A pampering treatment programme for the gut

Eat in moderation: Back in the 1960s, scientists discovered that the lifespan of mice with an excessive supply of food was half that of mice who slightly lacked food.

The gut loves regular breaks of at least four to five hours, and it abhors snacks. Between meals, you should provide the body with plenty of fluids, but avoid drinking while you eat.

Raw food is a particular challenge for the gut, especially if we don’t properly predigest, i.e. chew, our food. In addition to fermentation, which produces gas and alcohol, not chewing properly can lead to a higher intensity of putrefaction in the intestines.

The gut is a traditionalist. It agrees with the old saying that we should ‘eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dine like a pauper.’ 

Treat your gut to an occasional wellness treatment by skipping dinner once or twice a week. This is also known as dinner cancelling.

Enjoy meals with all of your senses, taking plenty of time, in a quiet environment without distractions. This ensures that, when it arrives in the gut, your food is well chewed and predigested.

Banish industrial, denatured products from your kitchen – including probiotic yoghurts. The gut loves ‘honest foods’, and prefers unsweetened, full-fat, organic products.

Know your food allergies and intolerances, and eat accordingly.

The gut really does not like antibiotics: when they are unavoidable, protect your intestinal flora by eating live natural yoghurt during and after your treatment. A single course of antibiotics can upset the gut flora for up to a year!

Treat yourself and your gut to one or two Mayr programmes a year to cleanse the digestive system.