Sydney, Australia, 7 May, 2026 – A new survey of more than 1,000 Australians from global nutrition and food tracking app, MyFitnessPal, has revealed that nearly three in four Australians (72%) surveyed have changed their diet to improve gut health, showing this is a widespread and established health behaviour for most Australians.
The poll found Australians are most likely to change their diet for better digestion and reduce bloating (63%) and overall wellbeing (61%), with practical goals like bowel regularity (47%) and weight loss (46%) also featuring strongly. In a similar vein, avoidance behaviours focus on cutting back fast food, sugar or artificial sweeteners, alcohol and ultra-processed foods, demonstrating gut health is as much about reducing negative inputs as it is about adding positive ones.
To support better gut health, surveyed Australians are gravitating towards simple habits like including fibre in every meal (42%), avoiding eating after a certain time, such as no food after 7 PM (31%), rating an apple a day to keep digestion healthy (30%), drinking warm lemon water to "cleanse" the gut (28%), and taking probiotics every day (25%). Nutritionist and MyFitnessPal ambassador, Michaela Sparrow, said, "Australians are embracing gut health as a key part of their overall wellbeing. But this isn't a passing trend or temporary behaviour - it's a well-established health pattern that reflects growing awareness of how closely the gut is linked to energy, immunity and long-term health."
"What's particularly interesting is that people are motivated by both how they feel day-to-day and their broader health goals. Improvements in digestion and overall wellbeing are leading the way, but we're also increasingly seeing very practical drivers, like better bowel regularity and weight management, playing a major role in shaping dietary choices."
"Importantly, this shift isn't just about adding more 'good' foods - it's also about cutting back on the things that can disrupt gut balance. Reducing fast food, excess sugar, artificial sweeteners, alcohol and ultra-processed foods highlights a more holistic approach, where Australians are thinking just as carefully about what to limit as what to include," added Michaela.
While fibre is a key way to improve gut health, the poll found that there is still widespread uncertainty around recommended intake. Only 51% of Australians surveyed believe they consume enough. However, nearly half either feel they fall short (26%) or are unsure (23%), highlighting ongoing uncertainty around fibre intake and suggesting it remains an area of confusion in everyday nutrition.
Michaela added, "Research continues to show us that uncertainty around fibre intake, ranked as the most important form of improving gut health in the recent survey, remains unclear. By using nutrition tracking apps, like MyFitnessPal, Aussies can monitor their fibre intake and identify patterns in their diet, helping to make better food and nutrition choices.
