Recent research by Activia reveals that a staggering 96% of Canadians have a gut health score below 50%. But what does this mean for overall well-being, and how can you take steps to improve your gut health? Let’s dive into the details.
Over half of Canadians (56%) experience gut upset symptoms, including frequent bloating. Among women, nearly two in three (64%) face these issues.
While 60% of Canadians regularly think about their physical well-being, understanding gut health remains elusive. Many lack awareness of the impact of gut health on their overall physical and mental well-being. Two in five Canadians (43%) want to improve their gut health but lack guidance. More than half (57%) believe they would benefit from knowing how to enhance their gut well-being.
Encouragingly, 93% of Canadians consider gut well-being when choosing their meals. This is why Activia has introduced the Gut Health Tracker, a free tool on Activia’s website designed to promote education on gut health. The Gut Health Tracker asks 29 questions about the four lifestyle habits that affect gut health: diet, sleep patterns, stress levels, and exercise habits. It provides a personalized percentage score out of 100 and offers expertly curated advice based on scientific research to help maintain or improve this score over time—essential for the 96% of Canadians with a gut health score below 50%.
Andrea Hardy, a registered dietitian and Canada’s Gut Health Expert, emphasizes the importance of the Activia Gut Health Tracker:
“In an era of overwhelming nutrition and wellness information, it’s easy to feel like we must do it all for optimal gut health. However, I firmly believe that returning to basics yields the most significant health impacts. Activia’s Gut Health Challenge and Tracker simplify this process for Canadians, transforming the basics into measurable, meaningful steps toward achieving digestive well-being.”
Below, we’ve highlighted how the Activia Gut Health Tracker empowers Canadians to proactively manage their gut health:
Considering the importance of nutrition to maintain good gut health, just one in four (26%) say they have a colourful diet most of the time, with 15% saying they don't have a colourful diet but would like to. Two in three (66%) eat fermented foods on a weekly basis, a number slightly higher for women (68%) compared to men (64%).
The advice provided by the Gut Health Tracker includes information on dietary habits which contribute to gut health, such as pairing fibre-based foods with protein food each time you snack to improve fibre intake. For example, you can pair an Activia yogurt with a piece of fruit and a few nuts, slice an apple and have it with crunchy nut butter, or pair hummus with whole grain seeded crackers or veggie sticks.
Despite being knowledgeable about the impact of diet on gut health, when it comes to wider holistic factors such as sleep Canadians have a long way to go - with just 34% rating their sleep as 'good' over the past month. The Gut Health Tracker delivers simple tips that can be easily inserted into daily routines, to help people take small steps towards implementing positive changes for their gut health.
Recognizing the significant role of physical activity in promoting gut health, 60% of Canadians are aware of the beneficial link between yoga and improved gut health. Moreover, 92% of individuals engage in regular moderate cardiovascular exercise, and 89% of those prefer to exercise outdoors, which is known to further enhance gut health. Stress-reducing hobbies can help improve gut health Meanwhile, 64% of Canadians have a hobby, rising to 68% of those age 35-54 with 75% aware that stress-reducing hobbies such as singing or cycling can also positively affect gut health.
Check out the Activia Gut Health Tracker today: https://www.activia.ca/en/gut-health-tracker/
