Her Discussions by Dr Faye - Maximise Your Gut Health With These Products | Mini Episode

Starting point is 00:00:00 I am going to show you a piece of paper and I would like to know whether you would buy this thing or say bye-bye to it. Active bacteria drinks. I think I would say yes to this because there's actually some good data to show that live cultures like lactobacillus case I actually have beneficial effects on general gut health like constipation. So if I was suffering from constipation, I would buy this. It's better than buying, you know, something that doesn't have any data behind it. So it's a for me. Probiotic supplements. Probiotic supplements are everywhere. And I think what we need to focus on is the data. And actually, there's quite a good amount of data now to show that probiotic supplements do not change the gut microbiome. It doesn't change your diversity in your gut microbiome.

Starting point is 00:00:50 And so these are big studies that have looked at all the studies that have been done in the past 10 years or so. And the evidence suggests that there's really not much improvement. So you're not you're not really going to get anything from spending 30 pounds a month. It might help you think you're doing something. That's also a good thing. But fundamentally, I would not buy a probiotic unless I really needed it. And I was recommended a probiotic by a clinician for a specific GI issue. I think just with the probiotics, it's really important to understand where the delivery of those probiotics are.

Starting point is 00:01:20 Is it in the colon, which is the home of the gut microbiome? So some probiotics, they get digesting in the stomach because of the acid. So it's really important to get a good quantity of probiotics. the beneficial bacteria to the lower part of your gut. So I think it's really important to have a look at the dissolution profile if you like in probiotics. I would say that there really aren't any probiotics that are going to get to the colon, which is where they need to get to. Otherwise, they'd be quite a lot more expensive. So, yeah.

Starting point is 00:01:47 Unless in certain circumstances. Unless, yeah. I think, again, some clinicians, especially gastrointralia, do you recommend probiotics for certain people who have certain GI conditions. there are some probiotics that are better than others. So, yeah, I would wait for your clinician to really recommend a certain one if you need it. kombucha. If it's a replacement or a swap for a fizzy drink, 100% kombucha. For example, if you're swapping it for a Diet Coke, I would say kombucha.

Starting point is 00:02:15 But I think kefir is probably better than kombucha. kombucha does have tea polyphenols in it and some live bacteria, but it's not a gut health kombucha drink that you should be taking for gut lining or improved gut health. I think overall definitely a swap but I would say bye for now. Nice. Okay, that's really validating because when I choose a kombucha other than rather than a fizzy drink, I feel like it's doing good but I don't, I wouldn't go out of my way. You don't depend on it, right? Yeah, it's so expensive. I couldn't have a kombucha every day that's not an affordable

Starting point is 00:02:47 solution. Also, now what's happening with the kombucha is like if they're fizzy now and they're having flavors and other things in it. So you have to be careful the sugar content as well of kombucha. 30 plants a week. Yeah. So actually, this is interesting because there has been a large study done in the US of looking at 10,000 people who have taken a diet that's very diverse in plants, about 30 plants, compared to people who take 10 plants.

Starting point is 00:03:14 And they're definitely, the people who take the 30 plants a week have improved gut health in general and they have improved gut microbiome. So the issue is like keeping track of 30 plants, like it's not an Excel file. You need to think about your life and not in an Excel file, but more as a like diversity is important. That adage, the rainbow plate of having many different colors on your plate is correct. You should be having different types of food, different types of plants primarily. It's going to be very helpful. So think of it more. However, let me make sure my plate, my meals are diverse, rather than focusing on a number. Nice.

Starting point is 00:04:00 Gut health supplements. So, as you know, the wellness industry has been taken by storm with the gut health supplements. And that's just, it's huge now. It's a billion dollar industry. But the problem with the gut health, and as gut health scientists, what we find is that there's not enough clinical evidence. And without clinical evidence, it's really hard. And you see those people, I mean, on Instagram, TikTok, recommended these things.

Starting point is 00:04:21 for us, we say tread with caution because it's really important to understand the science and the clinical validation. In saying that, one thing that I do agree with is fiber. The public health England have said, you know, the average consumer takes about 18 grams of fiber a day. We need to take at least 30 grams of fiber. So things like Silum Husk is sometimes that I would recommend to patients that I've seen in clinics because some people can't get enough fiber in their diet.

Starting point is 00:04:47 But I think it's really important to understand a 50 pence tin of chest. chick fee is better than going for those green powders that have only probably about two grams of fibre in it. I was so unbelievably shocked when I heard about how few people get their fiber intake and I almost rolled my eyes because I thought, oh, I've got a good diet. Like, oh, I think the statistic quoted was something like 90, 98% of people don't get enough fibre. But, you know, I was rolling my eyes thinking, God, what idiots are not getting enough fibre. You need your fruit and vegetables. Then I realized an apple has like two grams of fiber or something and I was counting up you know the fruits and vegetables maybe I eat and probably not fruits and vegetables that don't have that much fiber in

Starting point is 00:05:33 and I was thinking oh my god I like I don't think I get my my 30 grams um so there's been a lot of chia seeds that have been added into my diet since then the cillium husk I saw a recipe I don't know I'd love to get your thoughts on this I saw a recipe and it was like a little bit of grape juice, which, you know, obviously juice is not always the most beneficial food, but a little bit of grape juice with cillium husk. And that was, it made like a sort of jelly as a bit of a dessert. And myself and my, my fiance, made it a couple of times. And we actually really liked it. And as a way to introduce a bit more fibre, I thought that was quite good, but I'd love to hear your thoughts. I was going to say, actually, fiber is also good, like you mentioned, to create that

Starting point is 00:06:18 jelly and it protects the lining of your gut. So sometimes people are like, well, why do I need so much fiber? Is it just for constipation? It's to create the bulk? No, it's not just that. And chia seeds are great for this. They produce this mucous-like, gel-like kind of consistency, which is very good for protecting the lining of your gut. And your lining of your gut is like the defense mechanism protects you from the outside world. So think of your gut lining as your skin. If you've got damaged skin, things are going to get in there and it can cause infection, it can cause illness.

Starting point is 00:06:54 The same things happens on the inside with the gut. It's just we can't see it. So we don't know. It's probably happening. So that's one of the reasons actually we recommend fibre. And also don't think about the numbers so much. It's almost impossible to hit certain numbers. But if you're doing it regularly, consistency is key.

Starting point is 00:07:14 and focusing on just trying to make sure that you get what you need a day, don't peel all the vegetable skin off, you know, keep some skins on. That's a really easy way to add a little extra fibre. So let's not focus on the numbers. Let's just focus on the behaviour and the pattern and consistency. And I think overall, over time, it's going to help you get to where you need to get to. Just advice on the Sillium Husk point with the grape juice. I mean, I've seen that same video.

Starting point is 00:07:42 So I know what you're talking about. I know from where. But with that, Celium husk, I would say you can add your grape juice that you're adding. Just make sure it's not from concentrate. It's not too sugary. And add with diluted with water, that will help. But I do think that's a great way to get fibre into your diet if you feel like you're not getting enough in your actual diet. Yeah, I'm such a, I've got such a sweet tooth.

Starting point is 00:08:03 I love, well, probably this will come onto the appetite regulation. Like I'm never, well, yeah, I do struggles feelful. But after I've had my main meal, I do have that feeling of, oh, I just want a little sweet snack after dinner. But we did find that having a cheer pudding or like a cillium husk pudding did kind of give me my little sweet fix. And it's probably better than a bar of Tony's.

Starting point is 00:08:26 My grape juice is better. Yeah, definitely. So everything's about moderation, isn't it? 100%. Thank you for listening. If you would like to hear the full episode with even more jam-packed knowledge, then just click the link in the description.

Her Discussions by Dr Faye - Maximise Your Gut Health With These Products | Mini Episode

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