Trust your gut!
Nutritionist Rosemary Ferguson tells Rosamund Dean why you could be underestimating your body’s secret weapon
there’s nothing like a pandemic to make you think about your immunity, and what you can do to futureproof your health as we venture back out into this uncertain world. Experts agree you can’t ‘boost’ your immune system as such, but you can support your body’s immune response – by getting enough sleep, keeping active, reducing stress where you can (I know, easier said than done), and making good decisions about what you eat (more veg, less sugar: the broad strokes of nutrition remain very simple). Yet, is there one element of health you might be overlooking?
Nutritionist and naturopath Rosemary Ferguson is on a mission to get people to pay attention to their gut. The gastrointestinal tract, through which food is digested then expelled, is not the sexiest element of human biology. ‘But your body’s immune system lies in the gut,’ says Rosemary, so it’s one of the most important elements of keeping your body fighting fit.
‘Gut health truly is the starting point when addressing issues in the body,’ she explains. ‘They say we are what we eat – but really we are what we digest and absorb. Good digestion turns food into fuel for your body’s cells. Many people have poor digestion, which makes them feel fatigued, foggy, bloated and gassy, with nutritional deficiencies, constipation, diarrhoea, weight gain, low immune function and hormonal imbalances – to name just a few of the issues! If the gut isn’t working, nothing is.’
How to show your gut some love? Clearly, what you eat is a good place to start, and you know much of the nutrition advice already: veg, veg, veg, plus ‘fresh wholefoods in their purest form’, says Rosemary. ‘And avoiding processed, sugary foods is a huge step in the right direction, but a healthy gut also needs a good balance of bacteria. Your gut holds trillions of bacteria that process food, produce nutrients and fight disease.’
Wholegrains, beans and (sorry to bang on, but) veg are all great sources of fibre, which will keep your gut running smoothly, and fermented foods are brilliant for repopulating your gut’s good bacteria – try
live yogurt, sourdough and kefir or miso.
While nutrition is clearly vital, don’t underestimate the importance of reducing stress and keeping your body moving. One of Rosemary’s best tips is establishing a routine or starting a challenge as a good way of getting motivated to exercise or meditate. That’s why initiatives like the NHS’S Couch To 5K are so popular.
And it’s not only your immunity that will benefit. According to Rosemary, everything from your sleep and your hormones to your mental health will improve. ‘The gut has everything to do with everything,’ she explains. ‘95% of your serotonin [known as the happy hormone] is made in your gut. It’s why they call your gut your “second brain”. It’s also a chemical transmitter that works closely with melatonin, so can affect your sleep, which is crucial for your mood.’
Rosemary is an excellent advert for her advice. Even over Facetime, she glows with good health – which admittedly is partly down to the excellent genes that led to her first career as a model. She spent 15 years in the industry, shooting Prada campaigns and walking for Alexander Mcqueen, while partying with the Primrose Hill set – and you need good genes for your skin to stand up to that kind of lifestyle. She married artist Jake Chapman in 2004 and they now live in the Cotswolds with daughters Bliss, 14, and Blythe, 13. Her eldest, Elfie, 20, has also gone into modelling and is on the books at the Kate Moss Agency.
‘I modelled for a long time: travelling, working, playing and feeling run-down,’ Rosemary says. ‘I spent an even longer time being less than angelic!’ It’s one reason why Rosemary’s approach is so popular – she is all about balance and knows the importance of eating and drinking things that you enjoy. It only becomes a problem if you overdo it. ‘I am well-versed in fatigue and stress, which is what led me to study nutrition,’ she says. ‘I qualified as a naturopath and nutritionist in 2009, and have nearly completed my Functional Medicine qualifications too.’
Now she has never been happier and, for anyone considering a post-lockdown career change, she is the poster girl for selfreinvention. ‘I love my job!’ she grins. ‘It’s an ever-changing field, which is very exciting. In clinic, I’m constantly faced with different scenarios, and with that comes a huge sense of reward, knowing you’ve helped someone.’ Her advice for anyone thinking of taking the leap? ‘Do your research on where you’d like to study, as there are so many options. But it’s never too late, you can train at any age,’ she declares, ‘so go for it!’