Thinking that gut-healthy living has to be expensive

Perhaps the biggest barrier to looking after gut health is the expense. Eating plenty of fruit and veg every week may sound really expensive, let alone trying to find a dietitian to work with. But Dr Gill insists that there are “countless gut-friendly foods that are also budget-friendly”.

“Head to the canned aisle when you’re next at the supermarket and pick up some cans of legumes: kidney beans, butter beans, lentils, chickpeas (and the rest!) are considerably cheaper than meat-based products and ideal for bulking out meals (think bolognese, chilli, lasagne…).

“Also, remember with fruit and veg – it doesn’t have to be fresh. Dried, frozen and canned (in juice or water) all count.”

6 common mistakes people make when trying to improve their gut health, according to a gastroenterology dietitian