I’m sure all you tennis lovers out there will be happy to know that Wimbledon is finally here – and amazingly the weather forecast isn’t looking too bad, so maybe the new roof won’t even be needed this year!

 

Are any of you lucky enough to be going to see the matches live? If not I’m sure you can still get into the Wimbledon spirit at home in the living room with your strawberries and ice cream in tow! If you would like to try something a little healthier than ice cream on your strawberries, how about low fat natural yoghurt with a spoonful of honey? I tried natural yoghurt for the first time last week as an alternative to ice cream and I was pleasantly surprised at how nice it tasted together with some lovely sweet strawberries (from Kent may I add; keeping it local)!

 

Live natural yoghurt is a great option, as it contains live bacteria, which is good news for your gut, since boosting levels of friendly bacteria in the intestines can help keep the digestive system healthy. It’s important to remember that just because yoghurt contains live bacteria, doesn’t mean it’s a probiotic. Probiotic products each contain a specific strain of beneficial bacteria that will have been clinically proven to reach the intestines alive, in order to top up levels of good bacteria.

 

When choosing a probiotic, look out for brands that clearly state the quantity of bacteria and the strain on the packaging. Look for strains such as Lactobacillus or bifidobacteria, and for products that contain a high level of bacteria – experts such as Professor Glenn Gibson advise selecting products containing at least 10 million bacteria per serving.

 

And then of course you can enjoy a good helping of yoghurt too – as this is the perfect way to complement your daily probiotic and really help top up on those all important bacteria.

 

So please do enjoy the games – and let me know what you thought of the healthy ice cream alternative. And don’t forget of course, if you have any questions about probiotics, just email info@yakult.co.uk and myself or one of my colleagues will be very happy to help!

 

 

 

 

Well, we all know Father’s Day is coming up on Sunday – so have you got anything exciting planned? The weather seems to be warming up, so why not make the most of it and get the family outdoors for some summertime fun? Father’s Day is all about making your dad feel loved and special – and what better way than with a fun and healthy activity involving the whole family?

 

How about arranging a family bike ride, perhaps down some scenic country lanes? You could always stop somewhere nice for lunch – or if you are really prepared you could put together a picnic full of healthy foods. If you don’t fancy cycling, what about a country walk? You can find details of walks or cycle routes online, or at your local library. This is a great way to spend some quality time with the family - and because exercise contributes towards good digestive health, you’ll be helping your overall wellbeing at the same time!

 

For some great picnic food ideas, check out the salads in ‘The Inside Out Diet’. They’re packed with a variety of digestive friendly ingredients such as fibre, fruit, veg and wholegrains, as well as prebiotics to help nurture the good bacteria

 

I hope you have a fun, healthy Father’s Day, let me know what you get up to!