You might be surprised to learn that gut health is the latest hot topic on TikTok.
Under hashtags like #guttok, #guthealth and #guthealing, Influencers as well as users daily post thousands of videos, sharing stories of their gut health struggles and remedies.
And they’ve raked in over a billion views.
Like anything that skyrockets on TikTok, the app’s popularity of gut health can be partly attributed to the ease with which content creators can create quick and easy-to-understand videos on topics like how to reduce bloating or prevent symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Another factor is that as users are wanting to be more informed about their health on the app, they are also looking for solutions — and the gut health community is providing them.
For example, this year, a clearer and easier way to get information about gut health was launched and spread by Thorne, the science-driven wellness company that supports healthy aging. widely transmitted.
Checking your gut health usually involves shoveling into a bucket or on a piece of paper, then shoveling a sample of your own stool into a container to send to a lab. “You get a lot of information from doing these gut health tests, but the problem is that the collection process is not a great experience,” said Nathan Price, chief science officer at Thorne. best”.
Thorne’s famous TikTok experiment offers an alternative—microbiological wipes, which are used like toilet paper after going to the bathroom. You put the wipe in a container, send it out, and you’re done.
“It’s like what you do every day,” says Price. “We just thought it was the simplest way we could think of where you could collect a microbial sample.”
The simplicity of the experiment, plus the actionable steps accompanying the results, really resonated with creators and followers on TikTok.
But the amount of information, advice and remedies on social media can be overwhelming. There’s so much coming your way that you may not be able to distinguish myth from truth, or even be unable to understand why gut health is so important in the first place.
Thankfully, we spoke with a gastroenterologist about what gut health exactly is, how it affects other parts of your body, and how you can improve it. Here’s what he had to say:
What is gut health and why is it important?
Gut health is a term used to describe how the gut interacts with the rest of the body and overall health, including how you digest and absorb substances, according to a 2011 study. in BMC . drugs.
According to Christopher Damman, a gastroenterologist at the Center for Digestive Medicine at the University of Washington Medical Center and medical and scientific director at Supergut, the key to gut health is all about it. microbiota. You can think of the microbiome as ‘tamagotchi in our gut,’ Damman says.
“You have to keep the tamagotchi happy to keep your whole body happy,” says Damman.
The microbiome is full of bacteria, and there’s a very important reason they live in your gut, says Damman. He encourages you to think of the microbiome as a nutrient factory that makes the things your body needs by using the food we eat. Many of these nutrients are not found in foods.
You have to keep the tamagotchi happy to keep your whole body happy.
Christopher Damman
Gastroenterologist, Center for Digestive Health at University of Washington Medical Center
“They’re not just there as innocent bystanders, they’re actually conspiring for our health and we’re conspiring for theirs. We have a mutual relationship with them,” he said. speak.
Here are some of the things that microorganisms do to your body, according to Damman:
- Production of nutrients
- Regulate your immune system
- Protect yourself from pathogens
When your gut health is out of balance, it can affect the rest of your body as well. And it’s not always the usual suspects like diarrhea, constipation, or abdominal discomfort.
“Your skin may have something to do with gut health,” says Damman. “Your mental health and neuroinflammation is to blame for that, which could be related to gut health.”
Research shows there are also health benefits to having a diverse microbiome, which can be influenced by your diet, he says. Unique microorganisms linked to healthy aging and increased survival rates, by 2021 research published in the journal Nature Metabolism.
4 ways to support or improve your gut health
Some experts would argue that trials like Thorne, while effective, are unnecessary. Your body will likely tell you when your gut health is out of balance through a number of symptoms including digestive issues, acne, brain fog, and lower mood.
Fortunately, there are easy, natural things you can do to support or improve your gut balance. The most important thing is to improve your diet, and for this, Damman encourages you to consider these four things:
- Think about this quote: “Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much”, from Michael Pollan’s book, ‘In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto’
- Try the Mediterranean diet
- Eat whole foods and use supplements for nutrients you may be lacking
- Remember the ‘four phonetic F’s’: fiber, phenols, fermenters and good fats
Fiber is what he recommends above all because it is the preferred food source for gut bacteria.
And among the TikTok crazes, kombucha, yogurt and apple cider vinegar are the only ones that are a bit justified by them being fermented foods, he added.
Having a diet rich in fermented foods correlates with a more diverse microbiome and reduced inflammation, according to a small number by 2021. research conducted by researchers at Stanford Medical School.
But it’s important to be mindful of choosing low-sugar fermented foods. “For kombucha, there’s a lot of sugar,” says Damman.
Damman also warns you to be careful with Keto diets because while they can help you lose weight, they often don’t include enough fiber and can put stress on your liver and kidneys.
“Go back to a really healthy diet for more balance,” says Damman. “The balance we’re missing is whole foods and fiber, and I think that’s where supplements can really fill a niche in the backend.”
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