Functional Foods for Health

The gut plays an important role in supporting the immune system, and certain dietary components such as probiotics (beneficial bacteria) and prebiotics (fibres that feed beneficial bacteria) can help to maintain gut and immune health. Alginate is a natural fibre extracted from brown seaweed that is widely used in foods which may help support beneficial gut bacteria and regulate inflammation. Ongoing psychological stress is known to affect immune function and increase inflammation in the body. This study will investigate whether a daily jelly containing alginate support gut health and improve immune responses compared to a placebo in adults experiencing higher levels of chronic stress. We are recruiting participants with elevated chronic stress to assess whether a functional jelly containing alginate, can help to reduce markers of inflammation, by mediating a change in gut microbiota composition.