This month at Better Food we’re taking a closer look at our gut health because a happy gut means happier, more comfortable and rejuvenated days. Read on to find out more about your amazing gut, what you can do to support it, and some of our favourite gut-friendly tips.

Good to know

Your gut is a microbiome that contains ‘friendly’ and less ‘friendly’ bacteria. The less friendly bacteria can disrupt the healthy functioning of your gut microbiome. Prebiotics and probiotics can support the ‘friendly’ ones in your gut, boosting healthy digestion, immunity and even your mood!

Prebiotics are the foods you eat that your ‘friendly’ bacteria love to eat; legumes, veggies like leeks, artichokes, onion, garlic, and fruits like apples, pears, bananas and berries.

Probiotics are live cultures (i.e. the ‘friendly’ bacteria) in food and supplements that bolster the troops that live in your gut. Think fermented food and drinks, like kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha, and kefir.

Making gut-friendly meals

Incorporating gut-friendly ingredients into your everyday meals is about including a good balance of prebiotics and probiotics. The good news is that there are so many foods that fall into these categories that you really don’t have to live off kimchi if that’s not your jam!

If you’re looking for inspiration, head to your local Better Food café where we’re serving up 11 different gut-loving salads throughout February. Whether it’s our bulgur with fermented curry spiced fennel, our kombucha broccoli salad or our tofu rice sweet salad, they’re all delicious and packed with pre and probiotics.

Our recommendations

Feeling inspired to make your own gut-friendly meals? Here are just a few of the gut-friendly products that we are loving in store at the moment:

Bath Culture House has an incredible range of kimchi, kombucha and sauerkraut. There are so many different variations to try: broccoli kimchi, kimchi ketchup and tart cherry kombucha. They’re making it really easy to work probiotics into your everyday meals. Get 20% off until the end of the month!

Eaten Alive have new flavours of their fermented hot sauce in store. Try their Scotch Bonnet, Jalapeno & Lime, Raw Kimchi or Smoked Sriracha. Better yet, save £1 on all flavours this month.

Raw Health Apple Cider Vinegar with the ‘Mother’, still contains the culture from the fermenting process. If having a shot of apple cider vinegar alongside your breakfast isn’t for you, use it to add a tartness to a salad dressing at lunchtime instead!

Gut-friendly supplements

Supplements are another easy way to get your pre and probiotic fix, and there are so many variations to choose from. Below are some of our favourites, but if you’d like some further advice, we have Health and Bodycare Advisors in each store who are more than happy to help.

Living Nutrition harness the benefits of fermented soya beans. These supplements create the optimal environment for a healthy gut microbiome. SAVE 20% on Terrain, Sensitive and Regenesis.

New: Frank Fruities contain live cultures as well as fruit, which supplies prebiotic support, and Selenium, Zinc and Vitamin E which contribute to the normal functioning of the digestive system.

New and Local: Gut-Smart is a newly launched Somerset company, the result of the founder experiencing serious indigestion and acid reflux for years, and wanting long term natural solutions. The Cool supplement combines slippery elm, marshmallow root, calcium and biotin to help relieve heartburn and acid reflux, whilst supporting healthy digestion. The Live supplement contains 19 billion slow-release live cultures, food for friendly gut bacteria. SAVE 25% during February.

All offers are valid 1st-29th February 2024.