Archive for May, 2010
Monday, May 24th, 2010
How many of you had a very hot and outdoor weekend? If you did I can’t blame you, 
and have to say that I spent my fair share of time enjoying the countryside and a barbecue or two.
Are there many of you looking around the workplace and spotting a few ruby coloured faces, or those with a two tone effect where the weekend outfits finished and the sunburn began?
Well we do have a tendency to embrace the great outdoors when the sun starts to shine but while we should enjoy the possible beginning of a long summer (one can hope!) we also need to make sure we’re taking care of our bodies.
And of course wearing sunscreen, sunhats, getting enough shade is all good for helping the external factors (just ask those people who haven’t gone red!) but what about the inside of the body?
How many people may be suffering from the heat simply because they didn’t take in enough fluids of the non alcoholic variety? The sun can be very good at dehydrating you so make sure you’re getting enough water and soft drinks to keep your fluid levels up.
And what about the barbecues? How good are the people at cooking the food? Is the meat thoroughly cooked or is it completely burnt to a crisp? Try and avoid any unnecessary stomach issues by checking before eating and cutting through meat to check its ok to eat.
Also if you’re planning days out or trips to the country then don’t forget to pack a small first aid kit with you. You may not need just the regulars such as plasters and insect creams but may need to consider constipation and diarrhoea remedies. Remember it may smell good but has it been prepared well? The last thing anyone wants to do is spend days of the summer stuck indoors as we can’t move too far away from the loo!
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Monday, May 17th, 2010
At Love Your Gut we are always thinking about the importance of good digestive health but 
as many of our followers will know, there is one week of the year when we pay our guts some extra special attention - Gut Week.
Yes 2010 will see the 12th annual Gut Week and we’ll be aiming again to provide a host of digestive tips to people across a wide range of media. The actual week will be 23-29 August and the Love Your Gut team will be out across the country, giving out digestive advice at various workplaces and hospitals. If you want your workplace to benefit then contact us today as we do have a few places left.
The week will again be supported by digestive health charities Core and The Gut Trust and also by Yakult, and we have a host of celebs and experts available to provide much valuable advice. Check out our recipe section to try some digestive friendly dishes from top chefs or ask a health question in confidence to one of our doctors.
And of course don’t forget to order your Gut Week pack! These free information packs are full of digestive health advice and could help you take those valuable first steps to better gut health. So what are you waiting for? Click here and get yours now!
As we get closer to the week we’ll be putting more information online and will let you know more about what we’ll be doing in August! So keep watching.
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Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
Getting in the holiday mood
Surely not ANOTHER blog post on the general election? I realise at the time of writing that a resolution has not yet been reached but fear not, I think there is enough being written on this subject at the moment!
Actually am thinking that as we are approaching summer that maybe this is time to make some changes to our digestive health in preparation for sun, sand and sangria? How many times have we thought about getting ready to look good on the beach and then not quite making it?
Possibly because we’ve been trying too hard to make too many changes? Perhaps for some we’ve not been making enough. But the fact of the matter is, that preparing for holiday season is a little more serious than just getting the perfect figure to show off.
Why? Well according to a previous Yakult survey, seven out of ten Brits complain of contracting a cough or cold when on holiday. Other people claim to have suffered from headaches, diarrhoea, constipation and stomach bugs with days of holiday spent bed ridden or generally feeling sorry for themselves.
But according to Dr Tony Leeds, some of the problems people suffer on holiday, particularly the digestive illnesses, could be lessened if we prepare ourselves in advance. Or get ready for change before it happens - am sure a lot of MPs are thinking that now!
So if you’re heading off on holiday soon, here’s some top tips as to what you can do to help prevent holiday illnesses:
- Look after your gut: The majority of your immune system lies within the digestive system., so taking care of the gut really can help your natural defences. Before going on holiday improve the health of your gut through your diet. Eat prebiotic foods like asparagus, onions and artichokes as well as eating a well-balanced diet and take a regular probiotic.
- Eat well: Our bodies need a good healthy, varied diet in order to function well. Ensure your routine isn’t disrupted in the build up to holiday and make time for regular well balanced meals. Swap processed junk foods and microwave meals in favour of plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, fibre-rich and wholegrain foods.
- Drink water: Cut down on caffeinated drinks such as tea, coffee, and cola. Instead, drink lots of water, unsweetened fruit juices and herbal teas. Water will flush out your system, and fruit juice is packed full of vitamins and minerals. Stay hydrated throughout your holiday; particularly when in the sun and on the plane where air cabins can dehydrate you.
- Get moving: Exercising for 30 minutes five times a week will improve circulation helps keep your digestive system and your body’s defences on top form. On the plane get as much exercise as you can to avoid discomfort and sluggishness. When on holiday get double benefit from the pool - while cooling down do a few lengths and keep in shape.
- Sleep well: Sleeping is your body’s way of repairing your defences so you’re ready to fight infections. Aim for around 7-8 hours every night, and keep to a regular bedtime, even at weekends. This is especially important for long-haul flights where you can minimise the effects of jet lag by getting a good night’s rest for a few nights running before departure.
- Chill out: Stress causes your heart to beat faster and long term is not good for you. So it is important to pace yourself - take time out when you feel the pressure and find ways to manage difficult situations. Ensure there are no last minute panics at work by doing a bit more each day in the build up to your holiday rather than leaving everything to your final day at work.
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Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
We promised some changes to the Love Your Gut website and hopefully regular visitors will have noticed the blog has moved to a more prominent section of the website.
Fruit Salad
However we’ve also introduced a new recipe section which we hope will be of interest and use to all of you trying to incorporate more healthy foods into your diet.
To start off the new section we’ve included five recipes from top chef Antony Worrall Thompson who we are delighted to have as one of our Love Your Gut supporters. Antony has shared with us not just some of his fabulous recipes, but ones that really use good gut foods which will help you work towards better digestive health.
Over the coming months we’ll be adding more recipes to the site from a range of celebrity chefs and expert nutritionists and dieticians who are all working together to get us healthy on the inside and out. And if you have tried any of the recipes or have some good food tips to offer then please share them here!
So next time you’re stuck for a delicious and healthy meal, click here for inspiration!
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Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
Here the salmon is marinated in coriander, ginger, mint, lime juice and chillies. Serve with brown basmati rice or rice noodles and steamed green beans or pak choy.
SERVES 4
Small bunch of coriander, washed
12 mint leaves, washed
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 green chillies, de-seeded and chopped
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon golden caster sugar
1 teaspoon peeled and chopped ginger
1 tablespoon fish sauce (Nam Pla)
4 x 125g (41/2oz) salmon fillets
1 In a food-processor blend together the coriander leaves and stalks, mint leaves, salt, garlic and chillies to make a rough paste. Add the lime juice, caster sugar, ginger and fish sauce and process until fairly smooth. Spoon the sauce into a heatproof bowl and combine with the salmon, then marinate for 20 minutes.
2 Boil some water in the bottom half of a steamer. Place the bowl with the marinated salmon in the top half and steam for 68 minutes.
3 Serve immediately with the rice or noodles and vegetables.
Per portion: 254 kcal, 14g fat, 2.4g sat fat, 0.37g sodium
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and have to say that I spent my fair share of time enjoying the countryside and a barbecue or two.
