Notoriously shrouded in awkwardness and shame, the ‘gut’ (or gastrointestinal tract) is currently having a moment in health and wellness culture, with new research indicating it could be Australia’s latest ‘healthy’ obsession. Research into the state of Aussies gut health from leading global nutrition and food tracking app, MyFitnessPal has found that almost nine in ten (88%) are aware of the importance of their gut health for overall wellbeing, and almost three in four Australians (71%) currently making an effort to improve the state of their gut.  However, while Aussies are increasingly focusing their attention on their bowel movements, conversations around the gut and poo are still taboo, with over half (55%) admitting not having sought out gut-health related information before. While we commemorate ‘World Digestive Health Day’ on May 29th, MyFitnessPal believes gut health shouldn’t be celebrated on one singular day. To help Aussies celebrate the gut and lean into our ability for awkward conversations, the nutrition tracking app is calling for the creation of a ‘National Poo Day’ on the 30th May. “While it’s incredibly positive to see how much Aussies are already in tune with the important role the gut plays to our overall health, encouraging open conversations around our digestive systems and our nutrition is crucial in ensuring positive long-term health outcomes. We need to flush away the stigma,” clinical nutritionist and gut health specialist, Lee Holmes commented. According to the new data, half of Australians (49%) do not pay attention to their daily intake of fibres, with over half of Australian women (53%) in particular unaware of how much they are eating throughout the day. This is especially worrying as one in three (34%) Australians admitted to  having experienced haemorrhoids before – an indicator of a diet low in fibre-rich foods, such as legumes and oats. While Aussies’ are trying to become more intune with their gut health, existing taboos and stigma around bowel movements are having a clear impact on our diets. In fact,  as many as one in four (29%) report having changed their eating habits in the past to prevent having to poop in the vicinity of a romantic date or a partner.  “Not only is our gut health at the base of our overall wellbeing, but a healthy microbiome is also proven to play an important part in the management of healthy weight and weight loss among other health factors,” Holmes commented “The best way to manage our gut health is through nutrition and ensuring we are consuming enough fibre-rich food such as green veggies, whole grains and pulses. Nutrition tracking apps, like MyFitnessPal can be invaluable for this, to help ensure we’re getting the right amount of critical nutrients daily.” To help Aussies improve their gut health and diversify their diet by eating more fibres, MyFitnessPal has launched a free  ‘Gut Health’ plan containing expert based tips and recipes to support a healthy microbiome.For more information on the new plan MyFitnessPal, or download the app for free via the App Store or Google Play