What changes have you made to support your gut health? - £200 voucher to be won

[CeriMumsnet]

Created for Culturelle

We know that our lifestyle and diet have an impact on our overall health and digestion, with energy levels, bloating and even skin irritation all connected to gut health. With this in mind we’d like to know what changes, big or small you’ve made to your overall health, to support your gut health?

• Post your experiences in the thread below to be entered into a prize draw.
• One lucky winner will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice.

Here’s what Culturelle has to say:
‘At Culturelle we believe that talking about the gut is still a stigmatized health issue around the world, and by opening up new conversations we can help people understand more about their bodies, the science and what we can all do to support the core of our health’

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!
MNHQ

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I’ve started eating live yoghurts and kefir. I’m also trying to cut down my on foods which I’ve discovered I’m slightly intolerant to, such as onions.

I try to take Bimuno regularly when I can get it on offer. I started as I’d read something about gut health and mental health and I was curious.

I take a daily probiotic and also try to eat well. This includes foods like leek, asparagus etc and trying to eat less sugar xx

Dairy doesn’t agree with me so I try and limit it to a point. I also take a daily probiotic.

and drink lots of water

I eat more vegetable and fruit. I try to eat oats for breakfast and drink more tap water and herbal tea.

Lots of fibre eg brown rice. Chia seeds soaked in water then added to breakfast. Breakfast with cooked milk not straight out of bottle. I am enjoying veg a lot more now than I used to. I struggle to plan healthy dinners though as it's hard to accommodate two kids with normal kid fussiness plus DH who prefers processed to home cooked food. Peppermint oil regularly. Occasional Imodium. Stress and exercise are definitely also related. I had really bad IBS diarrhoea for ages so have had to manage that.

Eat a varied and balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein sources.
Incorporate fermented foods, such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi, into your diet. These foods contain probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that can help to improve the balance of microorganisms in your gut.
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
Avoid processed and sugary foods, as they can contribute to an imbalance of microorganisms in the gut.
Consider taking a probiotic supplement, as it can help to restore the balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut.
Get regular physical activity, as it can help to improve digestion and promote a healthy gut.
Practice stress management techniques, such as meditation or yoga, as stress can have a negative impact on gut health.

what changes, big or small you’ve made to your overall health, to support your gut health?

Nothing I haven't done for the last 40 years. Call it 50 years if drinking raw milk counts. Is there ever a thread for "Lifestyle habits" as opposed to "changes" ?

Very little (trying for zero) processed food, organic where possible and turmeric supplements. 5 glasses of water per day.

I was diagnosed with a Helicobacter pylori infection around 4 years ago, which was successfully treated with a short course of very high dose antibiotics and PPI. When the symptoms recurred a year later I tried taking high dose acidophilus and this seemed to get me back on track. The heartburn is back sporadically now though so I’m at a bit of a loss. I have a really good diet and don’t want to keep going down the antibiotic route. I must admit I don’t drink enough water, so as of today I’m making sure I drink more. 🤞

I eat 90% vegetarian diet, with some white meat, and try to get organic when I can find it. I feel my digestion has improved, as have my energy levels, and condition of skin and hair. This is a conscious choice - after years of eating junk and feeling bloated and lethargic.

My BMI is 21.5

we try to avoid heavily processed, additives, sugary or fatty food, but I know I ought to eat less bread (I cut down to max two slices of bread a day which is normally some toast for breakfast and/or lunch when I wfh.)

I eat bio yoghurt (Yeo unsweetened is my favourite) and have a splash of milk in my coffee (cut down to 4 cups per day max). Lots of herbal teas, camomile, cranberry, fennel, mixed teas. I never drink regular tea as it really hurts my stomach.

at least 7 portions of fruit / veg a day. Different colours, plenty of leafy salads, plus I eat loads of ginger root, cooked and chopped up in our cooking.

no puddings, cakes or sweets, other than fruit and yoghurt as part of evening meal. 1 Concession is 2 squares of chocolate when I do a long Sunday bike ride, to keep my energy level up.

daily yoga (several sessions are designed for gut health, lymphatic system health, digestion and avoidance of bloating, general de-stressing).

live yoghurt every morning, oats, bananas and water - after feeling sluggish and constipated - my NYR in 2020 was to look after ME - then I can look after everyone else. No processed food - no microwave meals - VERY few takeaways - I'd like to be able to eat Kefir - but really cannot bear to eat this (any suggestions welcome)

I make my own sourdough bread in my Ninja which seems to help, I aim to eat 7 portions of fruit or veg a day - I went teetotal after DS1 and have never looked back - so glad not to have hangovers or feel dehydrated in the morning. I tried probiotic drinks -but now find my budget won't stretch to these daily

The biggest change was to go vegan in 2021 - it was difficult at first, but the range of foods which are vegan has significantly improved. I feel better, and I know my digestive health has improved as I am no longer bloated and the heartburn which had a massive impact on my life has disappeared.

I want to do more, i looked into the ZOE app, but the price is too much for me.

I know that there are probiotics available to purchase - but again these arent cheap.

Would love to know how to look after my gut health at a reasonable price

Learn about the gut brain axis.
Stop blaming foods so much and realise half the time it's thoughts and correlation does not equal causation in alot of people's "food triggers" and actual it is all down to mental linkage.to anxiety to thoughts.stress.and association then gets put on foods.and then the anxiety around said food causes the gutvtrigger and the link is made.neural pathway changed.
So of course taking it away makes it better right.or is it how we think and feel now around said food.conformation bias.nacebo effect.

I stick to the 5 a day rule - and it works for me - prior to this my digestive system was a real problem with bloating and constipation

I try Kefir (the flavoured ones), a banana on my overnight oats (made with natural greek yogurt and honey), I try to avoid processed foods whenever possible, and drink lots of water or juice.

I found that kefir in the morning and mint tea, is a game changer for my digestive health, when I have time I will make a smoothie with kefir, banana, blueberries and I keep a chunk of fresh ginger in the fridge, and I grate about 1/4 teaspoon in - love this.

After getting covid, and seeing learning that gut health is so important for our immunity, I made the conscious decision to look after myself, and try to reduce the effects of long covid, I take a probiotic drink in the morning, I have drastically reduced my intake of red meat, and try for 5 a day fruit and vegetables. Sourdough bread instead of my usual white loaf, and I try to walk at least 30 minutes a day. I can tell by my stools which are now totally different, and regular that an improvement has changed my digestion

I aim for 5 glasses of water per day - in a drinks bottle, avoid processed food, no burgers sausages or smoked bacon. I aim for 5-7 portions of fruit and veg a day - stir frys (with olive oil as a base) are a regular part of my diet - and I have found a love of red and yellow peppers which are just as nice raw as cooked, with chicken, and I make a honey soy and ginger stir fry sauce. I would like to introduce the probiotic drinks - but cannot afford these, and I have heard mixed reviews on their effectiveness and sugar levels - I need to find something like this

I avoid white bread. Was the only thing available at the ILs this Christmas and it really doesn't agree with me.

Not much at the moment but I definitely need to as I have always suffered with constipation, bloating & general tummy discomfort. I find as I get older that can’t tolerate very spicy foods like I used to so I have switched to milder curries etc. Try to avoid undue stress as it makes everything worse. I’m going to look into pro/pre biotic supplements too.

@Wazzzzzuuuuuuup the fermented thing gets me too 😳 just tried kombucha for first time. Eww.