Our powerful jaw muscles, the hydrochloric acid in our stomach, the digestive enzyme cocktails produced by our pancreas – these are all powerless when it comes to digesting the structural carbohydrates found only in plants that we call fibre.
We have outsourced this job to our gut microbes, and they do it incredibly efficiently. When we serve our microbes a steady supply of fibre rich foods – fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, beans, and unprocessed plants – we immediately boost the production of Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA), substances that we can only get from our gut microbes and have so many health benefits that it is difficult to keep up with the research!
There are many variations of knives you can use in the kitchen. We decided that rather than getting lost in the world of different knives, we would instead tell you about our favourite 3. These are the most useful knives that will help to get you started and cooking up some magic!
The human gut microbiome consists of a vast diversity of microscopic organisms and is a crucial player in our overall health. The bacteria, yeasts, viruses, and archaea of the gut microbiome first appeared on Earth between 2 and 4 billion years ago. They’ve been with humans on every single step of our own 7-million-year evolutionary journey. So, it shouldn’t surprise you to learn that you don’t need probiotic supplements to optimise or ‘balance’ your gut microbiome. Despite a thriving probiotic industry – one that is worth a massive $70 billion a year – there is surprisingly little evidence to support the health claims often made by probiotic companies.
FODMAPS stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. These are small carbohydrates found in a variety of plant foods. These carbohydrates can be quite difficult for some people to break down and digest. If we don’t absorb them in our small intestine, they carry on down into our large intestine, where our gut microbiota lives (the bacteria that breaks down our fibres). Once the FODMAPS arrive here, they are broken down by our microbiome and this can cause bloating and gas, diarrhoea and sometimes constipation.
Our Gut Health Revolution course is part of our Whole Health Tribe Membership, serving as your essential first step to enhancing both your gut and overall physical health.
Led by gastroenterologist Dr. Alan Desmond, this course delves into the critical role gut health plays in your overall well-being, equipping you with the knowledge and tools to transform your gut health.
Dr Alan Desmond, AKA the Devon Gut Doctor, is Board Certified in both Gastroenterology and General Internal Medicine. He actively promotes a Whole Food Plant-Based Diet, particularly for patients with chronic digestive disorders.
"I loved the recipe frameworks and Dave and Steve were great. I gained so much knowledge and I am now much more creative and confident in the kitchen and I would really recommend the course to anyone looking to learn about cooking."
"I've lost weight, my energy levels have increased, I feel great and my thinking is much clearer. My kids are seeing me be a healthier dad too - I have just signed up for a triathlon, so they think I am a superhero! I really recommend this course!"
"The course has changed my life! I no longer feel bloated all the time and I have better energy. I loved cooking new dishes and discovering new ingredients. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who has a sensitive gut or anyone who just wants support to eat better and learn how to cook delicious meals."