Chapters
Take the gut check and we will sort the chapters by relevance for you.
Opportunistic pathogens
Germs that only become a problem when the balance is off. 6 chapters – expand
- Level:Intermediate Opportunistic pathogens Germs that are always there and only become a problem when the balance tips. AntibioticsAcid blockersMedicationProbioticsGut infectionsInflammationTests and diagnostics Promising How we rate the evidence Established Recommended in medical guidelines or supported by several consistent meta-analyses of randomised human studies. Well supported Several randomised studies in humans with largely consistent results. Promising Single randomised or controlled studies in humans, not yet independently confirmed — or many consistent observational studies. Plausible Two cases: first observational or pilot studies with small samples — or a settled basis that is not in dispute, such as movement, sleep or meal pauses. But not tested in humans for symptoms. Experimental Barely studied in humans. Mainly lab and animal studies or theoretical reasoning; whether it helps is open.
- Level:Intermediate After antibiotics: C. difficile and faecal transplants A germ that can take over after antibiotics, and a treatment that works better than any drug. AntibioticsFaecal transplantProbioticsDiarrhoeaGut infectionsBile acidsToxins and mould Established How we rate the evidence Established Recommended in medical guidelines or supported by several consistent meta-analyses of randomised human studies. Well supported Several randomised studies in humans with largely consistent results. Promising Single randomised or controlled studies in humans, not yet independently confirmed — or many consistent observational studies. Plausible Two cases: first observational or pilot studies with small samples — or a settled basis that is not in dispute, such as movement, sleep or meal pauses. But not tested in humans for symptoms. Experimental Barely studied in humans. Mainly lab and animal studies or theoretical reasoning; whether it helps is open.
- Level:Intermediate Herxheimer reaction, die-off and toxins When feeling worse at the start of treatment is real, and when "detox" is used to explain away harm. Toxins and mouldAntibioticsGut infectionsParasitesProbiotics Promising How we rate the evidence Established Recommended in medical guidelines or supported by several consistent meta-analyses of randomised human studies. Well supported Several randomised studies in humans with largely consistent results. Promising Single randomised or controlled studies in humans, not yet independently confirmed — or many consistent observational studies. Plausible Two cases: first observational or pilot studies with small samples — or a settled basis that is not in dispute, such as movement, sleep or meal pauses. But not tested in humans for symptoms. Experimental Barely studied in humans. Mainly lab and animal studies or theoretical reasoning; whether it helps is open. Community
- Level:Intermediate Saccharomyces boulardii: the probiotic yeast Why a yeast survives antibiotics, what it is proven to help with, and when it can become dangerous. ProbioticsAntibioticsDiarrhoeaGut infections Well supported How we rate the evidence Established Recommended in medical guidelines or supported by several consistent meta-analyses of randomised human studies. Well supported Several randomised studies in humans with largely consistent results. Promising Single randomised or controlled studies in humans, not yet independently confirmed — or many consistent observational studies. Plausible Two cases: first observational or pilot studies with small samples — or a settled basis that is not in dispute, such as movement, sleep or meal pauses. But not tested in humans for symptoms. Experimental Barely studied in humans. Mainly lab and animal studies or theoretical reasoning; whether it helps is open. Community
- Level:Intermediate Long COVID and the gut: when your stomach won't settle after COVID Diarrhoea, bloating and IBS after a COVID infection: what cohort studies show, what viral remnants in the gut might mean and which treatments have been tested so far. Gut infectionsIBSProbioticsInflammation Plausible How we rate the evidence Established Recommended in medical guidelines or supported by several consistent meta-analyses of randomised human studies. Well supported Several randomised studies in humans with largely consistent results. Promising Single randomised or controlled studies in humans, not yet independently confirmed — or many consistent observational studies. Plausible Two cases: first observational or pilot studies with small samples — or a settled basis that is not in dispute, such as movement, sleep or meal pauses. But not tested in humans for symptoms. Experimental Barely studied in humans. Mainly lab and animal studies or theoretical reasoning; whether it helps is open. Community
- Level:Intermediate Gut and cancer: what the gut microbiota protects against, what harms, and why it matters in cancer treatment Fibre and its bacteria protect against colorectal cancer, while some bacteria damage the genome. Why colorectal cancer is rising in people under 50, which germs travel along in tumours, what Helicobacter has to do with stomach cancer, and why the gut microbiota helps decide whether immunotherapy works. FibreInflammationAntibioticsProbioticsTests and diagnosticsMouth and teethFaecal transplantBile acids Promising How we rate the evidence Established Recommended in medical guidelines or supported by several consistent meta-analyses of randomised human studies. Well supported Several randomised studies in humans with largely consistent results. Promising Single randomised or controlled studies in humans, not yet independently confirmed — or many consistent observational studies. Plausible Two cases: first observational or pilot studies with small samples — or a settled basis that is not in dispute, such as movement, sleep or meal pauses. But not tested in humans for symptoms. Experimental Barely studied in humans. Mainly lab and animal studies or theoretical reasoning; whether it helps is open.
Microbial diversity
Why many different species keep the gut stable. 2 chapters – expand
- Level:Intermediate Spore-forming bacteria: Bacillus and co. as probiotics How probiotics in spore form survive stomach acid, what they do in the gut and where the evidence ends. ProbioticsIBSDiarrhoea Plausible How we rate the evidence Established Recommended in medical guidelines or supported by several consistent meta-analyses of randomised human studies. Well supported Several randomised studies in humans with largely consistent results. Promising Single randomised or controlled studies in humans, not yet independently confirmed — or many consistent observational studies. Plausible Two cases: first observational or pilot studies with small samples — or a settled basis that is not in dispute, such as movement, sleep or meal pauses. But not tested in humans for symptoms. Experimental Barely studied in humans. Mainly lab and animal studies or theoretical reasoning; whether it helps is open. Community
- Level:Intermediate Fermenting at home: milk kefir, water kefir and S. boulardii soda What lives in the grains, what studies show about kefir, how to do it safely, and why S. boulardii soda is an experiment. Fermented foodsProbioticsHistamine Plausible How we rate the evidence Established Recommended in medical guidelines or supported by several consistent meta-analyses of randomised human studies. Well supported Several randomised studies in humans with largely consistent results. Promising Single randomised or controlled studies in humans, not yet independently confirmed — or many consistent observational studies. Plausible Two cases: first observational or pilot studies with small samples — or a settled basis that is not in dispute, such as movement, sleep or meal pauses. But not tested in humans for symptoms. Experimental Barely studied in humans. Mainly lab and animal studies or theoretical reasoning; whether it helps is open. Community
Gut-brain axis
How stress, sleep and nerves steer digestion. 1 chapter – expand
- Level:Intermediate Brain fog and fatigue: when your gut makes your head tired Many people with gut problems feel exhausted and foggy. What studies show, which causes can be checked and what is mere speculation. SleepVitamins and fatty acidsCoeliac disease and glutenInflammationProbioticsTests and diagnostics Promising How we rate the evidence Established Recommended in medical guidelines or supported by several consistent meta-analyses of randomised human studies. Well supported Several randomised studies in humans with largely consistent results. Promising Single randomised or controlled studies in humans, not yet independently confirmed — or many consistent observational studies. Plausible Two cases: first observational or pilot studies with small samples — or a settled basis that is not in dispute, such as movement, sleep or meal pauses. But not tested in humans for symptoms. Experimental Barely studied in humans. Mainly lab and animal studies or theoretical reasoning; whether it helps is open. Community
Immune system and inflammation
The gut as the body's largest immune organ. 3 chapters – expand
- Level:Intermediate Allergies and intolerances: how the gut learns to tolerate food Every day the gut has to tolerate foreign protein. How this tolerance develops, what role bacteria, stomach acid and skin play, and why many people feel allergic without being so. AllergiesProbioticsAcid blockersAntibioticsTests and diagnostics Promising How we rate the evidence Established Recommended in medical guidelines or supported by several consistent meta-analyses of randomised human studies. Well supported Several randomised studies in humans with largely consistent results. Promising Single randomised or controlled studies in humans, not yet independently confirmed — or many consistent observational studies. Plausible Two cases: first observational or pilot studies with small samples — or a settled basis that is not in dispute, such as movement, sleep or meal pauses. But not tested in humans for symptoms. Experimental Barely studied in humans. Mainly lab and animal studies or theoretical reasoning; whether it helps is open. Community
- Level:Intermediate Skin and gut: what there is to the gut-skin axis Acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis: which links to the gut are proven, where a real disease is behind it, and where the hype begins. InflammationCoeliac disease and glutenProbioticsAllergiesAntibiotics Promising How we rate the evidence Established Recommended in medical guidelines or supported by several consistent meta-analyses of randomised human studies. Well supported Several randomised studies in humans with largely consistent results. Promising Single randomised or controlled studies in humans, not yet independently confirmed — or many consistent observational studies. Plausible Two cases: first observational or pilot studies with small samples — or a settled basis that is not in dispute, such as movement, sleep or meal pauses. But not tested in humans for symptoms. Experimental Barely studied in humans. Mainly lab and animal studies or theoretical reasoning; whether it helps is open. Community
- Level:Intermediate Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis: understanding inflammatory bowel disease In Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the immune system permanently attacks the gut wall. What distinguishes the two, what role genes, smoking, antibiotics and gut microbiota play, why early treatment matters, and what diet, probiotics and faecal transplants really achieve. InflammationDiarrhoeaTests and diagnosticsMedicationAntibioticsNutrientsProbioticsFaecal transplantMediterranean diet Established How we rate the evidence Established Recommended in medical guidelines or supported by several consistent meta-analyses of randomised human studies. Well supported Several randomised studies in humans with largely consistent results. Promising Single randomised or controlled studies in humans, not yet independently confirmed — or many consistent observational studies. Plausible Two cases: first observational or pilot studies with small samples — or a settled basis that is not in dispute, such as movement, sleep or meal pauses. But not tested in humans for symptoms. Experimental Barely studied in humans. Mainly lab and animal studies or theoretical reasoning; whether it helps is open.