Can you really trust your gut?

As the latest research shows that gut bacteria can affect our overall health, we look at the evidence and separate fact from fiction

- WORDS: ALI GRAVES PHOTOS: GETTY

Research into the gut microbiome is growing at pace and Google searches for the topic were up by 89 per cent in the past year. So it’s little surprise that the theme for this year’s Love Your Gut Week (September 15-21) is “Meet your microbiome”.

The gut microbiome is a collection of microbes such as bacteria, fungi and viruses living in our intestines. It has a number of important jobs, including digesting and extracting nutrients from food, and has the power to impact everything from immunity and mood to heart and brain health.

Registered dietitian Jo Travers said: “Having a diverse mix of microbes in the gut can help support physical and mental wellbeing. Conversely, low diversity can put you at risk of conditions such as diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, eczema, arthritis, obesity and low energy levels.”