Tim Spector says add one ingredient to gravy to boost gut health this winter
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A nutrition expert has urged people to add just one spoonful of a tasty ingredient to their gravy to boost gut health this winter. The popular paste could also lower your risk of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, according to some studies. At this time of year many of us will be eating more than usual and indulging in foods we might otherwise avoid or limit. This can have an impact on our health, particularly on our guts if we consume certain foods or drinks that can be harmful in excess.
Luckily there are ways to minimise this impact. Firstly, consuming everything in moderation is a good way to start. But Professor Tim Spector revealed that adding a specific food to your dinner could help offset any problems with your gut over the winter. The founder of Zoe Health advised flavouring your gravy with miso for this reason.
Miso is a fermented soybean paste from Japan that provides a deep, savoury flavour to dishes. The fact it is fermented means it has multiple benefits for the gut including enhancing the diversity of gut microbes and decreasing inflammation. Speaking in a post uploaded to Instagram, Tim urged people to “add fermented foods to your plate”. This includes things like sauerkraut and kimchi.
These make “great additions and appetisers alongside cheese, crackers, olives, etcetera,” he said. Tim continued: “Miso is also great in dips and even gravy for that extra umami flavour. Various studies have looked into the health benefits of miso. A study from 2021 found that women with type 2 diabetes who consumed miso soup every day had lower HbA1c (a way of measuring blood sugar control) levels compared to those who didn’t.
