TV doctor swears by clever dinnertime rule to help boost gut health

09 October 2023 , 10:28

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This is one way to look after your gut health (stock image) (Image: Getty Images)

If you're wondering how you can improve your gut health you're not alone, as around 43 per cent of Brits suffer from some sort of digestive discomfort. It also isn't a surprise if you have no idea where to start as the topic is so complex.

An unhealthy gut can contribute to several health problems, including diabetes, high blood pressure and even anxiety. Thankfully, TV doctor Michael Mosley has shared his one dinnertime rule that helps to boost gut health - and it's incredibly easy to follow. The founder of the popular 5:2 and Fast 800 diet said our guts are 'astonishingly clever'.

"[The gut] contains millions of neurons - as many as you would find in the brain of a cat - and is home to the microbiome, an army of microbes that influence your mood, weight and immune system," he wrote in an Instagram post. "Everyone knows that fruits and vegetables are good for us, but even those who manage to cram in their five a day or more, tend to stick to an incredibly limited range of them. And that means our biome ends up being pretty limited as well.

"One simple way to increase your variety is to introduce more colour to your plate. (Having a beige diet is a very common cause of gut problems). Eating a wide variety of different coloured fruits and vegetables will give your gut bacteria something to chew on, as well as providing nutrients."

Michael has delved into the topic further in his book The Clever Guts Diet, which includes a two-stage diet plan to repair and reboot your gut. This isn't the first time he has offered his advice on what we should be making sure we're including in our meals. Previously, Michael shared the exact amount of protein you need to eat to lose weight.

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"If you want to lose weight, safely and effectively, ensure you have at least 50g of protein a day (good sources are meat, fish, eggs, tofu, and wholegrains) and that your daily protein intake is spread across your three main meals, as it is better absorbed this way," Michael wrote for the Daily Mail. Eating enough protein means you're maintaining muscle mass, which then helps you lose weight.

He added: "Whether I'm trying to lose weight or not, I normally have two eggs (15g protein) or kippers (25g protein) for breakfast, and make sure I’m getting at least 20g of protein with my lunch and evening meal. You should also take up regular exercise — particularly resistance exercise, such as press-ups and squats, to help preserve muscles."

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Billie Schwab Dunn