Professor Tim Spector, a leading gut health expert, has suggested a simple 50p food swap to aid weight loss. Speaking about his Channel 4 programme 'What Not to Eat', he advised replacing white rice with whole grains or beans, which can be bought for as little as 50p per tin.
Spector warned that white rice, often mistakenly considered healthy, is quickly converted into sugar by the body and can cause inflammation. He noted that many families on the show were unaware of this, believing white rice to be a healthy choice.
In addition to swapping white rice, Spector recommended healthier snacking options such as fruit, dark chocolate, and nuts. He highlighted that dark chocolate is rich in polyphenols, compounds that act as 'rocket fuel for gut microbes'.
The British Heart Foundation acknowledges that dark chocolate contains more flavanols than milk chocolate, which may have heart-health benefits like lowering blood pressure. However, they caution that the exact amount of flavanols varies between products and recommend eating it in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
