Here’s what experts actually look for, recommend, and see as red flags. Nervous system regulation, sleepmaxxing, high-functioning burnout — there is always some hot new health topic du jour. While there’s usually some kernel of true health information buried in the hype, it’s hard to parse what really matters from all the social media “gurus” shilling supplements at the link in bio.
This is especially true of “gut health,” a topic that feels like it has dominated wellness spaces for the past few years but also never really comes up in your primary care doctor’s office. So, what does gut health actually mean, particularly for women? What do we need to know, and what is social media fluff?
We’ve heard the term; what does it actually mean? In general, gut health refers to the state of your gastrointestinal tract and how it’s working for you, according to the American Medical Association (AMA). Regular bowel movements, no persistent pain or bloating — these are signs things are going well.
Medically speaking, good gut health doesn’t mean you’ve somehow optimized your microbiome (more on that in a minute); it means your digestive tract is functioning as it should, you’re absorbing the nutrients you need, and you’re comfortable throughout the process. It’s no bloating on a consistent basis. It’s having regular bowel movements.
I’m not racing to the bathroom with loose stools or, on the other side of it, I’m not going days constipated. I don’t feel that brain fog. I have energy, and I’m sleeping well,” says Chloe Melas, NBC News correspondent and author of The Girl’s Guide to Guts, who lives with ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Yes, it is a real thing and the subject of reams of medical research. Inside your intestines live trillions of microorganisms that have a surprising impact on our overall health. According to The Cleveland Clinic, they help break down our food, support our immune systems, and may even play a role in mood and behavioral health.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
