Social media is full of health experts which recommend lifestyle choices to help you shed weight, feel positive and live longer.
But have you ever wondered if they follow their own advice? Jordan Haworth is an example of someone who practices what he preaches, and has taken to TikTok to share what he eats during a typical 24-hour period in order to maintain his own healthy living. “What does a gut health scientist eat in a day? I like to keep it pretty simple,” Jordan began in a video.
Following a Mediterranean meal plan, his breakfast routine consists of kimchi fried eggs on sourdough bread. “According to some studies, both cooked and raw kimchi have similar benefits on gut health,” he explained. “Probably because they come from the pre and post biotics rather than the probiotics.”
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Jordan accompanies his meal with fresh juice due to their polyphenols content, which also “act as prebiotics” for gut bacteria, he claims.
Moving on to lunch, Jordan utilises his sourdough once more, adding garlic, tomato and olive oil to create one of his favourite Spanish delicacies. “Pan com tomate is simple, quick and loaded with polyphenols from the tomato and EVOO [extra virgin olive oil],” he adds.
“I usually add canned sardines for protein, Omega-3s and to hit my Mediterranean diet targets for seafood – which is at least three servings a week.”
For dinner, it’s chilli loaded with veggies and beans, something Jordan eats to “meet the rest” of his goals. As well as red onion, mixed peppers and spices, he explains he sometimes uses microproteins such as Quorn – made from mushrooms and high in both fibre, protein and beta-glucan – which Jordan describes as an “excellent prebiotic”. He accompanies the dish with a glass of red wine.
“What are polyphenols and why are they good?” asked one of his intrigued followers. “Polyphenols are antioxidants found in bitter or colourful plants (e.g. berries, olives, cocoa) and our good gut bacteria love them!” Jordan explained.
He proceeded to answer a series of other questions, meanwhile. “Does heating the kimchi kill the live microbes that are good for the gut bacteria?” another person asked. Jordan answered: “Yes, but studies show it still has benefits because prebiotics and postbiotics are more important. Most of the live bacteria die in your stomach acid anyway.”
A third pondered: “Always wondered (never bothered Googling), but does spicy food negatively impact gut health?” Jordan affirmed: “No. Spice is really good for gut health if you can handle it. People who eat more spices have more diverse gut bacteria (a sign of good gut health).”
While a fourth asked in shock: “Quorn? I thought that was too processed and fake for med diet. What’s the health benefits?” Jordan responded: “Studies showing potential benefits of mycoprotein (Quorn) on cholesterol, blood glucose and muscle protein synthesis.”
Holland and Barrett’s website provides clarity on the difference between pre, post and probiotics, stating:
- Prebiotics – These are defined as a group of nutrients that feed your gut microbiota, and they’re also degraded by it
- Probiotics – These are live microorganisms that, when taken in the right amount, can provide health benefits for your body
- Postbiotics – These are by-products. They are bioactive compounds created by probiotic bacteria when they have consumed fibre or prebiotics