Gut microbiota dysfunction has been associated with an extensive list of illnesses including asthma, autism, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, coeliac disease, cardiovascular disease, eczema, psoriasis and cancer. It is safe to assume that gut health is involved in most health issues. The exciting prospect though, is that unlike our genes, our gut microbiota are to some extent malleable; we can alter them and the chemicals they produce, thereby altering their influence on our health.

And the key factors that affect our gut microbiota include stress, diet, exercise, sleep and contact with nature. This developing area holds huge potential, but it is important not to overstate what we know at this stage. A lot of claims are being made about commercial products and this should make us wary. This is a relatively new and extremely complex area with so many influencing factors at play. I take care to respect this fact in my approach to supporting gut health.