Digestive Health

Most people just flush and move on, but what your poop's color and smell reveal about your health can actually offer some real clues about your digestive wellness.The smell of stool comes mostly from bacteria in your gut breaking down food. If the odor changes, it usually means something's shifted with your gut health, your diet, or maybe there's an underlying digestive issue.All stool has some odor—thank your gut...

You've probably noticed that during stressful periods, your digestion feels off and your gas smells worse than usual. This isn't just in your head. When you're stressed, your body releases cortisol and other hormones that slow digestion, alter gut bacteria composition, and increase intestinal permeability, which directly changes how your body produces and processes gas. The result is often more frequent, more uncomfortable, and notably more...

Fasting can paradoxically increase certain digestive smells in the short term, even though it gives your digestive system a break. When you fast, your body shifts into different metabolic states that produce distinct odors, from breath that smells fruity or acetone-like due to ketosis to changes in body odor as your system processes stored fats and proteins. The relationship between fasting and digestive smells depends on...

Your gut does more than just digest food. It houses trillions of microorganisms that influence your immune system, mood, inflammation levels, and risk for chronic diseases. When this delicate ecosystem falls out of balance, you might experience bloating, irregular bowel movements, fatigue, or even brain fog that doctors struggle to explain.The good news is that supporting a healthy gut microbiome doesn't require drastic dietary overhauls or...

Passing gas is normal, but if you've noticed yours has become particularly foul-smelling, the culprit might be hiding in your diet. Food intolerances directly contribute to smelly gas because your body lacks the necessary enzymes to properly break down certain foods, leading to bacterial fermentation in your gut that produces sulfur-containing compounds like hydrogen sulfide.Many people confuse food intolerances with allergies, but they're distinct issues. While allergies...