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 drink plenty of water, have loads of fibre, including oats, and always have a large tub of natural yoghurt in the fridge.

I grow a lot of the fruit and veg the family eats, so I know it doesn't have all the nasty chemicals on it that shop veg has.
Since being diagnosed anaemic, I've made other changes, more red meat, more green veg, and no tea near a mealtime (that was the hardest change - I love a good brew ).
For me, oatcakes are a mid-afternoon or evening snacky food, especially spread with soft cheese or even better, crunchy peanut butter.
I used to get the ginger ones instead of biscuits for DCs school snacks when they were younger.

I also don't do enough!

I have found recently that eating more than 2 slices of bread in a day can lead to me not feeling "right", so I think I do need to investigate more alternatives. Hadn't thought of oat based foods instead !

We love Nairns- particularly rough oatcakes with homemade raspberry jam or stovies or even beans and brown sauce for breakfast. My 7yo daughter loves the fruit and spice or dark chocolate ones for snack and it keeps school happy as it fits with their healthy eating campaigns. My 1yo loves them too. Both love porridge particularly ‘purple’ cooked with frozen blueberries, or ‘magic faraway tree’ as a treat with banana, cream & syrup (the recipe is in the book). I’m even slowly converting my English DP

I try to eat healthily and also with a big variety - i think when we are busy we can get a bit stuck in our ways so I try to consiously not get to that point. I don't cut anything out as I don't think thats helpful but I try and be moderate, avoid to many unhealthy foods and I try never to drink fizzy drinks but drink plenty of water instead.
I am fairly new to oat cakes but I like them with smooshed avocado on them or peanut butter and banana or something like that.

Looking after my gut has helped me naturally manage Crohn's disease - I quit all things bad for my gut such as sugar and increased gut healthy foods.
I enjoy oatcakes dipped in houmous

stress.and keeping calm.meditation and mindfulness.
try not to overthink things.dont automatically think you intolorent to foods.the belly aches and symtoms often coincide with some emotional problems but we are then lead into thinking "oh it must be the food I ate" so think if there is anything else leading you to worry or stress at this time too.
don't drink too much water around meals.
use oats in savoury crumbles,apple crumble cake.on top of muffins.flapjacks.toasted then stirred through honey and yoghurts.
when pregnant a nice warming porridge can be so comforting.especially after morning sickness.even if you feel too poorly to try eat having some of this can really ease the tummy.
oatcakes with soup.
topped with smoked salmon and cream cheese

when ibs kicks in it does seem to bring a cloud over everything and things can seem suddenly overwhelming or effect you where they never would.so anything that helps do it.
nibbling an oat cake with the little one a bit for me then one for him etc.
try to eat a balance of it all.
don't jump the gun to intolrence there is often more things going on in the background.and it might make you miss something vital if you cut it from your diet.

I take probiotics and try to eat a varied diet, lots of fruit and veg. I've recently started making my own sauerkraut as well, and want to start making sourdough, konbucha and kefir too, but still reading up on it. I've read some great books about gut health recently and am trying to incorporate recipes from them. And also trying to leave decent gaps between eating, as opposed to constant snacking, as that helps one of the good bacteria in our gut thrive (can't remember the details but it was something to do with one which feeds on intestinal mucus I think)

I'm eating a lot of kefir (acquired taste but lovely when you are used to it. Also a lot of prebiotic foods (oats, leeks onion). For good measure I have added fermented foods and have a daily does of either miso or sauerkraut. The difference has been amazing, no bloating, no constipation.

I am Scottish so Oatcakes are a bit of a staple in our house.

I also have morning oats a few times a week with some yoghurt and fruit.

I limit complex carbs and fizzy drinks - try and experiment with more fruit and veg in recipes and stock up on probiotics when they're on special offer for an occasional boost!

Plenty of fruit & water everyday. I eat either veg or a salad with my main evening meal. I try to eat live bio yogurt if I have been on antbiotics

When I was pregnant, I found it hard to keep anything down for the first trimester, and nibbling on nairn biscuit breaks really helped to settle my empty stomach. Post baby - after a glass of water in the morning, I swear by my overnight oats - soaked on almond milk and half a pro-biotic yogurt and a handful of raisins. It really set me up for the day. I have a pack of oatcakes at work to snack on, and have avoided wheat wherever possible as I found I get bloated easily. For lunch, I love your flat-breads, with a hummus mix. Since ditching the wheat I feel better, both inside and out.

Low carb is really helping me. Greek yoghurt and berries for breakfast. Plenty of veg and water, keeping to complex carbs. I try and cook from scratch so i know exactly what i’m eating.
A snack of a couple of oatcakes with some strong cheddar is a perfect treat.
Ditching the rice, pasta, bread, cakes and sugar in general has really helped with my gut health.

I’m trying to think about this again at the moment after eating too much rubbish since having my baby. I try to avoid processed foods and not have too much sugar most of the time. I eat a lot of yoghurt and am thinking of starting to make kefir. I have made water kefir in the past with great results.

Lots of water and fruit and vegetables. Having something substantial for brekkie always works well too

I try not to eat a lot of carbs but if I do, I go for wholegrain. I also avoid fizzy drinks, lots of sugar and processed foods.

I would love to say I eat 5-a day, wholemeal organic/gluten free breads, homemade meals from scratch, have time to sit down and eat slowly but I'm afraid my budget and lifestyle don't allow this. Yes I do try to eat as best I can, and do love healthy foods, but I'm often on the go or skip a proper meal. With my daughter I do eat fibre, oats, vegetables, fruit and probiotic yoghurts as we share the meal. I do believe healthy eating, less processed foods, sitting to eat slowly and a big one for me...avoiding stress!...all go towards a healthy gut, just by being sensible really...but it's my child who I aim to have these benefits for at the moment I'm afraid.

I stopped drinking,smoking, having heavy meat based meals etc. It's not helped me that much but I know it's better for me so I'll keep at it

I try to eat a balanced diet. The last few years I have made a real effort to eat more oat based cereals like porridge and also use oatcakes instead of traditional crackers.

I try to only have bread a few times a week and have crackers instead. My husband is coeliac so we often make oat cookies so he can enjoy and a healthy snack for all. We also eat lots of fruit and vegetables.

I definitely don't do enough but I try to eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and veg. And I drink loads of water

I can't say it's something I worry about much. I do love baked oats for my breakfast, but that is more because they are yummy. Perhaps this is something else we should worry about.

I often eat mashed banana to which i add oats that have been soaked in milk for a few mins. It is something i have liked since babyhood. I cook from scratch, eat virtually only sourdough bread ( mostly rye and wheat mixtures), love oatcakes on their own ( eg when hungry at work / in between meals) or with cheese, and 100-200 grams of smoked salmon per week though not a lot of meat.

Loads of fruit and veg, less refined food and a few treats. A little of what you fancy does you good.