Gut health

Did you know your gut (where your food digestion takes place) plays an important role in your overall health?

Within your gut you have many different types of bacteria that work on breaking down the food you eat, extracting nutrients that are then ‘fed’ into your body. However, a growing number of scientific studies have linked obesity with a lack of diversity in lower gut bacteria, due to the actual type of foodstuffs being consumed. The result of this lack of diversity in gut bacteria means there is a distinct possibility of a range of health related issues being experienced by that person including, you may be surprised to learn, struggling to keep their weight down. You don’t have to take my word for it, you can read more about how gut bacteria can influence weight, here. 

What do you know about what you eat?

Many of us take what we eat for granted, having a “if it’s in-date it’s okay” way of approaching food we buy. Advertising and/or food packaging tempts us, not to mention the buy one get one half-price offers.

Before you enter into any weight loss programme, whether one you pay for or one of your own design, I’d strongly advise you spend some time finding out about processed foods. There’s so much food we are led to believe is healthy for us that actually isn’t. 

My husband ate a particular breakfast biscuit cereal daily, for several years, on the basis that it was pure grain-based. The marketing about the cereal product promoted the benefits of it being a healthy food choice to start the day. Imagine his surprise when, watching a programme about processed foods, he discovered that in fact that food came into the ultra-processed category and was not at all a healthy option to be eaten on a daily basis. So, the moral of this story is – understanding exactly what you are eating is not just important but empowering in being able to make conscious, healthy choices.

Processed foods include canned fish, fruits in syrup, bottled vegetables, cheese, fresh bread.

Ultra-processed foods include soft drinks, many breakfast cereals, sweet or savory packaged snacks, premade frozen meals.

You can find out more about processed and ultra-processed foods here. 

It’s said that eating food that is closest to its natural state is the way to go, but that can be very challenging. Recently I was out and about and felt very hungry and so went in search of a healthy snack. I walked up and down the aisles in my local supermarket and it really brought to my attention just how difficult it is to buy a healthy snack. The shelves were full of tempting sausage rolls, pre-made sandwiches, pork pie, scotch egg (I’m getting hunger pangs just typing this) but little in the way of healthy options. In the end I bought a banana, which did the trick to take me through to my next meal-time. 

Buying healthy options can be expensive, salmon for example. However, with some reading around the subject you will find out more about what is healthy to eat and what is definitely not. Aiming to cut out all unhealthy options is a bit unrealistic, but understanding more about what’s classed as a natural food, a processed food and an ultra-processed food will help you make better food buying and eating choices.

You might want to check out my hypnosis-based letting weight go course, using clinical hypnosis, that runs over 4-weeks. If you think the programme might be helpful to you then get in touch and we can have a chat. I don’t accept everyone onto the course, only those who demonstrate they are really committed to changing, because in my opinion it takes changing your whole relationship with food to experience long-lasting success with keeping your weight within a range you feel is right and healthy for you. Find out more about how you could let unwanted weight go. Phone/message me on 07483 234109 or fill in the form below to book a free 30-minute ‘discovery’ session.