You might be surprised to learn that gut health is the latest interesting topic on TikTok.
Under hashtags like #guttok, #guthealth and #guthealing, influencers and everyday users post thousands of videos, sharing stories about their struggles and gut health remedies.
And they’ve garnered just over a billion views.
As with anything skyrocketing on TikTok, the popularity of gut health on the app can be attributed in part to the ease with which content creators can churn out quick, easily recognizable videos on topics like how to reduce bloating or prevent symptoms. of irritable bowel syndrome.
Another factor is that while users try to be more knowledgeable about their health on the app, they are also looking for solutions and the gut health community offers them.
For example, this year, a cleaner, easier way to get gut health information was launched by Thorne, a science-based wellness company that supports healthy aging, and it went viral.
Testing your gut health typically involves pooping in a bucket or on a piece of paper, then collecting a sample of your stool in a container to ship it to a lab. “You get a lot of information from running these gut health tests, but one problem is that the collection process isn’t the best experience,” says Nathan Price, Thorne’s chief scientific officer.
Thorne’s famous TikTok test offers an alternative: a microbiome wipe, which is used just like toilet paper after going to the bathroom. Put the wipe in a container, ship it and that’s it.
“It’s just like what you do every single day,” says Price. “We just thought it was the simplest way we can think it is possible to collect a microbiome sample.”
The simplicity of the test, plus the actionable steps that come with the results, really resonates with the creators and followers on TikTok.
But the sheer amount of information, advice, and remedies on social media can be a lot to overcome. So much is coming up that you may not be able to tell the myths from the facts, or even just understand why gut health is so important in the first place.
Thankfully, we talked to a gastroenterologist about what exactly gut health 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 Medicine. Read also : Oklahoma Football Recruitment: Four-Star OT Cayden Green Commits to Sooners on CBS Sports HQ.
The key to everything related to gut health is the microbiome, according to Christopher Damman, a gastroenterologist at the Digestive Health Center at the University of Washington Medical Center, and Supergut’s chief medical and science officer. You might think of the microbiome as the “tamagotchi of our gut,” Damman says.
“You have to make the Tamagotchi happy to keep your whole body happy,” Damman says.
The microbiome is full of microbes, and there’s a very important reason they live in your gut, Damman says. It encourages you to think of microbes as a nutrient factory that produces the things your body needs, using the food we eat. Many of these nutrients are not present in the food itself.
You have to make the tamagotchi happy to keep your whole body happy.
Gastroenterologist, Digestive Health Center at the University of Washington Medical Center
“They are not only present as innocent bystanders, but they are actually conspiring for our health and we are conspiring for their health. We have a mutual relationship with them,” he says.
Here are some things your microbes do for your body, according to Damman:
When gut health is out of balance, it can affect the rest of the body as well, he says. And they aren’t always the usual suspects like diarrhea, constipation or abdominal discomfort.
“Skin may be linked to gut health. Your mental health and neuroinflammation are the cause, it may be linked to gut health. The list goes on and on,” Damman says. “Sleep too. and mood “.
Research shows there are also health benefits to having a diverse microbiome, which can be affected by your diet, he says. According to a 2021 study published in Nature Metabolism, unique microbiomes were associated with healthy aging and increased survival rates.
4 ways to support or improve your gut health
Some experts would argue that tests like Thorne’s, while effective, are not necessary. Your body will likely tell you when gut health is out of balance due to a range of symptoms including digestive issues, acne, brain fog, and low moods.
Fortunately, there are easy and natural things you can do to support or improve the balance of your gut. To see also : 4 locations were upgraded to CDC ‘high’ risk for immigration. The most important thing is to improve your diet, and for that, Damman encourages you to consider these four:
Fiber is what he recommends mainly because it is the preferred food source of gut microbes.
And of the TikTok crazes, kombucha, yogurt, and apple cider vinegar are the only ones that are slightly supported by evidence because they’re fermented foods, he adds.
Having a diet rich in fermented foods is correlated with a more diverse microbiome and decreased inflammation, according to a small 2021 study conducted by researchers at Stanford School of Medicine.
But it’s important to be aware of choosing low-sugar fermented foods. “For kombucha in particular, it contains a lot of sugar. Sugar is probably one of the things that contributes to poor gut health,” Damman says.
Damman also warns you to be careful with Keto diets because while they can help you lose weight, they typically don’t include enough fiber and can put stress on your liver and kidneys.
“Go back to a truly healthy diet that has more balance,” says Damman. “The balance we’ve been missing is whole foods and fiber, and I think that’s where supplements can really fill a nice niche in the backend.”
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