07/04/2026
Your gut health after birth matters more than most of us realise - and new research suggests a traditional Southern African drink might actually help.
I'm incredibly proud to share that a study I was part of, just published in the British Journal of Nutrition, looked at mageu (a fermented maize drink readily available in SA) and what it does to postpartum mothers' gut microbiome, inflammation, and nutritional status.
Here's what we found (swipe for the full breakdown):
Mothers who drank live-culture mageu (the traditional, unpasteurised kind) showed a significant increase in gut bacteria diversity over 6 weeks. The pasteurised store-bought version didn't have the same effect. Live bacteria appear to be the key.
We also saw lower inflammation markers and shifts toward bacteria linked to better metabolic health. And it was safe, affordable, and culturally familiar — which matters enormously for real-world impact.
This was a pilot study, so more research is needed. But the direction is exciting, especially for a food that's already on our supermarket shelves.
Save this post, share it with a postpartum friend, and drop your questions below — I'd love to discuss.
📖 Full paper: Happel et al., British Journal of Nutrition, 2026
