Nutrition expert Rhiannon Lambert has recommended that everyone should include a certain ultra-processed food in their diet for better gut health. Speaking to Olivia Attwood on the ‘So Wrong It’s Right’ podcast, Rhiannon was questioned whether “baked beans or beans in general” cause people to be “gassy”.
She reassured listeners that baked beans are fine as they fall under the “beans and pulses” category. Rhiannon elaborated: “It’s kind of a fad because it depends on how used to having baked beans you are or beans in general because your gut buds love beans and pulses.”
“So, when they eat a food, they then give off gas as a byproduct. So if you’re not used to eating a high amount of fibre and suddenly you do, your gut buds will go crazy.”
She further stated, “[It’s] an example of an ultra-processed food that’s good and you should have because it’s one of the super six, it’s beans and pulses.”
Rhiannon also encouraged diversifying diets by saying, “I want everyone to get more and also replace some of your animal produce every week. For example, if you have meat every day try and swap it for half and half.”, reports Gloucestershire Live.
In the candid discussion about health and diets, Olivia probed Rhiannon about her own dietary indulgences.
To Olivia’s astonishment, Rhiannon confessed to a significant craving during her pregnancy, admitting: “I know I’m a nutritionist but it doesn’t mean I eat perfectly. I love sugar. I think there’s definitely a psychological component to it but when I was pregnant I could live off milk chocolate buttons, I mean like daily, it was bad.”
“So just to make anyone feel better we all have our things, but now if I’m looking at it I now for instance pick chocolate that doesn’t have as much preservatives in it.”
Rhiannon also highlighted that the secret to forming healthier eating habits isn’t an all-or-nothing approach, but rather allowing oneself to indulge in what she terms “enjoyed items” occasionally. She elaborated: “I’m a big believer…that if you allow yourself enjoyed items you’re less likely to binge, less likely to overeat and you do not have these crazy cravings. It’s people that are very all or nothing…it’s not helpful because it doesn’t instil a healthy relationship with food.”
In the quest for optimal gut health, which plays a crucial role in overall bodily function, certain foods can either be beneficial or detrimental.
Research suggests that coffee might be an effective ally for gut health. Nicola Shubrook, a registered nutritionist, told the Telegraph about the benefits of coffee for the gut: “The microbiome comprises legions of species of ‘good bacteria’ that work collectively and individually to improve our health. These microbes are increasingly being seen to benefit our metabolic health, weight management and mental health.”
She added, “Coffee contains several compounds that act as a prebiotic, which means that they nourish the probiotic beneficial bacteria by providing them with nutrients necessary for growth and function.”