Chapters
Take the gut check and we will sort the chapters by relevance for you.
Gut barrier
The gut lining as the border between gut contents and the body. 1 chapter – expand
- Level:Intermediate The “leaky gut stack”: colostrum, zinc carnosine, aloe and co. What goes into the typical gut-lining blends, what studies show and where the risks lie. Vitamins and fatty acidsMedicationIBSInflammationExercise 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
Opportunistic pathogens
Germs that only become a problem when the balance is off. 2 chapters – expand
- Level:Intermediate When the gut does not settle after an infection Stomach bug, food poisoning, traveller's diarrhoea: why symptoms sometimes stay. Gut infectionsIBSDiarrhoeaBile acids 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.
- 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
Microbial diversity
Why many different species keep the gut stable. 1 chapter – 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
Gut-brain axis
How stress, sleep and nerves steer digestion. 4 chapters – expand
- Level:Intermediate Hormones, the cycle and the gut Why gut symptoms change around your period, in pregnancy and at menopause, and when endometriosis or the thyroid may be behind them. IBSConstipationDiarrhoea 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.
- Level:Intermediate The vagus nerve: the data line between belly and head The longest cranial nerve tells the brain what is happening in the gut and dampens inflammation. What of this is proven, and what breathing exercises and devices can really do. StressIBSInflammation 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 Fear of food: when your list of safe foods keeps shrinking How gut symptoms can tip into fear of eating, ARFID or orthorexia, why unintended weight loss is a warning sign, and how to find your way back to a varied diet. PsychotherapyBody weightIBSFODMAP 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 Gut-directed hypnotherapy and psychological therapy: treatment via the gut-brain axis Why gut-directed hypnotherapy and CBT are among the best-proven treatments for IBS, how they work, what apps can do, and why "limbic retraining" is something else. PsychotherapyIBSStress 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.
Digestive function
Stomach acid, bile and enzymes as groundwork for the gut. 2 chapters – expand
- Level:Intermediate Bile acids: when bile causes diarrhoea Primary and secondary bile acids, the role of gut bacteria and why antibiotics can shift the balance. Bile acidsDiarrhoeaIBSTests 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 Sensitive stomach: fullness, upper abdominal pain and Helicobacter What is behind upper abdominal symptoms when the endoscopy is normal, why the Helicobacter test comes first and what else helps. BloatingIBSAcid blockersTests 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.
Small intestine colonisation
When bacteria grow where few belong. 3 chapters – expand
- Level:Intermediate When the small intestine is too densely colonised Bacteria in the wrong place: why fibre can then become a problem. BloatingFODMAPAntibioticsIBSConstipationBile acidsTests 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 Doing low-FODMAP right The best-studied diet for bloating, and why it is only meant to be temporary. FODMAPBloatingIBS 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.
- Level:Intermediate Prebiotics that build up gently Why some fibres cause bloating and others feed the gut microbiota gently. FibreBloatingFODMAPShort-chain fatty acidsIBSPrebiotics 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. 1 chapter – expand
- Level:Intermediate PEA (palmitoylethanolamide): the body's own inflammation brake in a capsule A fatty substance the body makes itself to calm mast cells and inflammation. As a supplement it is taken for gut and nerve pain. What studies show and where they are thin. IBSInflammationHistamineDiarrhoea 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.