Why tummy troubles have increased during the pandemic

There’s been a surge in the number of people presenting to dietitians with gut health issues since the pandemic began.

Dietitian Dr Joanna McMillan says there’s “a whole lot of different reasons for it”.

“People are eating differently. They’re having to prepare all of their meals and they’re actually getting a bit fed up of that, or they’re resorting to lots of kind of comfort foods,” she said.

“Then we’ve got all the stress and anxiety on top of that, and all of us know that stress can affect your gut.”

Dr McMillan says diet changes including eating lots of fibre, drinking plenty of water and eating a diverse range of plant foods can help with gut problems.

Press PLAY below to hear more about how the pandemic has fuelled a rise in gut problems