Ace-Gut-Health

A gut feeling

Always suffering from digestive woes? You’re not alone. Here are the truths about your tummy

MYTH: All bacteria is bad for you.

TRUTH: There are three main types of bacteria in your body, most of which are found in your large intestine. Firstly, friendly bacteria are good for you since they are involved in the final stages of digestion, and in the synthesis of some vitamins. They also form a major part of your immune system – you need these to stay healthy! Other types are opportunistic bacteria, which live happily in small amounts but can become infectious if they become too populated. Finally, there are pathogenic bacteria, which cause infections and are therefore most definitely bad for you.

MYTH: Being slim means you’re healthy

TRUTH: This is a common misconception, since overweight people can be healthier than their skinny counterparts. It is possible that a slim person could be ‘skinny fat’, which means they don’t have much lean muscle but do have too much Handy helpers Acidophilus & Rhamnosus – Available in 50 caps at £7.80 and 100 caps at £14.40 Raspberry Ketone Extract 500 mg 90 caps £20.60 Multidophilus – Available in 50 caps at £7.70 and 100 caps at £14.40 All available from Lifeplan.co.uk
fat (especially on the belly). If you are a skinny fat person who goes on to develop diabetes, you have twice the risk of dying than if you were overweight when you were diagnosed. Having extra muscle seems to be protective, so if you are naturally slim make sure you exercise.

MYTH: Probiotics are the best thing to take for my tum

TRUTH: Probiotics are the best supplements for digestive health as they are generally regarded as safe for all and are highly effective. These live cultures have been shown to aid digestive issues, including irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel conditions, gut infections, constipation and diarrhoea. There are also certain strains that are useful for babies because they help to prevent colic. For good digestive health, adults should take at least 10 billion friendly bacteria on a daily basis first thing in the morning.