TikTok Myth of the Week: Your Guts Are Just Chock Full of Poop
Some TikTok myths I find in the wild (like the tales of supposed tick attacks), while other times I’m tipped off by a news article claiming there’s a trend. The…
Why You Should Take a Pre-Run Poop, According to Science
If you are a regular runner or cyclist, you are probably all too aware of the GI issues that crop up during a long workout or a race. Dealing with…
Which Fermented Foods Are Actually Good For You?
Fermented foods are often among the top nutritional suggestions for gut health, since they contain probiotic bacteria that are believed to have beneficial effects on the microbes in our guts.…
What to Do If You Just Can’t Poop
This post is part of our Home Remedy Handbook, a tour of the landscape of home remedies from the iffy to the doctor-approved. Read more here. If you’ve ever been…
Listen to Your Farts
Illustration: Sam Woolley Breaking wind. Cutting the cheese. Thunder from down under. I could go on, but whatever you call it, farting is a part of life. Farting is usually…
‘Black Hairy Tongue’ Probably Didn’t Kill Julie Powell
Photo: Dragon Images (Shutterstock) Julie Powell, the author of Julie and Julia, tweeted before her recent death at age 49 that she had “something that’s literally Black Hairy Tongue” and…
You’ll Need Your First Colonoscopy Sooner Than You Think
Photo: Sen Alfred (Shutterstock) Colonoscopies are no fun. Prepping for one includes a full day of eating nothing but liquid and laxatives, with the goal of emptying everything out of…
11 of TikTok’s Silliest ‘Gut Health’ Trends
Screenshot: thatnextlevelgirl/TikTok It’s true that a diverse diet with plenty of plant foods is probably better for your gut than a crappy diet—but not for any game-changing, gut-specific reason. Your…
Is It Dangerous to Hold in a Fart Too Long?
Photo: Prostock-studio (Shutterstock) We’ve all been there. You’re on a first date, or in a meeting, or trying to be a considerate airplane passenger—whatever the reason, you’re holding in a…
The Secret to Making Colonoscopy Prep Less Shitty
Photo: Declair (Shutterstock) Many signs can tip you off to the fact that you are becoming an old person. Your neighbors suddenly seeming loud and obnoxious instead of like the…