Gut health

Smoking's not often touted for its health benefits. But it's been known to help those suffering from colitis even though it exacerbates Crohn's disease. New research that could help treat the conditions says it all has to do with bacteria migration.

We know by now that exercise is good for the body and mind at any age, but new research has found that your workouts may be benefiting a less obvious area: Inside your gut. It's yet another sign that the gut microbiome is central to overall health.

A new study has added strong evidence that red meat consumption is a trigger for inflammatory bowel disease, and inflammation, demonstrating just how it alters gut bacteria and immune activity, resulting in widespread tissue damage in the colon.

The human body is teeming with microbes, especially in the gut. To coexist smoothly, our bodies need to know what these tiny residents are up to. But can our bodies sense gut microbe activity in real-time and shift behavior accordingly?

Not all probiotics are created equal. A new study found that one commonly available strain made a gut infection worse, while another helped stop it in its tracks, thanks to a powerful natural antibiotic and an unexpected ally from the gut’s own ranks.

Gut support cells communicate with surprising precision – like brain neurons – to send instructions to the stem cells responsible for maintaining and healing the intestine. The discovery may change our understanding of tissue repair and gut diseases.

Thousands of people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome swear off a range of food categories to improve their symptoms. One of these categories is gluten, although a new small study shows it might not be the villain many think it is.

A groundbreaking study has revealed that white sugar doesn’t just feed bacteria in the gut – it rewires them. Consuming sugar can trigger physical flips in bacterial DNA, setting off a chain reaction that alters immune responses and gut health.

Think of your gut like that one nosy neighbor; it’s always collecting data, and it knows things. While everyone poops, not everyone follows a regular schedule. And apparently, your gut is keeping score.

Researchers from Caltech have developed a wireless smart capsule packed with tiny sensors to monitor the workings of your GI tract. This could help us get a better sense of our gut health, with the convenience of a pill you can swallow.

A small daily dose of kombucha made from black tea has been shown to meaningfully reshape the gut microbiome in adults – particularly those with obesity – without any dietary changes. It also reveals a lot about the importance of micro-biodiversity.

A new study has found that diet-driven weight gain triggers impaired cognitive functioning an symptoms of anxiety, adding to the growing body of evidence that there's an intrinsic biological link between our gut health and our mental health.