Expert-approved ways to improve your gut health.
| | | | Hey, y'all! You might have seen Ginger's note last week about a guest editor filling in for her today. Well, that's me! My name is Caroline, and I'm Healthline's newsletter intern. I'm so excited to get to chat with you today. | | I don't know if you've seen, but the cure-all, overnight gut "fix" trend has gained massive popularity on social media. Supposedly, you can turn your GI health around in just 1 day, with supplements and vitamins and teas (oh my!). | | So, is it true? Can you heal your stomach and stop your bloat in less than 24 hours? We had our resident registered dietitian Lisa Valente weigh in to give us an answer. We'll also be looking at: | | | | | Cheers,
Caroline Parrish
Newsletter Intern, Healthline | | | | |
| |  | | Written by Caroline Parrish
July 5, 2023 • 5 min read | | | | | | | |
| |  | | | TikTok Takedown: Can you really fix your gut health in just 1 night? | TikTok has been blowing up recently with users talking about their gut problems and solutions. The tag #guthealth can be found on videos with 4.9 billion cumulative views. Video after video offers potential solutions for bloating, constipation, and general stomach upset. But are any of them legit? How can you know who to trust when not everyone on the app has a medical degree?
Here it is: the much-needed TikTok professional review by Lisa Valente, MS, RD.
Firstly, Valente says no one should diagnose themselves from a TikTok video. Instead, she recommends talking with someone with a medical degree (say, a dietitian or doctor) to get help for your specific set of symptoms if they're persistent.
Gut health is an investment and something to be built up over time. So, can you really fix all of your stomach problems in just 24 hours? "Depends what they are," says Valente. "Have you ever felt a bellyache and then it went away on its own? It's not necessarily a magical TikTok elixir. It might just be time."
So, no, the fix-all concoctions on TikTok probably won't fix your persistent gut problems. But drinking more water, gentle movement, and a little bit of ginger is what Valente recommends for at-home GI soothing. To remedy day-to-day bloating, she also suggests eating a well-rounded diet that's high in fiber and other nutrients. | | Read on: | | | | | | |
| | | | Editor faves with health perks | | | | | | |  | | Gaiam yoga mat | | Research suggests that implementing movement in your weekly routine can alter your microbiome for the better. If you're not ready to shell out big bucks for an expensive workout machine but still want the benefits movement can offer, this yoga mat is a great place to start. | | This nonslip, cushioned mat is an accessible workout staple for Pilates, yoga, and all kinds of floor workouts! It comes in more than 30 different colors and prints, so you can find the one that matches your needs and personality. | | | Every product we recommend has gone through Healthline's vetting process. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline is owned by RVO Health. | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | An expert weighs in | Q: What are some of the primary causes of GI discomfort day-to-day? I've often heard that cutting out certain foods could help ease pain and bloating, but could there be other factors at play?
A: For some people, certain foods are going to be tough on their digestive systems. It might be gluten, it might be FODMAPs (a certain kind of carbohydrate). But oftentimes, people eliminate these unnecessarily or without plans to add them back in. If you're feeling constant GI discomfort, I recommend working with a dietitian or chatting with your doctor.
– Lisa Valente, MS, RD | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |  | | | The various uses for prebiotic sodas | Olipop, Culture Pop, and Poppi — what do these brands have in common? (Other than the fact that they sound like the titles of Spotify "recent hits" playlists.) They're three popular brands of prebiotic soda, a trending product that yields TikTok video search results with more than 34 million views. Safe to say, they've garnered massive attention.
There is debate, however, about how effective these sodas really are. They're marketed as a way to supplement gut health, and their primary benefit is actually their fiber content. Though fiber is an important element in sustaining GI health, it could be more beneficial to eat a well-rounded diet — fruits, vegetables, whole grains — that offers other health benefits, too.
Whether or not prebiotic drinks have the ability to mend your microbiome, the citizens of the internet have found another use for them: making nonalcoholic cocktails. These not quite sodas are great for making mocktails because they're low in sugar and high in fiber yet still sweet enough to be the mixer for a tasty beverage. So, even if a prebiotic soda won't fix your gut health, you can make a delicious, summery drink without having to nurse a hangover.
Keep reading: We want to know: I've heard of prune juice, strong coffee, and jumping jacks, but what's your go-to fix for your gut? Let us know at wellnesswire@healthline.com. (Please note that we may use your name and response in an upcoming edition!) | | | | | | |
| | | | Thanks for reading my first-ever edition of Wellness Wire! Morgan will be back with you on Friday. Until next time!
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