Gut health myths debunked

Do you really need to pop probiotics, load up on kombucha and eliminate dairy to have a healthy gut?

While there are plenty of products claiming benefits for your gut, the evidence for them isn't always that clear-cut.

Some products can be beneficial, depending on the issues you're experiencing, but changes to your diet and lifestyle can also make a big difference.

We asked leading experts for some of the most persistent gut health myths they encounter, and their top tips on what really works.

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Top gut health myths and why you shouldn't fall for them

Myth 1: It's as simple as taking probiotics

Just reaching for a probiotic in your local health food store is unlikely to be a magic bullet solution. And expensive doesn't necessarily mean better.

Different probiotic strains have differing levels of effectiveness depending on your specific health issue.

More research is needed for the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to approve any health claims linked to probiotics. There is some evidence that probiotics can help with IBS symptoms and antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, but it's important to match the bacteria strain to your specific symptoms.

If you're generally in good health, the jury is out on whether there is any benefit to taking probiotics.

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Myth 2: Cutting out food groups is the answer

Exclusionary diets have gained steam over the past few years, with dairy and gluten often in the firing line, but these diets are unlikely to be suitable for most people – unless you have a diagnosed medical condition such as lactose intolerance or coeliac disease.

Gut health expert, Dr Megan Rossi, says: 'cutting out any food group unnecessarily can impact your gut microbes and decrease gut microbe diversity'. It can also lead to nutritional deficiencies.

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Myth 3: You need to buy specialist products to support your gut

There might be a glut of new products and supplements vying for your attention, but including more plant-based food into your diet is a much simpler solution, and often more cost-effective than supplements. 

When we asked experts for the single best thing you can do for your general gut health, the answer was clear. Aim to include a variety of fruits, vegetables and legumes (beans and pulses such as lentils) in your diet.

Good gut food: what to eat

• Prebiotic foods such as onions, garlic and leeks will help the good bacteria in your gut to thrive 
• Fibre from fruit, veg and whole grains aids digestion and encourages healthy bowel movements
• Probiotic foods such as yoghurts and fermented foods include strains of good bacteria similar to those in your gut

Cooking with frozen fruit and veg, and tinned beans and pulses – such as chickpeas, kidney beans and lentils – is a good cheap way to feed your gut good things without blowing your budget in the health food aisle.

Don't forget the fibre

It's not as trendy as some of the new gut health products, but most of us could do with adding more fibre to our diet. It's thought that we need to consume around 30g of fibre a day, but the average Brit consumes an estimated 18g a day.

There is strong evidence that eating lots of fibre lowers the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, bowel cancer and more.

It also helps you feel fuller for longer, can aid digestion and prevent constipation. Many fibrous foods are also prebiotics, making these choices a win-win for digestive health. See our tips on cheap and easy ways to get more fibre.

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Myth 4: Gut health remedies work in the same way for everyone

Everyone's gut is different, so something that your neighbour claims is a miracle cure might well be a waste of money for you.

According to Dr Simon Gaisford, professor of pharmaceutics at UCL, the difficulty lies largely with the fact that 'nobody knows what a normal microbiome should look like, and the diversity of gut bacteria will always vary from person to person'.

For best results, you need to tailor treatment to your specific symptoms. For example, certain strains of probiotics have some evidence of reducing IBS symptoms, but others don't.

Some treatments might actively make things worse. For example, large doses of prebiotics could actually trigger IBS symptoms.

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Myth 5: Changing your diet or taking probiotics will yield immediate results

Introducing a sudden change to your gut – even if it's something healthy such as eating more fibre – can initially disrupt your microbiome and produce side effects such as gas and bloating.

It's best to make any changes gradually instead, increasing your fibre intake bit by bit and allowing your gut to adjust before adding more. 

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Myth 6: Adding prebiotics will help gut symptoms

Prebiotics feed the probiotics in your gut. There are lots of different types, and they're in a wide range of foods, including apricots, dried figs, grapefruit, brussels sprouts, garlic, onions, leeks, barley, rye and legumes. 

As they're so widely available in foods you shouldn't really need to take a prebiotic supplement, and some people should take extra care.

Prebiotics can be problematic for some, especially those with IBS or taking certain medications, triggering unwanted symptoms such as bloating and discomfort.

Sometimes prebiotics are added to probiotic supplements, so it's worth checking the ingredients before you buy.