FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Our resident dietitian examines the hype around personalised nutrition

PULSES

Beans, peas and lentils are rich in fibre, the nutrient that your microbes thrive on. Half a tin of chickpeas contains a quarter of your daily fibre target. Throw into salads or whizz up a hummus.

ONIONS AND GARLIC

These contain prebiotics – specific fibres that feed the beneficial microbes in your gut. Use as cornerstone flavours in your kitchen.

KEFIR

It’s thought that this fermented milk drink may contain higher levels of gut-friendly microbes than regular dairy milk. Plain kefir is a versatile ingredient that can be used in sweet and savoury dishes – think smoothies, curries, dips and salad dressings.