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Published 11:07 30 Jul 2026 BST
Add us as a preferred source on Google »Taking care of your gut health may seem like another wellness trend, but it's something many Irish people have been ignoring for far too long.
New research by Yakult has discovered that gut health affects the everyday lives of millions of Irish adults. However, it appears to impact women more than anyone in Ireland, but what can we actually do to improve our gut health?
Women appear to be bearing the greatest burden, with twice as many reporting daily gut issues compared to men (14% vs 7%). They are also more likely to have avoided work, social occasions, travel, or other activities because of it (38% vs 26%), while almost one in four (24%) say stress affects their gut health "a great deal", compared with 12% of men.
Despite this widespread impact, many people still take a reactive rather than proactive approach to caring for their gut. More than half (55%) only think about their gut health occasionally or when problems arise, while just one in five (21%) actively manage it.
But what can we do to be proactive when it comes to gut health?
Medical experts have stressed the importance of a healthy diet. Many things cause poor gut health, but a bad diet and excess alcohol consumption are two of the most common causes.
However, you can make proactive changes to improve your gut health, including lowering stress levels, improving your quality of sleep, eating slowly, staying hydrated, and introducing prebiotics and probiotics into your diet.
Following a Mediterranean diet is also a game-changer for your gut health.
With so many Irish adults living with digestive problems but relatively few taking a proactive approach, Yakult is encouraging people to make gut health part of their everyday routine.
For more information about gut health and practical ways to support it every day, visit: https://www.yakult.ie/gut-health/
Commenting on the findings, Tiphaine Boulin, Registered Nutritionist and Science Officer at Yakult UK & Ireland, says: "Many people only think about their gut when something feels wrong, but gut health is about much more than digestion alone. Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria that play an important role in your overall wellbeing and can influence how you feel day-to-day, which is why looking after it should be part of a healthy lifestyle.”
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