Want to eat your way to a healthier microbiome and better immunity? Meet the digestion-boosting foods top nutrition gurus throw into their trolley.
Whatever is on your meal plan for next week, we bet it’s not bloating with a side of digestive discomfort. As nutrition experts have long known, what we put into our bodies can have a big impact on gut health, meaning it’s never been more important to buy, cook, and eat for our microbiome.
Confused about where to start? According to nutritionist, chef, and Greencare wellness expert, Zoe Bingley-Pullin, a gut-friendly diet can be as simple as piling “a rainbow of fruit and vegetables” onto your plate. The reason? Diversity is key when it comes to gut wellness. “Most people tend to have the same foods on rotation. Mixing it up is key for digestive health,” agrees clinical nutritionist, Jessica Scott-Young. “If you pick one new fruit, veg, nut, or seed to add to your weekly repertoire, that’s 52 new foods a year.”
Whether you’re doing a supermarket speed shop after work or casually browsing the shelves on a Sunday, buy organic produce where possible and avoid throwing ultra-processed foods into your trolley. “If it’s in a pack, put it back,” says Scott-Young. “Ultra-processed foods are nutrient-poor, calorie-rich and contain emulsifiers and inflammatory seed oils that negatively impact the microbiome.”
Ready to hit 52 different healthy foods before the year is out? Get started here, with 10 of the best for gut health that the experts recommend adding to your grocery list, pronto.