 You only have to scroll on TikTok for a few minutes to experience #GutTok in full force. Whether it's influencers sharing their transformative anti-bloating stories or 'gut-friendly' recipes, suddenly everyone is taking note of how important our gut health is – and why we should be focusing on it. It's clear the topic has come a long way since the days of dreary Yakult TV adverts. In fact, #GutTok now boasts more than one billion views on TikTok. But why are we finding the chat so interesting now? After all, probiotics and the importance of fibre-rich meals are nothing new. The health backdrop of the noughties and 2010s (despite, in hindsight, being incredibly problematic in many ways) was filled with the likes of Gillian McKeith telling us We Are What We Eat and Martine McCutcheon clutching a pot of Activia, hailing its impressive digestive qualities. Gut health has been a slow burn in the background for decades, albeit in a slightly cringeworthy way. Dr Zoe Williams tells Metro: 'Historically, approaches to gut health were very reactive and people would only consider looking at ways to improve or safeguard gut health if they experienced symptoms like bloating, constipation, or digestive issues. 'However, as our understanding of the gut and microbiome has improved through new research and improved expertise in the field, people now have a better awareness of how our gut and microbiome can influence so many other facets of our overall health. 'We now know that gut issues can manifest through such a broad range of symptoms, from the more obvious stomach cramps to things like energy levels, mood, fatigue, skin and more.' In fact, it's new technology that's enabled us to advance our understanding of this field of science now known as the gut microbiome, says Dr Megan Rossi, a gut health scientist, dietitian, and founder of The Gut Health Doctor, The Gut Health Clinic and Bio&Me. She also ha){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
You only have to scroll on TikTok for a few minutes to experience #GutTok in full force.
Whether it’s influencers sharing their transformative anti-bloating stories or ‘gut-friendly’ recipes, suddenly everyone is taking note of how important our gut health is – and why we should be focusing on it.
It’s clear the topic has come a long way since the days of dreary Yakult TV adverts. In fact, #GutTok now boasts more than one billion views on TikTok.
But why are we finding the chat so interesting now? After all, probiotics and the importance of fibre-rich meals are nothing new.