Considered by many experts to be the bedrock of wellbeing, gut health – and its influence on everything from immune function and hormone regulation to mental health – has been getting a lot of air time. Supporting a healthy microbiome with “friendly bacteria” improves sleep quality, boosts energy, and reduces bloating, while strengthening the body’s physical and emotional resilience.
Diet remains one of the most effective ways to support gut health. Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London and author of The Diet Myth: The Real Science Behind What We Eat (£17.99, Amazon.co.uk), explains that one of the best ways to support your gut is to “avoid processed and sugary foods and eat a diverse, whole-food diet, rich in plant foods, to feed those microbes.”
