ITV's much-loved Dr Zoe Williams has said that eating a daily serving of a common breakfast item can help your gut this winter to not only ward off the usual cold and flu, but additional research has found that a healthy gut has been linked to a healthy heart which can help lower blood pressure. The NHS GP, who often appears on This Morning, said one food people should have for breakfast is "fermented foods such as yoghurt". This is because it's an "effective and easy start to the day to support gut health".
With autumn here and winter on the way, Dr Zoe says our "circadian rhythm can be affected" by this change. "In addition to affecting how your gut functions, your gut microbes also sync with your body clock, so sudden shifts can result in your microbiome landscape changing too. These changes, in turn, can lead to bloating, abdominal pain, an upset stomach and more", she adds.
To help avoid this, the doctor also recommends eating "a diverse, fibre-rich diet" explaining: "Our guts thrive off a diverse diet including a wide assortment of fibre rich foods that help positively impact your gut microbiome, which is an important component of digestion and food absorption. A varied diet with a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes and wholegrains, as well as fermented foods can help ensure your gut microbiome gets the nutrients it needs." According to Harvard Health , fiber supports the gut and thus the heart.
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