Los Angeles, CA. October 16, 2024. Nearly 70 million Americans suffer from gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, including conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) (source). This drives $140 billion in annual healthcare costs, exceeding those from heart disease and mental health, while negatively affecting employee productivity (source). In response, Lifesum, a leading global healthy eating app, shares five ways employers can support gut health to enhance performance and cut costs.

“Gut health is crucial for mental clarity, immune function, and energy - key factors that directly impact workplace engagement and productivity. As healthcare costs continue to rise, investing in employee gut health offers a smart strategy to enhance well-being, increase performance, and reduce overall medical expenses,” said Signe Svanfeldt, Lead Nutritionist at Lifesum.

Lifesum encourages employers to invest in digestive wellness through personalized nutrition plans, promoting gut-friendly foods, and offering resources like health coaching and stress management.

“By fostering a culture that enhances digestive health, companies can not only lower healthcare costs but also improve energy levels, employee retention, enhance job satisfaction, and build a more resilient, engaged, and productive workforce,” added Signe.

5 Ways Employers Can Invest in Gut Health

1. Promote stress management practices like mindfulness programs.

Chronic stress disrupts the gut-brain connection, triggering issues like IBS, indigestion, and inflammation. Mindfulness programs equip employees to manage stress better, promoting healthy digestion, improving nutrient absorption, and enhancing overall well-being - resulting in fewer digestive-related absences and increased productivity.

1. Provide gut-friendly snacks and meals in the workplace.

Offering snacks rich in fiber, prebiotics, and probiotics can enhance digestion, elevate energy, and sharpen focus, boosting productivity. Good options include fiber-packed vegetables like carrots and celery, prebiotic whole grains such as oats and barley paired with yogurt, probiotic-rich foods like kefir, and fiber-dense fruits, berries, nuts, and seeds.

1. Offer access to digestive wellness apps like Lifesum.

Providing apps like Lifesum empowers employees with personalized nutrition guidance and promotes healthy eating habits and tips. By raising awareness and offering tools for managing digestive health, employees can reduce issues like bloating or constipation, improve energy and focus, and ultimately enhance overall well-being and productivity.

1. Promote a fiber-rich, balanced diet with prebiotics and probiotics.

A diet rich in fiber, prebiotics, and probiotics supports a healthy gut microbiome, essential for digestion, immunity, and mental clarity. Fiber regulates digestion, stabilizes blood sugar, and reduces the risk of diseases like colon cancer and type 2 diabetes. Key sources include whole grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Prebiotics, found in foods like vegetables and nuts, nourish beneficial gut bacteria, while probiotics in fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, kimchi, and sauerkraut enhance gut flora diversity, improving overall well-being.

1. Educate employees on the connection between gut health and mental well-being.

Employers can raise awareness about the gut-brain connection through workshops, educational resources, and wellness programs focused on stress management, nutrition, and mindfulness. This approach enhances understanding of how gut health affects mood, stress, and productivity, while fostering a health-driven workplace culture that improves well-being and reduces absenteeism.

Media Enquiries

Signe Svanfeldt, lead nutritionist at Lifesum, is available for an interview.

Media contact: Harry Cymbler, Hot Cherry PR, harry@hotcherry.co.uk

  

About Lifesum

Lifesum is a leading global platform for healthy eating, designed to help you make smarter food choices and develop sustainable eating habits, whether your goal is to achieve a healthy weight or enhance long-term health. By offering a holistic approach to wellness, Lifesum shows how nutrition affects key areas such as sleep, exercise, and mental well-being. The platform provides personalized nutrition insights, recipes, meal plans, diets, and tracking tools for both food and exercise. Discover more at Lifesum.com

 

About Lifesum for Work

Lifesum for Work is the premier corporate wellness service trusted by top organizations like Amazon, Google, GE, and PayPal. It delivers key wellness outcomes, including enhanced employee engagement, reduced absenteeism and turnover, and increased productivity. The service helps employees make healthier food choices through personalized recipes, diets, and meal plans, along with food and exercise trackers. Lifesum for Work also provides continuous inspiration and motivation. Discover more at Lifesum.com/work