When it comes to supplements, what should you be taking?

Studies show that getting vitamins and minerals from the diet is always best, however if you are busy and don’t always manage to eat your five-a-day, supplements could come in handy. They are also a good idea if you are pregnant or vegetarian or vegan. If you follow a plant-based diet, you are more at risk of a vitamin B12 deficiency, so consider supplementing with B12 as well as a vegan omega-3 as well as 1000mg of vitamin C. Always read the label on a supplement – many capsules contain animal products, fillers and artificial ingredients.

What are some of the easiest ways to improve gut health?

Start by drinking water, and plenty of it between meals. Eat a clean, wholefoods, plant-focused diet that is rich in fibre, healthy fats and protein. Also eat plenty of fermented foods, which are naturally rich in probiotics, such as tofu, tamari, sauerkraut, water kefir and kombucha, and minimise or eliminate processed foods and sugar. Also look at what medicine you are taking, particularly antibiotics and painkillers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol, which can affect your microbiome.

Are superfoods really a thing?

The word ‘superfood’ is largely a marketing term. Foods that are marketed as superfoods do have wonderful health properties, but if you look at the studies, they are often carried out in lab conditions with astronomical amounts of the so-called superfood. You’d simply never be able to consume the same amount in daily life in order to achieve the effects claimed. Don’t overlook the less glamorous ingredients that are just as important in our diets – apples and carrots, beetroot and cabbage. They’re the foods you find at your corner shop and supermarket, not expensive health stores. And they’re nutritional champions, too.

Can intermittent fasting help with weight loss?

Intermittent fasting can be a good way to kickstart a weight loss programme. Instead of requiring macronutrient restriction (i.e., monitoring calories from protein, carbs and fats), it instead focuses on meal timing. The goal with intermittent fasting is to develop lifestyle changes. Developing an eating routine that incorporates meal timing automatically creates an internal sense of awareness about our food choices. Planning meals throughout the day makes us more conscious of the types and portions that we select. By practicing cycling through periods of fasting and eating while consuming wholesome, substantial meals with quality ingredients, we start to lessen cravings for foods high in sodium or refined sugar.