You’d have to have been living under a (very large) rock to have escaped the fact that gut health is huge right now. Over the past decade, scientific knowledge about what is possibly the human body’s most complex system has sky-rocketed, and we’ve been quick to catch on.

We’re pretty clued up on how gut health impacts overall health and wellbeing, affecting everything from our mental health to our relationships, toilet habits and more. But it’s clear that when it comes to our digestive health, there’s still a lot to learn.

Research shows that most of us have a good working knowledge of the gut, and 82% of us agree that it’s important to take care of our digestive system – a fact that marketeers have been quick to latch on to. There’s a plethora of gut-related brands vying for our hard-earned cash, many backed by solid scientific research. From gut shots to supplements – you name it, you can buy it.

And it’s not just what we put in our mouths that makes a difference. Our gut health is influenced by a complex interplay of genetics, lifestyle, environment and more, which begs the question: can we really improve our gut health, or are we simply stuck with what we’re born with?

We asked the experts for their take.

How much of gut health is genetic, and can we improve it? We ask the experts