Learn about your gut
30 plain-language guides, each built on a trusted US source such as NIH, Mayo Clinic, Harvard Health or Cleveland Clinic. Pick a topic or start with the basics.
IBS Key Facts: What the NIH Wants You to Know
How common is IBS, who gets it, and what are IBS-C, IBS-D, and IBS-M? A plain-language guide to the key facts from the National Institutes of Health.
Causes & BasicsIBS as a Gut-Brain Disorder: What Mayo Clinic Experts Say
Doctors now call IBS a disorder of gut-brain interaction. Learn what that means, common triggers, core symptoms, and how personalized care can help.
Causes & BasicsYour IBS Symptoms Are Real: What Science Is Uncovering
IBS is not "all in your head." Learn how researchers are uncovering the biology behind IBS and how to talk openly with your doctor about your symptoms.
Causes & BasicsWhy Do I Have IBS? 5 Possible Causes Doctors Point To
From past gut infections to genetics and early-life stress, here are five possible causes of IBS and why there is no single cure that works for everyone.
Causes & BasicsIBS, SIBO, and Food Poisoning: Understanding the Link
Could a past bout of food poisoning explain your IBS? Learn how researchers link IBS to SIBO, what breath gases reveal, and which options may help.
Causes & BasicsSIBO vs. IBS: How to Tell Them Apart
SIBO and IBS share many symptoms, from bloating to diarrhea. Learn how each is diagnosed, how they overlap, and why testing matters before self-treating.
Causes & BasicsWhy Are Women More Likely to Have IBS?
About two-thirds of people with IBS are women. Learn how hormones, stress, and fiber may play a role, and what everyday steps may help ease symptoms.
Causes & BasicsIBS and Your Period: Why Symptoms Get Worse
Many women with IBS feel worse during their period. Learn how hormones affect the gut and simple ways to plan ahead for your most sensitive days.
Gut–Brain & StressThe Brain-Gut Connection: Meet Your "Second Brain"
Your gut has its own nervous system with over 100 million nerve cells. Learn how this second brain talks to your mind and why that matters for IBS.
Gut–Brain & StressStress, Anxiety, and IBS: How to Break the Cycle
Stress and anxiety can stir up IBS symptoms. Learn what pandemic-era research revealed and how mindfulness and diet changes may help some people.
Gut–Brain & StressIntegrative Approaches to IBS: Mind, Body, and Diet Options
Mindfulness, hypnotherapy, yoga, peppermint oil, and soluble fiber: a plain-language look at gentle IBS options and what the evidence suggests.
BloatingBloating on TikTok: What the Viral Videos Get Right and Wrong
Bloating videos are everywhere on TikTok. Here's what's real, why bloating is so common, and why quick-fix products deserve a healthy dose of doubt.
BloatingWhat Causes Bloating? 5 Common Reasons and What May Help
From FODMAP foods to constipation and a sensitive gut, learn the most common causes of bloating and simple, research-backed steps that may help.
BloatingWhen Is Bloating Normal and When Should You Worry?
Most bloating is harmless, but some signs mean it's time to see a doctor. Learn the common causes, the red flags, and simple first steps that may help.
BloatingGut Health Trends to Skip, According to Dietitians
Olive oil shots, lemon water, ginger cure-alls: dietitians explain which viral gut health trends to skip and which basics actually support your gut.
Diet & LifestyleSleep, Exercise, and IBS: Healthy Habits Linked to Lower Risk
A large study of more than 64,000 adults linked good sleep, regular exercise, and not smoking to a lower risk of IBS. Here's what it means for you.
Diet & LifestyleFibermaxxing: How to Get More Fiber Without the Bloat
Fibermaxxing is trending, and most Americans do need more fiber. Here's how to increase it safely, especially if you have IBS or a sensitive gut.
Diet & LifestyleA Simpler Low-FODMAP Approach: Start With the Biggest Triggers
New research suggests one FODMAP group may cause most IBS pain and bloating. Learn how a simpler, less restrictive low-FODMAP approach could work.
Diet & LifestyleThe Low-FODMAP Diet in 3 Steps: A Beginner's Guide for IBS
Learn what FODMAPs are and how the three phases of the low-FODMAP diet work: elimination, reintroduction, and personalization, plus common pitfalls.
Diet & LifestyleHow to Relieve Bloating: Quick Fixes and Long-Term Habits
Gas, constipation, or water retention? Learn what's behind your bloating, quick ways to ease it today, and long-term habits that may help you.
Diet & LifestylePsyllium Husk for IBS: How to Start Low and Go Slow
Psyllium husk is a gentle soluble fiber that may help some people with IBS, especially constipation. Learn how it works and how to start it comfortably.
Probiotics & EvidenceWhy Gastroenterologists Don't Routinely Recommend Probiotics
The American Gastroenterological Association says there isn't enough evidence to recommend probiotics for IBS. Here's what that means for you.
Probiotics & EvidenceCan Inactive Probiotics Help IBS? What One Big Study Found
A large trial found an inactivated probiotic helped about a third of people with IBS. Here's what the results mean and how to keep expectations realistic.
Probiotics & EvidenceSpore-Based Probiotics Explained: What Makes Them Different
Spore-forming probiotics like Bacillus coagulans can survive stomach acid. Learn how they work, what the evidence says, and who should be careful.
Probiotics & EvidenceIBS Treatments With Real Evidence (and What to Skip)
A gastroenterologist's view of evidence-backed IBS options, like psyllium, targeted low-FODMAP, and peppermint oil, plus popular ones that fall short.
Probiotics & EvidenceDo Probiotics Really Work? What the Science Can Tell Us
Probiotics are a booming business, but the evidence is more modest than the marketing. Here's what research says about probiotics and IBS symptoms.
Probiotics & EvidenceThe Risks and Benefits of Probiotics: A Balanced Look
Probiotics aren't FDA-approved before sale, and they may not suit everyone. Learn the possible benefits, the risks, and why food may be a good first step.
Supplements & SafetyBold Probiotic Claims vs. Science: How to Spot the Hype
Probiotics are marketed for everything from weight loss to mood, but the science is shaky. Learn how to spot overblown claims and read labels smarter.
Supplements & SafetyHow Supplements Are Regulated in the US: What to Know
Dietary supplements don't need FDA approval before they're sold. Learn how US rules work, why labels can mislead, and how to choose more safely.
Supplements & SafetyAre Probiotic Supplements Worth It? When They May Backfire
Experts say daily probiotics may be unnecessary for healthy people and can worsen bloating in some. Learn when they're supported and when to skip them.
All articles are for general education and are not medical advice. Each one links to the original source it is based on. American Gut Free is not affiliated with the publications cited.