Nearly half of us are troubled by IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Most of us suffer in silence but there some simple ways that we can all improve our gut health.

The first tip is to not leave it too long between meals. Diet is important and it should come as no surprise that what you eat also influences your symptoms. As well as what you eat you should also be careful about how often you eat too.

Eat regularly and don’t leave it too long between meals and make sure you don’t skip meals either.

Another tip is too avoid excess caffeine. This van have a negative effect on the gut and can promote wind and gas. Try to limit yourself to a few cups a week instead of every day, make it a treat instead of a habit.

Avoid excess alcohol too. Recent research suggests that too much alcohol is bad for your health, but that shouldn’t be news to most of us. Red wine, can be beneficial, but not too much. It’s actually better than grape juice, but just one glass instead od a whole bottle.

Carbonated drinks are also a source of gas in the intestine which contributes to flatulence. Instead drink water or herbal teas, fizzy drinks can also make you feel anxious so could be affecting your mood as well.

If excess wind and bloating is your most common symptom,you might want to cut down on take aways too, as certain ingredients will induce gas.

Probiotics can help, but make sure you’re taking one that is clinically proven, and there are plenty of them on the supermarket shelves.  Go for something that tastes good, and that encourages you to go back for more.

Diet is also important, and if you feel that you’re doing all of the above without any success, then it may be time to consult a dietician and discuss your personal dietary requirements in more depth.It could be that wheat and dairy are interfering with the health of your gut, as these are quite common allergies.