Gut Hub

It’s time for change

Modern diets are packed with ultra-processed, high fat, sugar and salt foods, contributing to record levels of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal conditions, poor sleep, chronic stress, and more.

Our gut is the control centre for our physical and mental health, our daily wellbeing and our weight, yet education on how to create and support a healthy gut is shockingly poor. In fact, it’s completely absent from our education and healthcare systems, and we want to change that.

The first step to achieving better health is by achieving better gut health, and you can do this through simple, actionable changes, including understanding your poo!

*Based on 32,000 responses to the DRV+ quiz.

The powerhouse behind your health

Your gut is responsible for the digestion and absorption of nutrients which are the building blocks for almost everything in your body, from your energy, immune health, your stools and your sleep, to your concentration, skin health and much more!

Everything your body does requires nutrients including, but not limited to, building and repairing cells, making energy & hormones, your brain function, blood function and muscle function. Proper digestion and absorption of nutrients is a core factor in our health and survival.

31% of people from our skin health survey reported poor gut health impacting their skin health. Digestive problems in the gut can break down the protective antimicrobial barrier and impair its function, which can make our skin vulnerable to inflammation.

Poor gut health can lead to inflammation and an overgrowth of harmful bacteria, which can then travel to the vaginal area and disrupt the delicate balance of the vaginal microbiome.

Our digestive system has a big influence on our immune system. Around 70-80% of your immune system originates from your gut, so if you want to stay well, making gut health a priority is essential.

An imbalance in gut bacteria means more metabolites are produced, which can raise cholesterol levels or harm our blood vessels.

A healthy gut microbiome helps increase the production and communication of our happy hormone called 'serotonin.' 95% of serotonin is produced from the gut and sent back up to the brain, calming our mood. 50% of people from our gut survey felt more stressed and suffered from poor sleep as a result of poor gut health.

75% of our gut health survey respondents who had poor gut health indicted a lack of energy. Your gut helps absorb the nutrients from the foods you eat to fuel your energy and brain.

Two-thirds of our gut health survey respondents struggled with their weight. Different types of bacteria living in the gut can have different impacts on health. Example, the Mediterranean Diet seems to have beneficial impacts to the gut microbiome promoting a healthy life and could be a useful tool against obesity. Dietary strategies targeting the gut microbiota have been shown to be successful in decreasing obesity and metabolic disorders via different molecular mechanisms.

6 Signs of an unhealthy gut

When your gut is out of balance it will be sure to let you know. In our gut survey, 44% of people said their gut health restricts how they go about their daily life, a third of people avoid social contact and going out as a result of their gut health, while 30% of people experience mild depression.

Here are the top signs to look out for that may indicate your gut is in need of some love.

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Skin conditions

Healthy bowel movements sweep toxins out of the body, if natural detoxification doesn't occur, toxins will be reabsorbed through the gut, and the body has to push them out through the skin, causing redness and acne.

Poor concentration

The main chemicals needed for concentration are acetylcholine, dopamine and noradrenaline, and they're produced in the gut by probiotics. Disruptions to probiotic numbers will decrease these chemicals and in turn your ability to concentrate and focus.

Gas and bloating

Gas and bloating can occur for a few reasons. Low stomach acid and enzyme production can inhibit the breakdown of foods, fibres, sugar, fats or protein, and allows bacterial fermentation which creates gas and bloating.

Constipation

Constipation is an obvious sign of an unhealthy digestive system. Constipation can be caused by a lack of probiotics, which provide most of the weight of faecal matter.

Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea occurs when the gut is irritated due to parasites, detrimental bacteria, poorly digested foods or food sensitivities.

Insomnia

Insomnia is a common problem and affects life quality. Research shows you're more likely to suffer poor sleep or insomnia if you suffer poor digestion or IBS.

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How food impacts gut health

Discover factors impacting gut health in the UK diet and foods that can help support it.

59% of people from our survey into gut health stated bread and refined carbs trigger gut health issues.

Foods to reach for

Foods to avoid

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Gut health explained

A troubled gut, poor digestion and IBS are very common problems. Our own customer survey shows that more than 4 in 10 people regularly suffer digestion issues, and 1 in 4 people suffer symptoms of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).* Poor gut health can not only be uncomfortable and debilitating, it is also likely to cause other physical and mental symptoms that may affect your day-to-day life.

Gut Health

The hidden burden of gut health

Our survey of 811 adults reveals how widespread, multi-symptom and life-affecting gut health issues really are - and how poorly current options meet the need.

811 respondents

October 2022

Cross-sectional customer survey

92% report gut issues

81% experience bloating

97% say it affects wider wellbeing

Study Findings

We surveyed 811 adults on the prevalence, breadth and psychosocial impact of gut symptoms, and the strategies they use to manage them.

What we found:

92% reported some degree of gut issues, carrying a mean of 6.2 symptoms each - led by bloating (81%), fatigue (62%) and wind (52%). 97% said gut health affected another area of wellbeing such as energy, weight or mood, and 67% found symptoms worsened with anxiety. No management strategy was rated 'very effective' by more than one in five users.

What This Means

It's rarely just one symptom

Mean 6.2 symptoms per person; 41% had seven or more at once.

Gut issues cluster rather than appear in isolation.

It spills into everything

97% said gut health affects energy, weight or mood.

And 67% report a clear gut–anxiety link.

A real unmet need

No strategy was 'very effective' for more than 1 in 5.

Pointing to demand for genuinely effective options.

Read the abstract

Women's HealthGut Health

How menopause reshapes gut health

Our survey of 1,526 women shows that gut health deteriorates for most women during menopause - usually beginning in perimenopause.

1,526 respondents

January 2024

Cross-sectional customer survey

67% report worse gut health

73% experience bloating

79% feel a psychosocial impact

Study Findings

We surveyed 1,526 women across the menopausal transition on gut symptoms, their timing, frequency and downstream impact.

What we found:

66.8% reported noticeably worse gut health since menopausal symptoms began - typically starting in peri-menopause (58%). Bloating led (73%), experienced daily or near-daily by 77% of those affected. 79% reported a psychosocial consequence. Among gut-targeted supplements assessed, Gut Works® rated strongest (78.4% positive).

What This Means

It starts earlier than expected

58% first noticed gut changes in peri-menopause.

Often before menopause is formally established.

Persistent, not occasional

77% of bloating sufferers experience it daily or near-daily.

With a mean of 3.4 gut symptoms per woman affected.

Diet alone isn't enough

Only 11% found dietary change 'very effective'; Gut Works® led supplements at 78.4%.

Targeted support outperformed diet for most women

Read the abstract

Types of poo & what it means about your health

Because poo is not something widely discussed, many people are left wondering if their poo is normal and they're unaware of the signs of ill health that it can point to. There are many variations of poo, and each one indicates an area of health that is either in or out of balance in our gut.

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