Step Inside the Great Gut – London Hosts UK’s First Microbiome and Gut Health Festival
- jola098
- Aug 29
- 3 min read
Official Opening by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal
Talks by Dr Megan Rossi (PhD, RD) “The Gut Health Doctor” and others
This September, the public will be able to walk through a giant, inflatable gut in Paternoster Square, London EC4, and discover the fascinating hidden world inside our bodies.
The Great Gut is the centrepiece of Inside Out – Microbiome and Gut Health Festival – a week-long programme of free talks and events from 22nd – 27th September. City workers, residents and visitors are invited to discover how what we eat shapes the millions of micro-organisms that influence our physical and mental health and wellbeing.
The giant gut and surrounding Paternoster Square festival will be officially opened by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal on Tuesday 23rd September.
Dr Megan Rossi (PhD, RD), founder of The Gut Health Doctor®, one of the most influential gut health specialists internationally and a leading research fellow at King’s College London, is one of almost 20 high-profile medics, scientists, chefs and nutritionists speaking throughout the week. See the full events programme here .
Megan Rossi will be unpacking what the latest science really says about caring for your gut (as opposed to the hype) and giving practical, budget-friendly tips to support gut microbiomes and overall health from the inside out.
Other expert-led talks will explore how gut bacteria influence mood, stress, ADHD, women’s and men’s health, as well as the role of the oral and vaginal microbiomes. Visitors can also enjoy sessions on chocolate and gut health, childhood development and even music and dance as ‘lifestyle medicine. Leading chefs will run live demos on sourdough, sauerkraut and African foods, while scientists and clinicians unpack the latest research on cancer prevention, inflammation, immunity and the gut–brain axis.
The programme has been put together by Katharine Tate, The Food Teacher™, an award-winning registered nutritional therapist, health coach and author. Talks will be held in a marquee in the Square and there is no need to book. Full details can be found here [link to programme on website to come]
Funded by the City of London Corporation, Inside Out is the brainchild of Jolanta Gore-Booth of Global Healthcare Projects a long-time health campaigner who has previously taken an array of eye-catching inflatable organs, including walk-through bowels, across the world encouraging many more people to do potentially life-saving cancer screening tests.
Jolanta Gore-Booth said: “I decided to do something different, to take a gut out into the streets and let people see for themselves what goes on inside us. By inviting people to understand their digestive system in a highly visual, tactile and experiential way, supported by conversations with experts, they will be better equipped to make informed choices about what they eat and how they live. We hope the experience will be educational – but it’s also a celebration.”
Helen Fentiman, Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Community and Children’s Services Committee, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Inside Out to the heart of the City. The wellbeing of our residents and workers is a top priority - we’re committed to helping more people lead healthier lives. Understanding what happens when you put food into your mouth is a powerful way to stay healthy. I’d encourage everyone to visit Paternoster Square in September and step inside the Great Gut to find out more.”
As part of the festival, Inside Out Community Outreach lead Imran Jabber will be taking gut health activities and ideas to schools and hard-to-reach community groups in the City and neighbouring boroughs and facilitating special visits to Paternoster Square.
The event will mark the start of what is hoped will be a three-year tour to towns and cities around the UK.
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For press information, interviews and images, please contact: Beth McHattie
beth@denhams.digital 07388 381611
Notes to Editors
Dr Megan Rossi (PhD, RD), a registered dietitian and nutritionist for 15 years, has an award-winning PhD in probiotics which was recognised for its contribution to science, receiving the Dean’s Award for outstanding research. She established The Gut Health Clinic in 2019, and is also the founder of the multi-award-winning gut health food brand, Bio&Me. Most recently, she has launched a targeted range of clinically-proven live bacteria supplements, SMART STRAINS®.
Megan is the author of multiple Sunday Times bestselling books, including her most recent, Eat More, Live Well (UK, Aus & Europe) and How To Eat More Plants (US & Canada).
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