I switched my energy levels have increased and I'm feeling much healthier.

I'm lucky enough not to have any problems with bloating or intolerances. However I've struggled with my weight for years.

Cutting back on bread and replacing it with sensible, complex carbs like oats and brown bread etc has really helped me lose weight - I've lost nearly 5st in a year and simple switches like that have really helped. It's as easy as eating oatcakes instead of crackers with my cheese. Plus they taste better most of the time, and keep me full for ages!

I have organic oat porridge with a large handful of blueberries for breakfast, I also have a nice full fat natural yoghurt too (which I share with DDog)

bread once a day as toast always with grain in it.extra fruit and veg,more water less fizzy drinks,feel less bloated by this,trying to keep more active so less time to think about naughty snacks,limit the amount of crisps and cheese also, feel a lot better in 2 months by doing this,look at labels on food for hidden sugar/ salt etc