London, May 2025 — As UK employers face rising burnout, absenteeism and staff turnover, a surprising player is stepping into the spotlight: gut health. Backed by a growing body of science, the gut-brain axis - the communication pathway between the gut and the brain - is now recognised as a powerful influence on focus, mood and stress regulation at work.

“Your gut microbiome isn’t just about digestion - it’s a key driver of mental wellbeing and clarity,” says Signe Svanfeldt, Lead Nutritionist at Lifesum. “A thriving gut helps employees manage stress, stay sharp and show up energised.”

Why Employers Should Pay Attention

• Burnout crisis: 34% of UK adults report burnout in 2025; 75% have experienced it in the last year (CIPD).
• Young workers hit hardest: 48% of 18–24s cite unpaid overtime, 46% blame financial stress.
• Cost to business: High-stress employees take 8× more sick days and are 3.7× more likely to quit—costing UK employers £4B+ annually (Deloitte).
• Gut and mood: 95% of serotonin is produced in the gut; microbial imbalance amplifies stress via cortisol and HPA axis activation.
• IBS impact: Costs UK businesses over £3B per year; nearly 50% of sufferers anxious about returning to office work (BDA).

5 Gut-Healthy Habits to Enhance Productivity and Reduce Burnout

1. Eat More Fibre – Whole grains, legumes and greens feed gut bacteria and boost mental clarity.
2. Go Colourful – A variety of fruits and vegetables provides protective antioxidants and phytonutrients.
3. Add Omega-3s – Fatty fish like salmon support brain function and reduce inflammation.
4. Choose Fermented Foods – Yogurt, kimchi and kombucha deliver mood-regulating probiotics.
5. Don’t Skip Protein – Tryptophan-rich foods like seeds and eggs aid serotonin production and mood stability.

To help companies take evidence-led action, Lifesum and Wellhub will host a webinar:
Lifesum x Wellhub: The Gut-Brain Axis and Its Vital Link to Mental Health. This live session will explore how gut health can be the foundation of future-ready workplace wellbeing strategies. Webinar details: 

Date: Tuesday, May 13th

Time: 2pm BST

Login, RSVP:https://www.addevent.com/event/rb24962643

Media Inquiries

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 nutrition and food tracking app, helping over 65 million people in 182 countries make smarter, personalised food choices and build sustainable, healthy habits. Founded in 2013, Lifesum uses advanced AI to deliver hyper-personalised meal plans, recipes, food and exercise tracking and continuous motivation to optimise nutrition, fitness, sleep and wellbeing. With access to nearly 25 million food items, curated recipes, exercises and integration with fitness apps, Lifesum makes healthy living simple, actionable and enjoyable. Learn more at Lifesum.com.

About Wellhub

Wellhub is a corporate wellness platform that connects employees to the best partners for fitness, mindfulness, therapy, nutrition, and sleep, all included in one subscription designed to cost less than each individual partner. More than 19,000 companies in 11 countries use Wellhub to give their millions of employees access to best-in-class corporate wellbeing programs that are proven to drive widespread employee adoption and engagement. With Wellhub, employees can check-in with their wellbeing every day. The result is better productivity, higher retention, and lower healthcare costs. This is the Wellhub Effect. Become a wellness company today. For more information, visit www.wellhub.com.