Stress eating refers to eating in response to stress or environmental cues as opposed to physical hunger cues. Eating in response to stress is not always a bad thing, but it can become a problem if it’s our only coping strategy.  Although we can improve how we feel when we eat in response to emotions or a situation, this is instant gratification and tends to be short-lived. When we stop eating, the emotion we’re trying to escape is still there, because let’s be honest, eating ice-cream doesn’t really solve that stressful work email. And how does this impact the gut? Firstly, stress in gen ..read more

Refer to yourself as a ‘snacker’ and the people around you might assume that your daily diet contains less-than-healthy habits – may be fueled more by a chocolate biscuit or a bag of salt and vinegar crisps than nourishing breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Eating between meals, though, is not necessarily a problem, when it comes to maintaining a feel-good lifestyle. In fact, snacking can be beneficial, particularly when it comes to your weight and managing your blood sugar levels. In one piece of recent work, published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, researchers showed that having a 30g servi ..read more

9 micro steps to health magic in 2023 A shiny new year is here with the annual pressure to take bold steps towards re-making your life. Some people might enjoy the challenge of a radical overhaul in a quest for better health. But it’s also true that doing so can see your efforts start with a sharp burst of action before fizzling away come February. Some research indicates that New Year resolutions are often abandoned within a month. Might there be a smarter way to go after boosted health and happiness? One that’s more likely to stack up to long-term habit change? In short: yes! Instead ..read more

I wanted to give you guys an introduction to an area of research which is SO exciting right now: the oral microbiome. You know that you have trillions of microbes living in your gut – but you ALSO have billions of microbes living in your mouth. It can feel intuitive to associate these with unpleasant stuff – trips to the dentists to have cavities filled, anyone? – but they’re not always bad. In fact, the RIGHT community of microbes in your mouth can be highly protective of your overall health. Here’s your oral microbiome 101… Around 700 different species of oral microbes have been identified ..read more

It’s WorldMentalHealthDay and looking after our mental health is more important than ever. Here are my top 5 tips…  Destress with mindfulness – Just 15 mins a day with a mindfulness / meditation app can make a big difference and relax a stressed gut. Give it a go for 8 weeks and see how you feel. Up your plant points and fibre. Research shows a Mediterranean-style diet, super high in fibre (they ate 50g a day in one of my favourite studies, the SMILES trial!). Nourish yourself with plenty of wholegrains, veggies, fruit, legumes, nuts, seeds and extra virgin olive oil – it’s been shown to ..read more

With the lingering memories of the pandemic that turned our world upside down, the pseudoscience and misinformation has been more forceful than ever.   Firstly, let me start off by busting this mythical concept of ‘immune-boosting’ tips or products. As promising as this might sound, we don’t actually want to ‘boost’ our immune system.    An overactive immune system can lead to autoimmune conditions, while a suppressed immune system can be more vulnerable, so we want a balanced immune system. There’s no scientific evidence to support ‘immune-boosting’ products, so be sceptical of ..read more

With the cost of living at an all time high, I wanted to bust the myth that canned fruit and vegetables are less nutritious than fresh – in fact, according to the research, putting food into cans can actually maintain those nutrients rather than reduce them. That said, not all canned foods are created equal! So let’s weigh up the pros and cons. That way, you know what to look out for and can make informed decisions about what’s right for you.   The benefits of canned food Convenience and accessibility Depending on where you live, access to fresh fruit and vegetables might be limited, so ..read more

With around 1.5 billion people across the globe following vegetarian or vegan diets, whether, for environmental, ethical, religious or financial reasons, the trend towards plant-based eating is showing no sign of slowing down. Whatever your reason, there are simple things you can do to make sure you’re still getting a ‘complete’ diet. You guys know I’m a big advocate for eating more diverse plant-based foods – the more the merrier. And for those including meat, fish and fermented dairy, rest assured studies have shown that you don’t need to go vegan to have a healthy gut.   It’s much mor ..read more

No doubt you’ve seen endless “mood-boosting foods” lists all over the internet. And, while diet is no magic fix for our happiness, this is one concept that’s actually backed by one of my favourite scientific studies. Just be sceptical of those lists from Dr Google… always check your sources!   Let me introduce you to the ‘SMILES’ trial – a randomized controlled trial (aka a high-quality study) by some of my colleagues in Australia (led by Prof Jacka), investigating whether changing our diets could help to support our mental health – and even manage anxiety and depression.   Here’s wh ..read more

We’re looking for people with different types of food creating/making/generating talents to support us with various food-related content moving forward. Our community is hungry for plant-fuelled inspiration so we need people like you to help make this happen.   Role 1. Food reel creator Are you a budding Instagram reel creator? Do you love the idea of bringing to life The Gut Health Doctor recipes? We are looking for someone who can create 2-4 reels a month based on existing recipes.   To apply: Create an audition recipe Instagram reel for ‘One Pot Mixed Lentil Butternut Squash Dahl ..read more