Gut Health
The Bristol Stool Form Scale: A Conversation Tool, Not a Diagnosis
A stool-form scale can help describe a pattern. It cannot identify the cause of symptoms or select a treatment on its own.
Gut Health
Plain-English education on fiber, fermented foods, probiotics, prebiotics, and digestion basics.
Guides to explore
- How Digestion Works: Stomach, Intestines & Enzymes
- Food Allergy, Intolerance & Celiac Testing
- Bloating, Bowel Patterns & Notes for an Appointment
- Acid Reflux: Food Patterns, Digestion & Care Questions
- Gut Microbiome Research: Diversity, Fiber & Claims
- IBS, Low-FODMAP Diets & Symptom Diaries: Questions for Care
Latest articles
21 articles
Gut Health
Resistant Starch: Digestion, Cooking, Cooling, and the Evidence
Resistant starch is not one interchangeable ingredient. Explore how preparation and study design affect claims about gut health.
Gut Health
Gut Microbiome Diversity: Why There Is No Universal Perfect Score
Microbial diversity describes an ecosystem, not a personal diagnosis. Learn why study findings and commercial scores need context.
Gut Health
Lactase Tablets for Lactose Intolerance: What They Can and Cannot Do
Lactase products can help some people digest lactose, but persistent symptoms or a new intolerance may need medical evaluation.
Gut Health
Food Allergy vs. Food Intolerance: Why the Difference Matters
Food allergies involve the immune system and can be life-threatening; intolerances more often cause digestive symptoms. Testing and advice differ.
Gut Health
Peristalsis Explained: How the Digestive Tract Moves Food
Peristalsis is a series of coordinated muscle contractions that helps move food and fluid through the digestive tract.
Gut Health
How the Stomach Handles a Meal Before It Reaches the Intestine
The stomach stores and mixes a meal with digestive juices before gradually releasing it into the small intestine.
Gut Health
The Gut-Brain Connection: What the Phrase Means
Nerves and hormones help coordinate digestion and communicate with the brain. The popular phrase does not make gut symptoms self-diagnosing.
Gut Health
Digestive Enzymes: What Your Body Makes and What Supplements Claim
The body uses enzymes from several organs to digest food. Over-the-counter enzyme products are not automatically right for everyone.
Gut Health
Bile and Digestion: What This Fluid Does With Dietary Fat
Bile helps the small intestine process fat. Learn where it is made, where it is stored, and why an explainer cannot diagnose symptoms.
Gut Health
Taking a PPI for GERD? Questions for Your Medication Review
NIDDK describes benefits and uncertainties around GERD medicines; use a clinician conversation to review symptoms, duration, and personal risks.
Gut Health
Low-FODMAP Eating for IBS: Why It Is Not a Forever Elimination Diet
A clinician may suggest a short trial of low-FODMAP foods for IBS, followed by careful reintroduction rather than lifelong restriction.
Gut Health
Lactose Intolerance: Symptoms, Testing, and Food Choices
Understand common lactose-intolerance symptoms, how clinicians evaluate them, and flexible food choices that can help preserve nutrient variety.
Gut Health
An IBS Symptom Log: What to Track Before an Appointment
A brief record of pain, bowel changes, meals, medicines, and timing can help make a digestive-health appointment more specific.
Gut Health
GERD Food Triggers: Why a Personal Pattern Matters
Commonly reported reflux triggers are not universal; learn how to discuss patterns with a clinician without starting an unnecessarily restrictive diet.
Gut Health
Gas and Bloating: Common Causes and When to Talk With a Doctor
Gas is a normal part of digestion, but changes, persistent discomfort, or other symptoms may deserve evaluation.
Gut Health
Diverticulosis vs. Diverticulitis: What the Terms Mean
NIDDK distinguishes colon pouches from inflammation and explains why the terms are not interchangeable.
Gut Health
Constipation Basics: Daily Habits and When to Call a Clinician
Understand common self-care topics to discuss, why medicines can matter, and which symptoms should prompt professional evaluation.
Gut Health
Celiac Testing: Talk to a Clinician Before Going Gluten-Free
Avoiding gluten before celiac testing can affect results, so discuss symptoms and testing with a health professional first.
Gut Health
Small Intestine vs. Large Intestine: What Each One Does
The small and large intestines have different jobs, from absorbing most nutrients to reclaiming water and forming stool.
Gut Health
Soluble vs. Insoluble Fiber: Food Sources and the Difference
A clear comparison of two broad fiber types, where they appear in foods, and why most people benefit from variety rather than a single source.