Six in 10 Brits have trusted their gut to make life-changing decisions – including whether to start a relationship, buy a house, or accept a job. Other major decisions include whether to book a particular holiday – and whether to get divorced or remain married.
But it’s not just the big decisions they rely on their instincts for – as 38 percent, of the 2,000 adults polled, also depend on their gut to guide them when making small, everyday decisions.
Yet despite their reliance on it, 35 percent are “clueless” about what the gut is, and what it does. In fact, many of those polled admit they know more about Netflix, the offside rule, TV show “The Traitors”, and Taylor Swift, than they do about this part of their anatomy.
The study, commissioned by Herbalife, found almost 45 percent consider gut health to be a priority – but as many as 72 percent don’t take any supplements to support its function.
Dr Richard Allison, nutritionist for the global health and wellness company, said: “As the research shows, Brits “trust their gut” for a lot of decisions – big and small. But surprisingly, they know very little about one of the most important organs in our bodies.
“The gut not only helps digest food to support a healthy digestive system, but its function aids our bodies physically, and also has a significant impact on our day-to-day mental health.”
The gut – which typically refers to the organs in the gastrointestinal tract, including the stomach, intestines, and colon – plays a vital role in the healthy functioning of the human body.
Yet 18 percent have no idea where in the body it’s located, and 95 percent don’t know how much serotonin the average human gut produces – with the answer, fittingly, around 95 percent.
Meanwhile, just five percent are aware that approximately 70 percent of the body’s immune cells are located in the gut.
And almost three-quarters (72 percent) correctly identified the gut as the organ which provides all other organs with life-supporting nutrition – although 15 percent incorrectly believe the heart does this.
Carried out through OnePoll, the study also identified a widespread lack of understanding surrounding probiotics – live bacteria and yeasts which are good for the digestive system.
Some mistakenly believe probiotics are naturally contained within pasta (five percent), ice cream (four percent), coffee (four percent), fried chicken (four percent), and even cake (three percent).
Dr Richard Allison, nutritionist for Herbalife, makers of Microbiotic Max, a food supplement containing probiotics, added: “Our busy lifestyles mean that we’re prone to skipping meals and eating on-the-go.”
However, the member of the Sport and Exercise Nutritionist Register (SENR) believes that supplements formulated with a combination of live bacteria and fibre are “an easy way to nourish your gut effortlessly”.
And he added that this combination “helps fight off the less friendly bacteria, and boosts immunity against infections”.