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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Marlenaff7 Thanks so much. Really appreciate it.

No problem at all. Enjoy it 😘

I used to have a lot of issues when I was younger but cut out alcohol and now I am careful to eat a fibre filled cereal everyday and that has really improved my gut!

Water, exercise and healthy foods help. Feel bloated after eating a lot of sugary foods! Always give my son oatcakes each night with his bedtime milk.

I've swapped crisps for oat cakes as a snack, it's really helped me feel less bloated and also keeps me regular.

I do try to eat healthy - plenty of fruit and veg and water. Currently 38 weeks pregnant with a massive craving for carbs!! Looking forward to weaning myself off bread once I have had this baby boy :)

I've been drinking Kefir recently, and about to start making my own. I'm also trying to cut down on processed carbs, particularly white bread, and increase my veggie intake.

Oatcakes are my go-to low GI snack. I normally eat them like a biscuit without anything on and they're good to feed hungry kids who don't need anymore sugar.
In terms of gut health, I find a spoonful of milled flaxseed in porridge or cereal keeps everything going!

I probably haven’t given it enough thought and there are some good suggestions here. All I do presently is try and drink enough water and eat plenty of fruit and veg. I try to avoid processed foods but could do better ...

I avoid anything with sugar in it other than fresh fruit and also avoid fried foods and eat whole grain foods.

I eat a lot of oats throughout the day. I have homemade muesli for breakfast (made with oats, pumpkin and sunflower seeds and flaked almonds). At lunch sometimes I dunk big rectangles of tofu into passage then into a bowl of oats to coat then and then bake. In the afternoon I have a porridge bar (oats, milk, blueberries and pear baked until firm) or lemon oat biscuits (blitz oats into a thick flour, rub in some butter/margarine, add lemon zest and then milk to bind into biscuit shapes. Bake for about 10 minutes. Some sultanas in this work really well to give it some sweetness). Oats are my favourite food!

Passata not passage!

My DH follows a fodmap diet which mean he can't eat wheat - he loves oatcakes and cheese as an evening snack. Avoiding wheat helps him keep his gut healthy and oats are a great substitute.

I eat quite badly during the day as there never seems to be enough time to make anything! I do always eat a really healthy meal in the evening though using lots of veg, with rice, pasta or potatoes. I’ve maintained the same weight since I’ve was 18- 16 years ago so I guess I must have the balance right of eating what I like when in the day and ensuring I get lots of vegetables in my evening meal!

I have IBS so have to be careful what I eat. Cutting down on the carbs helps a lot and I find having porridge with yogurt and blueberries is soothing for the gut. Mid morning I then have Nairn's oatcakes (I love the black pepper kind) with sun dried tomatoes and cheese, or crunchy peanut butter and lime marmalade for a snack. This keeps me going until lunch time when salad provides the fibre I need. Sticking to these type of meals helps to regulate my system, limiting discomfort.

I just try to have a healthy balanced diet

Oh I never knew that oatcakes are good for your gut! So eating them is one thing I do. I also take a high dose pro biotic.

I'm a coeliac, so getting enough fibre can be a bit problematic. I start my day with gluten free porridge with almond milk (I'm not lactose intolerant but am giving it a go to see if it helps with the bloating I sometimes suffer from).
I've recently discovered chia seeds and tend to liberally sprinkle them on my food and although I'm not a big fruit fan, I eat a fair bit of dried fruit and try to make sure I'm drinking a couple of litres of water.

As an aside, Nairn's gluten free crackers are amazing - they're my go to snack with soft blue cheese!

We have homemade museli for breakfast with homemade yogurt. Sounds very knitting lentils, but it did seem to make a difference with IBS.
I love oatcakes!

i try to only drink water and not eat too much bread helps tame rgw ibs too

A few tablespoons of TOTAL authentic Greek yoghurt on most days has meant I have not suffered an upset stomach in over 45 years. My DH can claim the similar since we got together. It's also meant no trips to the vets for bad tummies in over 25 years of feeding it to our various dogs.
It's the only probiotic food that has 5 strains of bacteria which seem to work synergistically.
It takes a while for people to believe me but once they've tried it, they are converted.
I do love oatcakes too!

I have just found out that I am pregnant because the nausea started almost immediately! One of the only things getting me through is Nairn's Oatcakes. I particularly like the gluten free assortment. I love that there is a whole gf selection to choose from as, although I am not gluten intolerant, my gut and digestive system work better without it. I also do not not like to eat too much bread or complex carbs so they are perfect!! Right now when I feel nausea (which is pretty frequently), I pull out a package of the oatcakes and nibble...I always have them in my handbag and my kitchen cupboard. Best with hummus, cheddar cheese and apple slices, or baba ganoush 😋 Lifesaver!! 💪🏻

Trying to cut down on dairy and bread

I am interested in keeping my gut healthy and think the best thing is to have a varied diet without too much of anything. I can't have probiotic yoghurts but would be interested in them if they did a dairy free version

I don't currently eat oatcakes but would be interested in trying them. We do have porridge and I make flapjacks using oats with added fruit (mashed banana, raisins, grated apple etc)

I find bread very bloating & stodgy so eat very little of it now - it's a real treat and has to be fresh. I eat wholegrain/brown rice instead of white.

I eat porridge oats sometimes for breakfast - also make lovely flapjacks for snacks and would eat oat/rice cakes with toppings on to be healthier and kinder to my gut.

Start every day with a cup of peppermint tea as I find this is super calming for tummy/gut.

I eat healthy and exercise everyday. Everything in moderation I say. I cook from scratch everyday for me and my family so I know what goes in the meals. Lots of fruit and veg.