AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED IN THE GUARDIAN ON BEHALF OF MEDIAPLANET WHO TAKE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS CONTENTS

New technology
Leading the way
in gut research

Treat yourself
Gluten-free food
neednt be boring
No. 4 / August 2011

DIGESTIVE
HEALTH
A
SPECIAL

ISSUE
ON MAINTAINING
A HEALTHY
BALANCE

LOVE YOUR GUT

Know your body: Channel 4s Dr Christian Jessen on the
importance of being aware

PHOTO: PHOTOGRAPH PROVIDED BY CHANNEL 4

For over 75 years millions of

people have been listening to their gut.
Find out more at yakult.co.uk

2 AUGUST 2011

AN INDEPENDENT INSERT BY MEDIAPLANET

CHALLENGES
From genetics to greater understanding of bacteria, new
advancements in technology are enabling signicant progress
in gut research - but key areas remain where more still needs
to be known in order to truly optimise our health

WE RECOMMEND
Phil Vickery
TV Chef

PAGE 7

The guts of the matter

hese are exciting
times for gut research. New technologies allow rapid
sequencing of bacterial DNA and have
shown us that humans take our pick from around
1,150 bacterial species and that
we each have about 160 of these in
our colon.
We are starting to learn which
of these bacteria are potentially
harmful and which are benecial.
Intriguing patterns are emerging,
with an increase of E. coli adherent to the bowel lining in Crohns
disease and colon cancer and a reduction in a probiotic: Faecalibacterium prauznitzii in Crohns
disease. Generally probiotic bacteria seem better at maintaining
gut health than at treating pre-existing inammation, where they
may even be harmful but much
more research is still needed. Diet can have a major impact on gut

Professor Jonathan Rhodes

Gastroenterologist and President,
British Society of Gastroenterology

bacteria and on their interaction

with the gut lining but much still
needs to be learnt. Key issues that
research needs to answer include:
Which bugs are good for us? Which
are bad? And how can we best adjust
our diet to achieve the optimal balance of bacteria?
Some challenges do remain. Research costs money but this is always a matter of balancing priorities. Now that so much has been
learnt about the human genome

and its inuence on diseases we

need a shift of emphasis towards
more research into environmental factors that cause disease, particularly as we have more chance
of improving our environment
than our genes.
Current evidence suggests that
avoidance of excessive calories,
from whatever source, is likely to
have more benet on health than
any specic dietary change such
as increased broccoli or avoidance
of bacon butties. Hopefully we
will soon learn much more about
the relative merits of specic food
components and then be able to
give a better answer to the question Which ve a day are best?
and What should I avoid if I wish
to stay healthy? Meanwhile the
best guess advice would be not
too many calories, not too much red
meat, and plenty of leafy green vegetables. Also, make sure you rinse
those dishes ingestion of detergent
is not at all good for gut health!

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Check out Phils

gluten-free recipe
for Pecan Honey
Flapjacks

We make our readers succeed!

DIGESTIVE HEALTH,
4TH EDITION, AUGUST 2011
Managing Director: Willem De Geer
Editorial Manager: Faye Godfrey
Business Developer: Dominic Webber
Responsible for this issue
Project Manager: Katie Wozniak
Phone: 020 7665 4402
E-mail:
katie.wozniak@mediaplanet.com
Distributed with: The Guardian,
August 2011
Print: The Guardian Print Centre
Mediaplanet contact information:
Phone: 0207 665 4400
Fax: 0207 665 4419
E-mail: info.uk@mediaplanet.com

Love Your Gutevery day!

Get the inside track on your digestive system, from the ultimate gut health site
As a nation we seem to be eating more and carrying excess weight
around our midriffs. This could significantly increase the risk of developing
type 2 diabetes, heart disease, acid reflux and other digestive problems.
The Love Your Gut website is a valuable resource for anyone wanting
to find out more about digestive health. The site is user-friendly, easy
to navigate, and contains a wealth of useful, practical information from
expert tips to condition overviews to guidelines on when to see a doctor
and what to say when you do.

Millions of people in the UK are suffering from digestive problems.

But rather than suffer alone, or being too embarrassed to ask for
help, this Gut Week take action and love your gut!

www.loveyourgut.com is the lively, interactive site dedicated to

helping you maintain good gut health every single day of the year, so
whether youre on the first steps to better digestive health, or want advice
on keeping in good shape all year round, it offers a permanent digestive
health resource.
The site is an initiative of Gut Week, the digestive health campaign
organised annually by Core and the IBS Network in association with
Yakult.
And as this week is Gut Week (22-28 August), there are even more things
in store with a range of top tips, interviews and information from the
expert digestive health panel.
The wide range of expert information is presented in a clear, accessible
way, so as to encourage complete openness about the often-taboo
subject of digestive health.
Dr Nick Read, medical adviser to the IBS Network and supporter of the
Love Your Gut campaign, explains why this is so important:
Its a sad fact that many people develop serious digestive illnesses each
year simply because they ignore digestive symptoms, or dont know
where to seek help and advice.

Loveyourgut.com provides a wide range of gut health tips and tools

and you can even put a question in confidence to resident expert Dr Nick
Read, consultant gastroenterologist and psychotherapist, and medical
adviser to the IBS Network.

There is something for everyone so visit

loveyourgut.com and discover:
t
The ins and outs of your digestive system what it is, what it
does and the unique way in which it is communicating with
you every day;
t
A weekly blog, sharing the latest gut-related news, along with
tips and advice;
t
Delicious gut friendly recipes from Gut Week supporter
Antony Worrall Thompson;
t
Expert tips on gut-healthy living learn how small changes
to your diet, exercise and lifestyle regimens can make a big
difference to your digestive health;
t
An interactive games area: Tackle the Love Your Gut quiz
or take a trip round the digestive system, greeting the gut
goodies and battling with the baddies!;
t
FREE information packs download leaflets including a new
exercise leaflet to help you love your gut inside and out!

Log on todayyour gut will love you for it!

About the campaign partners:

Core - the Digestive Disorders Foundation - is an

independent national charity that funds medical
research into the prevention, cure and treatments of
all forms of digestive disorders. Core provides quality
information for sufferers on a wide range of digestive
problems through its web-site: www.corecharity.org.uk.
Core does not endorse any specific commercial or
pharmaceutical products.

The IBS Network is a national charity, which offers free

support, information and advice on Irritable Bowel
Syndrome (IBS) via its website (www.theibsnetwork.org.)
and telephone helpline. Members enjoy email
access to professional advice, a monthly newsletter,
magazine and comprehensive IBS self management
programme and receive cant wait cards.
The IBS Network does not endorse any specific
commercial or pharmaceutical products.

Yakult is the original probiotic drink, developed by

Dr Shirota back in 1935 and today consumed in 32
countries. Each bottle of Yakult contains 6.5 billion
probiotic bacteria, of the same unique Lactobacillus
casei Shirota strain isolated by Dr Shirota 75 years ago.
For more info, please see www.yakult.co.uk

4 AUGUST 2011

AN INDEPENDENT INSERT BY MEDIAPLANET

AN INDEPENDENT INSERT BY MEDIAPLANET

AUGUST 2011 5

INSPIRATION
Question: What is most important to know about coeliac
disease and its symptoms?
Answer: Coeliac disease is a serious illness for which a
gluten-free diet is key, but it frequently goes undiagnosed

FACTS
O
Most supermarkets now have a
range of glutenfree products and
many more cafes
and restaurants
are providing gluten-free options.
O
An increasing
range of gluten-free
cakes from chocolate brownies to
savoury treats are
available online.

The importance of being aware

CHANGE
In coeliac disease, the bodys immune
system attacks its own tissues when
gluten is eaten. This causes damage to
the lining of the gut so that the body
is not able to absorb nutrients from
food very well, explains Nicola Crawford-Taylor, dietitian at Coeliac UK.
It is not an allergy or simple food intolerance, its an autoimmune condition which is associated with longterm health complications such as
osteoporosis, infertility and small
bowel cancer if left untreated, points
out Crawford-Taylor.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat,
barley and rye. Some people with coeliac disease are also sensitive to oats.
Coeliac disease is treated with a lifelong gluten-free diet.
While around 1 in 100 people have
coeliac disease, crucially only 10-15
per cent are medically diagnosed, says

Crawford-Taylor. This can be due to a

number of reasons including the fact
that individuals themselves may not
recognise that they have any symptoms, she says. Symptoms can include
bloating, diarrhoea, wind, constipation, nausea, fatigue, anaemia, mouth
ulcers, headaches, sudden weight loss,
depression, joint/bone pain, recurrent
miscarriage and infertility. You should
visit your GP for testing if you have any
of these symptoms.
Coeliac disease is controlled by sticking to a strict gluten-free diet. Once
gluten is removed the gut heals and
improvements in symptoms and wellbeing usually occur within weeks.
A gluten-free diet is the only treatment for coeliac disease and should be
taken seriously; it is not a fad diet. Its
not fair to expect people to have a small
amount of gluten just this once, even
a small amount can cause symptoms,
she points out.

There is
no reason
why you
cant enjoy
delicious,
tasty food
on a glutenfree diet
Nicola
Crawford-Taylor,
Dietician,
Coeliac UK

O
Coeliac UK is a
fantastic resource
for information on all
things gluten-free.

Eating out can be challenging. You

should call the restaurant in advance,
explaining your need for a gluten-free
diet, suggests Crawford-Taylor. Baking
with gluten-free flours can be more difficult as gluten gives bread, cakes and
pastry their texture. Try experimenting
with different ours and ingredients.
There is no reason why you cant enjoy delicious, tasty food on a glutenfree diet, says Crawford-Taylor. It can
be an opportunity to try new foods and
experiment with different ingredients.
Its easy to adapt recipes by switching gluten-containing ingredients for
those that dont contain gluten, and a
wide range of gluten-free products are
now available in supermarkets.
For more information contact Coeliac UK
www.coeliac.org.uk or 0845 305 2060
EMILY DAVIES
info.uk@mediaplanet.com

O
To bake your
own treats, glutenfree cookbooks
are a good reference with glutenfree baking aids
available online or
in supermarkets.
EMMA GOSS-CUSTARD,
FOUNDER OF HONEYBUNS,
GLUTEN, WHEAT AND DAIRYFREE SPECIALIST BAKERS

GLUTEN-FREE GOODIES
These chocolate caramel
shortbreads are just one
of the treats you can still
enjoy on a gluten-free diet
PHOTO: HONEYBUNS

Gluten free?
You betcha.

Could this be you?

1 in 25* people with symptoms of
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
will have undiagnosed coeliac disease

Abso-bloomin-lutely loads and loads of gorgeously delicious

bits and bobs, like dried fruit, crunchy nuts, chocolate, yoghurt,
honey, seeds and even toasted oatsand yet still gluten free.
I know, unbelievable.

*Arch Intern Med. 2009 Apr 13;169(7):651-8

supporting coeliac awareness

For a free copy of Thinking IBS?

call 0800 783 1992 or email info@juvela.co.uk

6 AUGUST 2011

AN INDEPENDENT INSERT BY MEDIAPLANET

NEWS

Knowing your body

O
Question: Whats so vital
about digestive health?
O
Answer: Were not always
as aware of our digestive
health as we could be many
problems could be averted,
and benets reaped, with
greater knowledge and
awareness of our digestive
health
Digestive health is easy to ignore
but, left neglected, it can lead to
serious problems, says Dr Christian Jessen.
Good digestive health is key
to good overall health, and being
aware and proactive is key, says Dr
Jessen, supporter of Gut Week and
presenter of Embarrassing Bodies and Supersize v Superskinny
on Channel 4.
The digestive system is both
incredibly complex and incredibly efficient, its brilliant at separating out what the body needs,
Dr Jessen points out. Its like a
second brain, which doesnt seem
to need a second thought and does
what it needs to do very well but
this is also to its detriment. It often means that we never really
give it much thought until things
start going wrong.
Many gut disorders arise from
lifestyle issues from eating too
much to eating too quickly, leading to common problems such as

DR CHRISTIAN JESSEN. The presenter

of Embarrassing Bodies and Supersize
PHOTO:
v Superskinny gives his advice
PROVIDED BY CHANNEL 4

heartburn, constipation and diarrhoea, explains Dr Jessen. And

many are made worse by a lack of
exercise, especially constipation.
With exercise and the bowel quite
closely linked, exercise can be often all you need to get things moving, he says.
Add on top of that stress,
which, for instance, in my case
causes terrible heartburn that disappears again as soon as the period of stress is over, says Dr Jes-

sen. Many people develop terrible

digestive symptoms when under stress, he points out. While
for some destressing techniques
such as learning relaxation may
work, perhaps most important is
learning to recognise stress-related symptoms and learning how to
look after yourself during stressful times. Make sure, for instance,
youre not going long periods
without food, and avoid snacking
on sugary, fatty quick xes.
Knowing what works for you is
key, points out Dr Jessen. We have
this concept of three meals a day,
but thats not right for everyone.
For example, I prefer to graze on
small amounts of food throughout the day instead.
So much of our health revolves around how we live our
lives. Be aware of what you put
in your mouth, learn whats good
for you and what isnt, he says.
Theres no need to get too technical about it but awareness
and being informed is vital for
healthy eating.
Its all about listening to your
gut dont be afraid to work out
what those gurgles mean!
For more information visit
www.loveyourgut.com
EMILY DAVIES
info.uk@mediaplanet.com

FACTS
Probiotic products contain
bacteria (microora) found
naturally in the lower digestive
tract, which vary between individuals; changes can occur in illness or when taking antibiotics.
Taken in adequate amounts
probiotic products could increase the benecial microora
in the gut, strain is important.
Possibly benecial in adult IBS:
use for at least a month. If one
strain doesnt work, try another what works for one person wont
work for all.
Probiotics may also protect
from antibiotic-induced
diarrhoea: for maximum benet take at start of the antibiotics
course. They may prevent reoccurrence of ulcerative colitis.
Probiotics are unsuitable for
people with compromised immune function.
There is a little evidence
that manufactured prebiotics may give positive effects, but
more studies are needed. Start
with low doses, and monitor.
Julie Thompson, Gastroenterology
Dietitian and advisor to the
IBS Network

AN INDEPENDENT INSERT BY MEDIAPLANET

AUGUST 2011 7

INSPIRATION
PHIL VICKERYS RECIPE

PECAN HONEY
FLAPJACKS
I know everybody cooks apjacks,
but this recipe is bulked up with
the addition of roasted pecans
an idea I picked up in the States.
They really add to the avour
and texture.
Makes: 1012
Preparation: 10 minutes
Cooking: 1520 minutes
Vegetable oil, for oiling
100g pecan nut halves,
roughly chopped
200g butter
200g dark muscovado sugar
200g clear honey
400g porridge oats
100g sesame seeds
170g semi-dried cranberries
2 teaspoons ground allspice

THE METHOD
Preheat the oven to 180C/gas mark 4. Line a baking tray
with baking parchment. Oil a 33 24 3cm deep baking tin
and base-line with baking parchment.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking tin and press
down evenly.

Increase the oven temperature to 200C/gas mark 6.

Heat the butter, until melted, in a medium, non-stick pan.
Then add the sugar and honey and mix well until the sugar
has dissolved. Add the pecans, oats, sesame seeds,
cranberries and allspice and mix really well.

Heal and nurture

The restoration and maintenance of an adequate and
healthy digestive system. Its
key to recognise the difference
between probiotic medication
and probiotic food. Probiotic
medication is bought from a specialist, such as a pharmacy, and
is more powerful. Probiotic medication can also offer the benet
of being multi-strain and may
often also contain a prebiotic to
increase its efficacy.

Protect from infection

An improvement in resistance to infection: both gastrointestinal infections and general infections (including parasites).

Ward off allergies

The reduction of development of food allergies and
intolerances particularly important because of the increase
in food allergies (with a 700 per
cent increase in UK hospital admissions for food allergies in the
last 20 years).

Bake for 1520 minutes or until golden.

Place the pecans on the lined tray, and brown them well in
the oven for 810 minutes. Once browned, remove from the
oven and cool.

TOP THREE BENEFITS

OF PROBIOTICS

Once cooked, allow the apjacks to cool in the tin and then
cut into 1012 even pieces.
* TO FREEZE: Wrap well and store in a plastic bag.
* TO STORE: The apjacks will keep for 1 week in an airtight
container.
This recipe is extracted from Seriously Good! Gluten-Free Baking
by Phil Vickery, published by Kyle Cathie. Photography: Steve Lee.

Dr David Dowson, specialist in

complementary and nutritional
medicine, Protexin Probiotics

NEW FACTORY OPENING

Big Oz are proud to announce the imminent
opening of their new gluten-free facility in
West London.
The focus will be on extruded products
including corn flakes,rice flakes,buckwheat
and millet flakes.
We will continue with our present products
including rolled flakes and puffs and coated
products.
The gluten-free range has always been a
prime objective for our company since we
started, as our market research indicated a
clear need for special diet breakfast cereals.

Sadly the coeliac population is increasing and

the expansion of our premises will ensure that
we can continue to meet this demand.
Chairman of the company, Mark Lynch
said: We are very excited about the new
developments at Big Oz which will allow
us to manufacture a wider range of glutenfree products.Our new extruded line offers
shaped and coated products for gluten
intolerant people giving them a wider choice
of breakfast cereal

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