New Year Health-Kicks & Gut Health Essentials

In January, many of us polish off the running shoes, put away the indulgent foods and have a re-set. With more than two thirds of Brits setting themselves a New Year’s Resolution, January is the prime time for starting new habits and new routines. With health being amongst the most common themes, consumers naturally alter their spending habits away from those sweet treats and instead toward healthier alternatives. At Meadow, we are continuously investing in research to expand and improve our ranges, whether it’s our low-in-fat dairy, plant-based or sugar-free portfolio.

Why is it Important to Have a Healthy Gut?

Also known as the gut microbiome, the gut is made up of trillions of bacteria, fungi and viruses that are essential and beneficial for our health.

The gut microbiome is responsible for boosting our immune system whilst breaking down the nutrients in the foods we eat. The better our gut-health, the more nutrients we absorb. So, the better our levels of serotonin, melatonin, dopamine, and adrenaline. This means that keeping our gut healthy can make us happier, help us sleep better, make us more alert and give us more motivation.  ‘You are what you eat’ isn’t just a throw away phrase, instead, because of the gut, what you eat does indeed make you feel and behave differently.

How to Have a Healthy Gut

Fermented Foods:

Fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, skyr, sauerkraut and kimchi are often high in protein, calcium and vitamins. They also contain probiotics which are friendly yeasts and bacteria that keep your gut happy. With yogurts being the better-established and most popular category of the fermented foods, Meadow supplies a flexible range of cultured dairy products, from bio yogurts to crème fraîche – all of which contain those gut-helpful necessities.

Limit Artificial Sweeteners:

Artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, saccharin, stevia and sucralose can have an adverse effect on the gut. Consumers tend to look for products containing natural sugars such as honey or agave, or they search for entirely sugar-free alternatives. At Meadow, we offer a variety of sugar-free products such as our unsweetened and cultured sour cream that makes for a perfect substitute for the indulgent consumer looking for a healthy snack or dip.

Go Plant-based:

A plant-based diet is naturally lower in fat, which favours the trillions of important bacteria inside the gut microbiome. With the January health-kick aligning with Veganuary, it is important to seize the opportunity of consumers willing to experiment with new diets and new foods. That’s why Meadow is continuously capital in its plant-based solutions and currently offers a variety of dairy free yogurts, creams, custards, milks and soft cheeses.

Find What’s Gut-Friendly:

Spinach, blueberries, green tea and dark chocolate are all rich in polyphenols; gut-friendly nutrients that offer protection against the development of certain cancers, heart diseases, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. In 2023, Meadow acquired Naked Foods which enabled us to expand our product portfolio and include organically sourced foods such as fruit preps for yogurts, dairy drinks and ice-creams, that further keep up with consumer trends of sustainability, gut-health and clean eating.

Reducing Stress:

Going on walks, sleeping well, meditating, reducing phone activity and exercising are all ways in which we can manage stress. Both stress and gut health go hand-in-hand; being stressed can promote the consumption of unhealthy foods, whilst eating unhealthy foods can also negatively impact stress levels. With gut-health impacting mental well-being, it is important to continuously promote the consumption of healthy foods and alternatives.

Let’s Recap

• Looking after the gut microbiome is the key to enhancing performance, boosting your mental health, keeping you physically healthy and preventing disease in the long term.
• Reducing stress whilst eating balanced, varied, plant-based and probiotic foods are essentials to keeping your gut happy

To find out more about Meadow’s products, visit our website or browse our full brochure here.