Recipes & Rituals

The front of a protein powder tub is one of the most misleading pieces of marketing you'll encounter in a health food shop. "Clean." "Natural." "Gut Friendly." "Plant Powered." "No Nasties." These claims are largely unregulated, entirely self-declared and frequently contradicted by the actual ingredients list on the back. Here's how to read past the marketing and assess what's actually in your protein powder — and what the red flags look like when you know how to find them. Step 1 — Ignore the Front Completely Seriously. Turn the product around before you form any opinion. The front of the...

Bloating, Cramps & IBS? Here's What Your Protein Powder Could Be Doing You've done everything right. You're eating carefully, avoiding your known triggers, managing stress. And then you have a protein shake and within an hour your stomach is in knots. Sound familiar? If you have IBS and you're using a protein powder, there's a good chance the powder itself is making your symptoms worse — and the worst part is that most people never connect the two. They assume it's something they ate at lunch, or stress, or a flare they can't explain. The protein powder doesn't even cross...

If you have IBS, chances are someone has mentioned the Low FODMAP diet. Your GP, a dietitian, a fellow sufferer in an online forum, or a label on a product that proudly declares itself FODMAP certified. But what does it actually mean — and does it work? Here's everything you need to know to get started, written in plain English without the jargon. What Does FODMAP Stand For? FODMAP is an acronym developed by researchers at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. It stands for: F - ermentable O - ligosaccharides (fructans and GOS — found in wheat, onion, garlic, legumes)...

Starting a Low FODMAP diet can feel overwhelming. The list of foods to avoid seems endless, the science is complicated, and working out what you can actually eat — let alone enjoy — takes time and research most people don't have. So we've simplified it. Here are the five most common high FODMAP foods that trigger IBS symptoms, exactly why they cause problems, and the delicious gut friendly swaps that mean you don't have to feel deprived. What Is a High FODMAP Food? FODMAP stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols. These are short-chain carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed...