Gut health support programme

The suggestion for this programme is to cut out common foods that irritate, or slow down our digestion. So we cut out wheat, and other gluten containing cereals, cow’s milk dairy, red meat, alcohol, caffeine, and sugar. But you’ll get a detailed PDF with great recipe and drink suggestions, and daily support from me to help you with planning and prepping meals, so it won’t feel too restrictive as you’ll have some delicious suggestions. 

Most of the recipe suggestions are pretty simple, and I can give you some helpful swaps for meals you regularly cook too. Many of the recipes are fairly family friendly, but you might find you need to batch cook a few meals for yourself to help you through a busy week.

Ideally you’ll cut them out completely for the 3 weeks, but if something slips back in, it’s fine, it’s great to understand WHY that felt important, and to drink plenty of water and get back on track as soon as you can. It’s my intention that this is as much about what you learn about your habits as the gut health re-boot itself. 

Ideally you’ll keep clear of alcohol, and desserts, but you can often find great menu choices nowadays - perhaps choosing a vegan curry with rice, or asking for salad instead of chips with your meal. I tend to take a look at a menu in advance of going out (I have dietary restrictions so this is essential) and you can always share the options with me in the group, and I’ll help you choose. I’ve got a wedding mid way through the programme, so will take a bag of nuts,  oatcakes, and some olives,  just in case the food doesn’t quite meet my requirements. 

If you decide to do the programme I suggest that you start cutting down on caffeinated drinks in the week or two before we start, and to choose decaf versions of coffee and tea. However, you’ll find it interesting HOW much you don’t need the caffeine to get going once it’s out of your system (but if you’re a heavy caffeine user, you will get some withdrawal symptoms on about day 2 or 3 - so it might be good to take a look at your work diary and plan accordingly!). Having done this programme a few times I now only drink coffee and tea for the pleasure of it, and generally only one cup a day, as I don’t need the caffeine! 

I find the supplements really support the dietary change, in ‘theory’ they will help the healing of the gut wall, support the good gut bacteria and support your detox pathways. And although I think all supplement claims can be taken with a pinch of salt, I do find these helpful. Supplements include a magnesium supplement, a multivitamin, probiotics, a protein shake with additional soluble and insoluble fibre, and one that I can only describe as pond water but that delivers zinc, chromium and other essential nutritions in liquid form. I can send over details of these if you pop me an email!