All Gut Health Articles

104 articles currently published.

SIBO Breath Test: A Practical Guide to Preparation, the Test, and Results (2026-07-07) — Everything you need to know about the SIBO/IMO breath test: how to prepare, what to expect during, how to read results (hydrogen, methane, hydrogen sulfide), and what to do next.
TMA and TMAO: Why Your Body Produces Trimethylamine (and What It Means for Gut Health) (2026-07-07) — The gut bacteria that produce trimethylamine (the fishy-odor compound) — why some people smell worse than others, and what to do about it.
Bloating After Meals Checklist: What to Try (and Test) This Week (2026-07-07) — A symptom-driven checklist for after-meal bloating. Identify the likely root cause in 5 minutes, then act with a 2-week plan.
What You're Missing on a Strict Low-FODMAP Diet (and How to Mitigate It) (2026-07-07) — The low-FODMAP elimination phase removes more than just fermentable carbs. Here's what nutrients get shorted, the real risks of staying too long, and how to mitigate.
How to Choose a Microbiome Test: GI MAP vs Viome vs Thryve vs Zoe vs Atlas (2026-07-07) — Side-by-side comparison of the 5 most popular gut microbiome tests. What each one actually measures, who each is for, and 3 things they don't tell you about your results.
Low-FODMAP at Restaurants: A Practical Survival Guide (2026-07-07) — Eating out on low-FODMAP without stress. Menu navigation, scripts for the server, fast-food options, and the 80/20 rule for social eating.
IBS-C vs IMO: How to Tell Them Apart (and Why It Matters) (2026-07-07) — Up to 60% of people diagnosed with IBS-C actually have IMO, pelvic floor dysfunction, or slow transit. Here's how to find out which one you have.
Sugar Alcohols and Your Gut: Why Erythritol, Xylitol, Sorbitol, and Maltitol Cause Symptoms (2026-07-07) — Sugar alcohols (polyols) are FODMAPs that ferment in your gut. Here's why they cause bloating, gas, and diarrhea — and what to use instead.
Comprehensive Stool Testing: What It Is, When You Need It, and What to Expect (2026-07-07) — A complete guide to comprehensive stool analysis (GI MAP and similar panels). What it measures, who needs it, and how to interpret results without panic.
H. Pylori Testing and Treatment: A Practical Guide (2026-07-07) — How to test for H. pylori (stool antigen, breath, blood, biopsy), which treatment works, and how to prevent reinfection or recurrence.
Do FODMAP Enzymes (Fodzyme, Fodmate) Actually Work? (2026-07-07) — FODMAP enzymes like Fodzyme and Fodmate promise to break down FODMAPs before they ferment. Here's the evidence, the limitations, and who they actually help.
Post-Infectious IBS: Why Gastroenteritis Can Trigger Chronic Gut Symptoms (2026-07-07) — One episode of food poisoning can change your gut for months or years. Here's the mechanism, what to expect, and how to recover.
Long COVID, Mast Cells, and the Gut: The Emerging Picture (2026-07-07) — Why long COVID drives GI symptoms through mast cell activation, what's different from regular MCAS, and what to do about it.
Gut Recovery After Antibiotics: What Happens Week by Week (and What Actually Helps) (2026-07-07) — How long does it really take to restore gut flora after antibiotics? Phase-by-phase roadmap with strain-specific probiotic and prebiotic choices at each milestone.
Gut Health 101: A Practical Beginner's Framework (2026-07-07) — New to gut health? Start here. The 3-system model (microbiome, barrier, motility), what your symptoms probably mean, and the cheapest first steps to take this week.
IBS-D Toilet Anxiety and Agoraphobia: Why It Happens and What Actually Helps (2026-07-07) — Fear of accidents, mapping bathrooms, avoiding outings — if IBS-D has shrunk your world, this is your guide back. Evidence-based strategies.
SIFO: Small Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth — Symptoms, Testing, and Antifungal Treatment (2026-07-07) — Failed SIBO treatment? It might be SIFO. How to recognize, test, and treat small intestinal fungal overgrowth — mechanism-focused, testing-first.
Digestive Bitters and Stomach Acid: A Practical Guide to Natural Digestion Support (2026-06-30) — How bitter-tasting herbs and healthy stomach acid levels work together to drive digestion. Learn the mechanisms, protocols, plus when each approach fits.
The Gut-Metabolism Connection: How Your Microbiome Influences Weight and Energy (2026-06-30) — How specific bacterial species affect energy harvest and appetite signaling through insulin sensitivity. A practical, mechanism-based guide.
The Gut-Skin Axis: How Digestive Health Shows Up on Your Face (2026-06-30) — How intestinal inflammation and microbiome disruption drive inflammatory skin conditions. A mechanism-based gut-skin healing protocol.
Proper Chewing: The Overlooked Foundation of Gut Health (2026-06-30) — Why mastication triggers the entire digestive cascade, how poor chewing masquerades as food intolerance, plus a practical protocol for eating well.
Gut Health and Mental Clarity: How Your Microbiome Shapes Focus and Mood (2026-06-30) — The gut-brain axis explained: vagus nerve signaling, neurotransmitter production, SCFAs, and a practical protocol for gut-brain optimization.
Gut Bacteria Pill Joins Cancer Treatment in Landmark Phase III Trial (2026-04-09) — A first-of-its-kind Phase III clinical trial will test whether a daily gut bacteria capsule can improve immunotherapy outcomes for kidney cancer patients.
Can Your Gut Microbiome Slow Aging? New Research Reveals How (2026-04-08) — Scientists discover that transplanting gut microbes from young to old mice reverses age-related inflammation. Here's what this means for healthy aging and the practical steps you can take today.
Gut Bacteria Patterns Could Detect Digestive Disease Before Symptoms Start (2026-04-07) — A major research breakthrough announced April 2026 suggests that patterns in gut bacteria and their metabolic byproducts could serve as early-warning…
Can Your baby's gut bacteria shape their brain development? (2026-04-06) — UC Santa Barbara researchers have discovered that early-life gut microbiome may influence neurodevelopment, including autism spectrum disorder, by creating thousands of 'mini-gut' systems to study how microbial communities evolve and affect neurological development.
Do At-Home Gut Microbiome Tests Work? (2026-04-05) — Your body contains roughly 30 trillion human cells and about 38 trillion bacteria. There are more of them than there are of you. So when companies…
Anti-Inflammatory Gut Meal Framework (Simple, Flexible, Evidence-Based) (2026-04-04) — You've probably seen "anti-inflammatory diet" lists. They tell you to eat salmon and turmeric while avoiding sugar and processed foods. That's not wrong,…
The 30-60-90 Gut Healing Checkpoint System (2026-04-04) — If you've been working on gut issues for more than a few weeks, you've probably noticed something frustrating: it's hard to tell if you're actually getting…
Low FODMAP Reintroduction Blueprint (2026-04-04) — You've done the elimination phase. You feel better. Now what?
Hidden Gut Bacteria CAG-170 Discovered as Key Health Marker (2026-04-04) — Cambridge researchers identify CAG-170, a previously unknown gut bacteria group consistently found in healthy people across 39 countries. This 'hidden microbiome' species produces Vitamin B12 and may become the next big probiotic target.
Your Gut Bacteria Inject Proteins Directly Into Your Cells (2026-04-03) — Scientists discover gut bacteria use syringe-like structures to inject proteins into human cells, actively controlling immune responses. This finding rewrites our understanding of the microbiome.
Can Your Gut Microbiome Protect Your Memory? (2026-04-02) — Scientists have spent years mapping the connection between gut bacteria and brain health. A new systematic review published in Nutrition Research (April…
Gut Bacteria Molecule Doubles Lung Cancer Treatment Response (2026-04-01) — UF Health researchers identified a single molecule produced by gut bacteria that doubled immunotherapy response in lung cancer mice, opening a new class of cancer drugs derived from the microbiome.
Gut Bacteria Can Trigger Bipolar Depression Behaviors, Study Shows (2026-03-31) — Researchers transplanted gut bacteria from bipolar disorder patients into mice, who then developed depression-like behaviors that responded to lithium but not standard antidepressants—mirroring the human condition.
Your Gut Bacteria Might Be Shaping Your Allergies (2026-03-30) — New research identifies specific gut bacteria linked to allergic sensitization patterns. The findings point to particular microbial families and metabolic pathways that correlate with food, pollen, and dust mite allergies.
How Your Gut Bacteria Affect Your Sleep Quality (2026-03-30) — Research reveals a bidirectional relationship between the gut microbiome and sleep. Different sleep disorders show distinct microbial patterns—and manipulating gut bacteria can alter sleep cycles.
Everyday Chemicals Are Quietly Damaging Your Gut Bacteria (2026-03-29) — A new machine learning model predicts that common industrial chemicals—including some in household products—harm beneficial gut bacteria. Here's what the research found and practical steps to reduce exposure.
Gut Microbiome and Heart Disease: A New Way to Predict Cardiovascular Risk (2026-03-29) — New research reveals a gut microbiome signature linked to dyslipidemia, a key risk factor for heart disease. Understanding this connection could transform how we approach cardiovascular prevention.
One Course of Antibiotics Can Reshape Your Gut Microbiome for Years (2026-03-28) — Swedish study of 15,000 adults finds certain antibiotics reduce gut diversity and alter hundreds of bacterial species, with effects lasting up to 8 years after a single course.
Vitamin D May Reset How Your Immune System Sees Gut Bacteria (2026-03-28) — Mayo Clinic research shows vitamin D supplementation could help restore immune tolerance in IBD patients by shifting antibody responses and boosting regulatory cells.
Maternal Microbiome: How Indole May Protect Children From Fatty Liver Disease (2026-03-27) — Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects about 30% of children with obesity and 10% of children without obesity. It…
Ecological Network Balance Index: New Way to Measure Gut Health (2026-03-27) — Most gut microbiome tests focus on one question: Which bacteria are present?
Gut-Kidney Axis: How an Imbalanced Microbiome Accelerates Kidney Disease (2026-03-26) — New UC Davis research reveals how gut bacteria produce a toxin that worsens chronic kidney disease in a destructive feedback loop—and a potential way to break the cycle.
Can Your Gut Microbiome Predict Your Biological Age? (2026-03-26) — New research shows gut bacteria patterns can estimate biological age within 6 years. Your microbiome might be aging you faster—or slower—than your birthday suggests.
The Gut-Skin Axis: How Your Gut Health Affects Acne, Eczema, plus Skin Health (2026-03-25) — Research shows your gut microbiome directly influences skin conditions like acne plus eczema. Learn how the gut-skin axis works and practical steps to improve your skin from the inside out.
The Gut Bacteria That Makes You Stronger: Roseburia and Muscle Power (2026-03-24) — New research reveals a specific gut bacterium linked to 29% greater handgrip strength and fast-twitch muscle fibers. Here's what the science says about the gut-muscle connection.
Your Gut Might Be Making You Forgetful: Stanford Study Finds the Link (2026-03-24) — Stanford researchers discovered that age-related gut bacteria changes trigger memory decline through the vagus nerve. Even more surprising: they reversed it.
Scientists Just Discovered "Hidden" Gut Bacteria That May Be Key to Good Health (2026-03-23) — A groundbreaking 2026 study found that uncultured gut microbes appear essential for good health. Here's what this means for understanding your microbiome.
Bristol Stool Scale: A Practical Guide to Reading Your Digestive Health (2026-03-22) — The Bristol Stool Scale helps you understand what your bowel movements reveal about your gut health. Learn what each type means and when to pay attention.
GERD and Acid Reflux: Understanding Causes and Finding Relief (2026-03-21) — Acid reflux and GERD affect millions. Learn what causes heartburn, when it's more than occasional, plus the evidence-based approaches that manage symptoms.
The Migrating Motor Complex: Why Fasting Between Meals Matters for SIBO Prevention (2026-03-20) — The migrating motor complex (MMC) is a wave-like muscle contraction that sweeps through your small intestine between meals, clearing out residual food,…
Bloating After Eating: Why It Happens and What Helps (2026-03-19) — That uncomfortable, swollen feeling after meals isn't just annoying—it's your digestive system sending a signal. The question is whether that signal points…
Fainting During Bowel Movements: Why It Happens and How to Stop It (2026-03-18) — Feeling dizzy or passing out during bowel movements isn't normal, but it's fixable. Learn what causes vasovagal syncope on the toilet and the practical steps to prevent it.
Morning Diarrhea: Why Your Gut Wakes Up Before You Do (2026-03-17) — Your alarm goes off, and before you've even opened your eyes, your stomach starts churning.
Probiotics Timeline: When to Expect Results (2026-03-15) — Most people notice digestive changes within 1-2 weeks of starting a probiotic, but meaningful shifts in the microbiome take 4-12 weeks depending on what…
Brain Fog and Your Gut: Why Your Head Feels Heavy After Eating (2026-03-13) — You wake up fine. Eat breakfast. An hour later, your brain turns to mush.
Meal Timing and Circadian Rhythm: The Overlooked Gut Health Lever (2026-03-13) — You've probably obsessed over what to eat. Maybe you've tried low-FODMAP, keto, carnivore, or some elimination protocol. But when you eat? That part gets…
IBS-C vs Motility Disorders: When Fiber Makes You Worse (2026-03-03) — If you have chronic constipation and fiber makes your bloating and pain worse, you may have a motility disorder misdiagnosed as standard IBS-C. Standard IBS…
Probiotics for Histamine Intolerance: Safe Strains vs Dangerous Ones (2026-03-03) — If you have histamine intolerance or suspect histamine issues with SIBO, certain probiotic strains can make your symptoms worse. The key is knowing which…
GLP-1 Drugs and SIBO: What the New Research Reveals (2026-03-02) — Multiple 2025 studies link GLP-1 receptor agonists (Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy) to increased SIBO risk, especially after a year of use. The mechanism appears…
Fermented Foods Science: who benefits and who should be careful (2026-02-28) — Fermented foods can improve diet quality and microbial diversity for many people, but they are not universally tolerated. In histamine-sensitive or active…
Constipation & Motility Reset: A 7-Day Framework (2026-02-28) — If you're constipated and fiber isn't helping, or is making things worse, you're not alone.
Histamine Intolerance: A Practical Clinical Guide (2026-02-28) — Histamine intolerance is usually a threshold problem, not a single-food problem. Symptoms happen when histamine load (food + gut production + stress + poor…
SIBO Treatment: A Layered Approach That Reduces Relapse (2026-02-28) — Here's what most people get wrong about SIBO treatment: they focus entirely on killing the bacteria and ignore everything else.
Dietary Interventions for IBS Subtypes: A Practical Guide (IBS-C, IBS-D, IBS-M) (2026-02-28) — IBS diet strategy should match subtype. What helps IBS-C can worsen IBS-D, and vice versa. Start with subtype-specific priorities, then personalize with…
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and Digestion: Pattern-Based Management (2026-02-28) — If your digestive symptoms seem to have a mind of their own—flaring randomly, reacting to foods you could eat fine last week, getting worse with stress but…
Oxalate Sensitivity and Gut Health: A Practical Framework (2026-02-28) — Oxalate sensitivity is usually a threshold issue influenced by gut integrity, microbial balance, and total dietary load. The goal is not zero oxalate…
Intestinal Permeability Testing Methods: What Each Test Can (and Can't) Tell You (2026-02-28) — No single permeability test is perfect. The most practical approach is to treat testing as a decision tool: use the right test for the question, then…
Gut Motility Disorders: A Practical Overview for Symptom-Driven Care (2026-02-28) — Motility disorders are movement disorders of the GI tract. If food or stool does not move at the right speed, symptoms follow: reflux, bloating, nausea,…
Post-Infectious Motility Disruption: What to Do After a Gut Infection (2026-02-28) — A gut infection can leave behind motility dysfunction even after the infection clears. If symptoms persist, treat recovery as a motility rehab phase, not as…
Microbiome Diversity vs Symptom Control: How to Balance Both (2026-02-28) — You do not need to choose between feeling better now and building a stronger microbiome long term. The winning strategy is two-phase: stabilize symptoms…
Fermented Foods: How to Introduce Kefir, Kimchi, plus Sauerkraut Without Causing Flares (2026-02-28) — You've heard fermented foods are good for your gut. Kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha—they're supposed to boost your microbiome, improve digestion, and…
Digestive Enzyme Protocol: When to Use Them and When to Stop (2026-02-28) — Digestive enzymes can reduce post-meal symptoms when maldigestion is part of the problem, but they should be used as a targeted bridge, not permanent…
Bile Acid Malabsorption: Why "Unexplained" Diarrhea Keeps Coming Back (2026-02-28) — You've tried the low-FODMAP diet. You've taken probiotics. You've cut gluten and dairy. But the diarrhea keeps…
SIBO Relapse Prevention: A Prokinetic and Motility Strategy That Holds (2026-02-28) — Most SIBO relapse is not treatment failure: it is maintenance failure. If motility and bowel rhythm are not protected after knockdown treatment, overgrowth…
Probiotic Strains That Matter (And When They Don't) (2026-02-28) — "Probiotics" is too broad to be useful. Effects are strain-specific and context-specific. Pick strains based on your symptom pattern, not branding claims.
Lactulose-Mannitol Test: How to Interpret Results Without Guessing (2026-02-28) — The Lactulose-Mannitol test is a barrier function signal, not a standalone diagnosis. It helps estimate intestinal permeability patterns, but interpretation…
Gut-Immune Axis: The 3-Layer Model That Actually Explains What's Happening (2026-02-28) — You've probably heard that "70% of your immune system lives in your gut." But what does that actually mean for your symptoms? And more importantly, what can…
H. pylori Aftercare: How to Rebuild Without Relapse (2026-02-28) — Eradication is phase one. After successful antibiotic treatment, many people still have symptoms because mucosal healing, digestive normalization, and food tolerance…
Elemental Diet Protocol: When and How to Use This Therapeutic Reset (2026-02-28) — An elemental diet is the nuclear option of gut protocols. It's not a gentle cleanse or a casual reset—it's a complete replacement of normal eating with…
Prebiotic Fibers Compared: Inulin vs PHGG vs GOS (2026-02-28) — Not all prebiotic fibers are the same. They feed different bacteria, produce different effects, and work better for different situations. If you've tried…
Gut-Brain Axis: Breaking the Anxiety–Bloating Feedback Loop (2026-02-28) — You know that feeling where stress about your gut makes your symptoms worse, which makes you more stressed in return…
SIBO Treatment: Methane vs Hydrogen Patterns (Practical Differences) (2026-02-28) — Hydrogen-leaning and methane-leaning SIBO patterns often need different tactical emphasis. Methane patterns usually require stronger constipation and…
Low-FODMAP Advanced Implementation: Moving Beyond Basic Elimination (2026-02-28) — The basic low-FODMAP diet helps many people with IBS feel better. But too many people get stuck in elimination mode—afraid to add foods back, unsure what…
Why SIBO Keeps Coming Back: A Root-Cause Framework That Actually Works (2026-02-24) — SIBO relapse is usually a systems problem: motility, anatomy, acid, bile, biofilms, and upstream dysfunction. Treating overgrowth alone is rarely enough.
Why SIBO Keeps Coming Back: A Root-Cause Framework That Works (2026-02-24) — SIBO relapse usually means the system was never fully corrected. Killing overgrowth can reduce symptoms, but if motility, digestion, bile flow,…
IBS Red Flags: When Symptoms Need Medical Evaluation (2026-02-24) — Most IBS-like symptoms are not dangerous, but some signs should never be ignored. If you have bleeding, unexplained weight loss, persistent vomiting, fever,…
Red Light Therapy for Gut Health: What the Research Actually Shows (2026-02-24) — Red light therapy for gut health is promising but early. Here is what animal and human studies show, and how to use it safely.
Stool Testing vs Breath Testing: Which One First? (2026-02-21) — A comparison of stool and breath tests with practical guidance on when each is useful.
Reflux and Gut Health: What to Test (2026-02-20) — Approach to reflux that looks beyond acid suppression to gut health drivers.
Constipation and Gut Motility: A Plan (2026-02-10) — A pragmatic plan to support gut motility and ease constipation without over-reliance on laxatives.
The Critical Timing Mistake Making Gut Issues Worse (2026-02-09) — If you're struggling with gut health, you've probably been told to "just eat healthier" or "take this probiotic" countless times. You've tried restrictive…
Why Gut Testing Changes Everything (2026-02-09) — You've probably heard it dozens of times: "I tried everything and nothing worked."
Leaky Gut: The Complete Guide (2026-02-09) — For decades, medical professionals dismissed intestinal permeability as pseudoscience. It was labeled a fringe theory promoted by alternative practitioners…
Post-Infectious IBS Recovery: Practical Steps (2026-01-26) — IBS symptoms after an infection can persist. A structured, evidence-informed plan helps restore function and comfort.
Core Principles of Gut Healing (2026-01-24) — Discover the three pillars of functional gut restoration: Root Cause Approach, Personalized Protocols, and the Phased Approach.
Leaky Gut (Intestinal Permeability): The Complete Guide (2026-01-20) — Understanding the "Screen Door" of your gut. Symptoms, testing methods (Zonulin, Lactulose-Mannitol), and consequences of untreated intestinal permeability.
Dysbiosis Deep Dive: SIBO, Candida & H. Pylori (2026-01-18) — A detailed look at the three most common forms of gut dysbiosis, their symptoms, and why "mastic gum alone" isn't enough for H. Pylori.
Evidence-Based Healing Protocols (2026-01-15) — Step-by-step protocols for Leaky Gut, SIBO, Candida, and Constipation. Includes specific supplement dosages and phases.
Histamine Intolerance: The Hidden Trigger (2026-01-12) — Headaches, anxiety, and skin issues? It might be histamine. Learn about DAO deficiency and the low-histamine diet.
The Ultimate Guide to Gut Herbs & Supplements (2026-01-10) — From L-Glutamine to Marshmallow Root. A detailed breakdown of evidence-based botanicals and nutrients for digestive repair.
Lifestyle: Sleep, Stress & The Vagus Nerve (2026-01-08) — You can't supplement your way out of stress. How sleep, the vagus nerve, and environmental factors dictate your gut health.
The Connection: Libido, Brain Fog & Hair Loss (2026-01-05) — Why these seemingly unrelated symptoms often occur together and point directly to your gut.