Getting help with your Gut Health

If you’ve found yourself struggling with your gut health lately, you’re not alone. Millions of people throughout the UK experience issues with their gut. But don’t worry, Imodium is here to help.
We surveyed 2,000 adults in the UK who suffer from gut health issues to help people navigate their triggers and improve their health. Our research revealed that 39% of those surveyed are frustrated by issues with their gut health, with many experiencing feelings of stress, embarrassment, and worry because of it.
Only 16% of respondents feel capable enough to deal with their gut health, and just 9% feel confident. So, there’s a huge demand for support – 75% of survey respondents agreed that they would like to have more help with understanding their gut health.

Getting to know your Gut

The first step in achieving good gut health is identifying what triggers bad symptoms for you. Even if you’re aware of what these triggers might be, you may still need some guidance on how to manage them. The cause of gut health issues can vary from person to person, but some of the most common triggers include:

• Problems with sleep

45% of respondents stated that they believed poor sleep is likely to trigger issues with their gut. Medical research has suggested that there’s a correlation between sleep fragmentation and short sleep duration with gut dysbiosis – a condition which occurs when the microorganisms within your gut become unbalanced.

• Travel

Ever heard of gut-lag? It’s a term used to describe when your digestive system becomes out of sorts when you travel to a different country. It can take time for your gut to acclimatise to a new environment, and moving between time zones can disrupt your body clock and result in issues like constipation or diarrhoea.

• Food

Certain foods can be another common trigger of gut health issues, especially when eating abroad. 29% of respondents believe their biggest gut health trigger is eating certain foods, highlighting the importance of establishing a gut-friendly diet. Common types of food that can cause gut health problems include:

• Dairy

• Grain, gluten and carbohydrate-rich foods

• Spicy and strongly flavoured foods

• Fried, fatty and oily foods

• Vegetables, fruits and plant-based foods

• Sugary processed and junk foods

• Alcoholic beverages and caffeinated drinks

• Acidic and citrus foods

If you suffer with gut health issues, it’s important for you to identify and manage your triggers. Imodium’s Gut2Know app can help you boost your gut health by helping you understand your gut with personalised data. You can track your mood, food and symptoms, and the app will help spot patterns to uncover any potential triggers to help reduce facing gut health problems. There’s also useful resources and insights available to help you boost your gut health knowledge and to help you stay motivated with personalised gut health goals.

Planning ahead

Our research revealed that people in the UK generally have good awareness and techniques for managing their gut health. 22% of survey respondents will often check that the places they’re going to provide gut-friendly options before committing to plans, with those aged 18-34 most likely to do so.

Julie Thompson, Information Manager at Guts UK says: “It’s brilliant to see that so many people are interested to learn about and better understand what works for them and their guts. If you are experiencing digestive symptoms, checking out what options are available to you before you visit a café or restaurant can be a great way to feel in control of your gut health.”

Popular tactics by the survey respondents for attempting to manage their gut health include avoiding certain foods, with 64% of women more likely to do this compared to 56% of men. Other techniques include:

• Staying hydrated

• Exercising regularly

• Using prescription medication

• Using over-the-counter medication

Julie Thompson, Information Manager at Guts UK says: “Staying hydrated, enjoying a balanced diet and exercising regularly are all brilliant ways to help keep your gut healthy. We wouldn’t recommend that anyone eliminate or avoid certain foods until they’ve sought advice from a healthcare professional, who might advise this to improve gut symptoms or help diagnose a digestive condition. If you’re experiencing digestive symptoms that are unusual for you, visit your pharmacy or GP.”

However, our research revealed that there’s still important work to be done. 59% of people would cancel plans, or avoid making plans, if they were concerned about their gut health. This was accompanied by feelings of embarrassment (26%) and isolation (9%).

Interestingly, individuals aged 18-24 were most likely to cancel or avoid making plans (64%), closely followed by people aged 25 to 34 (63%). The likelihood of doing so decreased with age, with just 52% of people aged 65 and over stating they would do so.

How to support your Gut Health

With the symptoms of poor gut health clearly having a huge impact on people of all ages, sufferers need to know where they can go to for support. The NHS website is an excellent source for health information, similarly, help can be found from a GP or pharmacist, health websites and certain charities. Social media sites are also becoming an increasingly used source, with 27% of 18 to 24-year-olds stating that they use social platforms for health information. However, advice on these platforms is not always reliable so it’s best to ensure any advice is from a qualified expert.

Young people in particular are in need of more readily available help and advice, with people aged 18 to 34 being the most eager (84%) to understand their gut health.

Julie Thompson, Information Manager at Guts UK says: “A growing number of people experiencing digestive symptoms are turning to social media to find answers to their gut health questions. Whilst it’s great that people feel empowered to learn more about their guts, it’s important that everyone can find reliable, trustworthy information that will help them to be better informed to make decisions about their own health.

“One of the best ways to get to know what is ‘normal’ for you is to understand your own symptoms and potential triggers for digestive issues. Keeping track of things like diet, sleep and stress can be a great place to start when it comes to getting to grips with your guts.”

Download the Gut2Know™ App to Boost Your Gut Knowledge

The survey results reveal a clear need for personalised gut health support in the UK. While some people may be aware of their triggers and know how to seek reliable information, many struggle with managing their symptoms and feel frustrated by the lack of tailored solutions. Imodium developed the Gut2Know app to track symptoms, uncover potential triggers and build new habits tailored to your gut needs.

Imodium^® is committed to empowering individuals and seeks to help you take control of your gut health.
Download the Gut2Know™ app today to boost your gut knowledge and start building new habits for a
healthier gut.