Jessica Fostekew launches TV show ‘Great British Poo Taboo’ to improve viewers’ gut health

Comedian Jessica Fostekew is launching a new ‘sit down show’ – to help people improve their gut health.

The comic has teamed up with Holland & Barratt to run the ‘Great British Poo Taboo’ – to watch on the loo.

The initiative comes after the health and wellness retailer found that over half of people have experienced gut health issues, but are too embarrassed to talk about the ‘taboo’ subject. 

The show tackles common gut health symptoms such as bloating, constipation and diarrhoea and comes as 39 per cent surveyed blamed the cost-of-living crisis for the declining state of their stomach.

The ‘Great British Poo Taboo’ means the public are tolerating anything from bloating and gas and constipation (33 per cent) to acid reflux and diarrhoea.

The new research has revealed that 37 per cent have suffered with severe symptoms for as long as three years, with a third saying that symptoms have worsened over the past 12 months.

Alongside the cost-of-living crisis and not being unable to afford sufficient healthy food, other causes cited for poor gut health are overindulgence, lack of quality sleep and a poor diet. 

Poor gut health is having a huge impact on people’s overall wellbeing, with over half saying they experience low mood in relation to their gut health, 52 per cent stating it affects their sleep quality and stress levels. One in 10 go as far as claiming their gut health issues negatively impact their relationships.

People are willing to suffer with the same issue time and time again, with 41 per cent finding it difficult to break the cycle of bad gut health habits. 

More often it is education around the issue that is the real barrier to great gut health, with a third (32 per cent) claiming they just don’t know the root of the problem to their stomach woes.

Alex Glover, Senior Nutritionist at Holland & Barrett, comments: ‘At H&B we’re on a mission to break the poo taboo, and we have trained gut health experts in every H&B store, to provide personalised advice and solutions, and we also offer free 1-2-1 online consultations, at a time that is convenient to our customers. As well as our expert guidance, we’re so confident in our products we’re offering our customers a 90-day gut health challenge, so they can try one of our recommended products and if they don’t feel the difference after 90 days, receive their money back.’

Holland & Barrett has also partnered with The IBS Network, a national charity helping people with IBS to live well with the condition and better manage their symptoms.

Despite people suffering with gut health issues such as bloating and constipation, most sufferers are too embarrassed to talk about the ‘taboo’ subject, prompting Fostekew’s show

Alison Reid, Chief Executive Officer at The IBS Network, comments: ‘IBS can be extremely life-limiting however, this chronic long-term condition can be helped through lifestyle and diet management, and people really shouldn’t be nervous to talk about poo. 

‘Learning about your triggers and making small changes can make a big difference. The IBS Network is providing expert guidance to further enhance H&B’s colleague training programme and articles from the IBS Network can be found on the gut health hub on the H&B website. 

‘We hope this will help people living with IBS have confidence that they will find a supportive ear from the charity, help when they are out shopping and raise even more awareness on the importance of talking about gut issues.’