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

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

I try to drink water everyday.
I try to limit my dairy intake as it sometimes makes my stomach sore.
I like oatcakes every now and then.
I like to eat porridge for my lunch,cannot have it first thing in the morning.

I mix my oats with live yoghurt for gut health and fruit ☺

I eat porridge every day, always have. I have started taking a biotic tablet every day too and that seems to make a difference.

Oats and I have a love hate relationship. I adore them, they seem to really dislike me!

I used to avoid them due to bloating, excessive wind, stomach cramps etc after eating them however I have now discovered peppermint oil capsules. These definitely make my gut behave a lot better after oats!

Morning mega dose acidophilus capsule with water. I really notice the difference when I don’t take it.

Live bio yoghurt and porridge are staples here too. Whenever tum is dodgy, plates of boiled rice with squeezed lime.

We eat loads of wholegrains and fruit and veg. Porridge is a favourite in our house, and we make loads of nice puddings with it! We use Nairn's products at home as they are really tasty and nutritious, and versatile.

I do a mini-fast a few days a week - not the 5-2 which is too extreme for me. I miss breakfast and lunch and eat normal meals for tea a few times a week. I feel much less bloated. I do it for comfort rather than for weight control.

I eat porridge in the winter but during the summer months I try to remember to make overnight oats with almond milk or natural yoghurt.
We all eat probiotic yoghurt every day. We try to have bread free days a couple of times a week and I do feel better when I eat less, Oatcakes are enjoyed as a substitute.

Porridge and kefir.

I follow a whole-foods plant-based diet. Zero health issues, my gut is perfect!

I try to keep a balanced diet & drink lots of water.
We love oatcakes here. Esp with a hummus dip

First think in the moring im drink glass of warm water with lemon. I try to cut white bread and past. I eat a lot oatcake and i make waffles and cookies from oats.

We minimise processed food, aim for 10 a day fruit and veg and limit wheat to one meal a day. My girls like oatcakes as a snack, particularly the cheese flavour and Berry flavour.

If I've had a big lunch I have Greek yoghurt and muesli for dinner rather than another meal. Oats are very settling for me.

I make sure I include lots of prebiotic foods in my diet (onions, garlic etc), as well as foods high in fibre. If I've been poorly or had a period of not eating too well I'll often take a probiotic supplement too.
I really enjoy eating oatcakes dipped in hot homemade soup for lunch, or topped with peanut butter & marmite (sounds weird but it's delicious!) as a snack. The chocolate chip biscuits Nairn's make are great for a nibble on the run too!

I found that cutting out cows milk on my cereal in the morning made a big difference. I used to get stomach pains from even little bits of other dairy, especially cheese, but now I start the day with almond/oat/coconut milk instead I can eat bits of cheese, chocolate and ice cream and drink milky tea without pain. I guess i just have a mild intolerance.

When I worked (ill at the moment and can't) I always took ginger or berry oatcakes for my lunchtime pudding as I found I got less of an afternoon energy dip compared to eating more sugary things.

I tend to low carb and plenty of fruits and vegetables occasionally have a probiotic yogurt drink.

I don't!

I have a question, though, why when I eat oats do I feel constipated?

i've never put much thought into my gut. I try to avoid processed foods and eat plenty of vegetables, fruit, grains and pulses, so it looks like I am doing the right thing for my gut anyway. I probably eat too much bread, but I have never noticed that it "bloats" me like others say. I do like oatcakes too - topped with cheese or honey - ymmmm.

I love nairns but no longer buy them as they're made with palm oil (don't believe there's any such thing as sustainable palm oil)

I have oats every day, made into bircher muesli, and I also make kefir yoghurt.

I eat raw sauerkrat from time to time for the probiotic benefits. Lots of onions, leeks, garlic and ginger with veg. Lots of veg! I buy seeded organic and cheese nairns oatcakes, mainly for my kids but I also have them as a snack occasionally, with cheese. The kids eat them as they are, as snacks, and I am very glad they like them as they are such a health giving food. They also have the sweet chocolate and berry nairns oatcakes, which have way less sugar than most biscuits and nothing nasty in them at all. Very occasionally I drink kombucha tea, as it is fermented so also has probiotic benefits. Basically our diet is low processed and from scratch when possible.

To be honest mny diet needs a massive overahaul. When I am being god, i try to eat lots of fresh food; fruit and veg. I do cook from scratch every night, but I also eat a lot of rubbish!

I start everydaywith eggs followed by small bowl of natural yogurt, I eat very little bread and fill two thirds of my plate with vegetables.