Myths surrounding the gut
The gut is a complex and vital organ in the human body. Consequently, many myths and misconceptions circulate about gut health. But don't worry, we'll debunk them for you.
Myth 1: Toxins build up in the intestines, so they need to be “cleaned”.
Your body is perfectly equipped to break down and eliminate toxins primarily through your liver and kidneys. If this weren't the case, we wouldn't have made it this far due to poor hygiene. Therefore, widespread colon cleanses or detox diets are unnecessary unless prescribed by a doctor and can often do more harm than good.¹
Myth 2: Daily bowel movements are a sign of good intestinal health.
In principle, daily and regular bowel movements are not a bad sign; however, the frequency varies from person to person. One person might have a bowel movement every day, while another might only have one three times a week. As long as there are no symptoms such as severe pain or a drastic change in bowel habits, both can be normal.²
Myth 3: Cola helps with diarrheal diseases.
Although this is a common misconception, cola doesn't help and can actually worsen symptoms. Cola contains a lot of sugar and increases fluid loss during diarrhea.³ Instead, you can do your body good with easily digestible foods like bananas, rusks, cooked carrots or potatoes, and soaked oatmeal.³
Myth 4: I cannot influence my gut flora.
Our gut flora is a key factor influencing our health. In fact, only 10% of the bacterial composition in our gut is genetically determined. The remaining 90% continuously adapt to your lifestyle and diet.⁴ A wide variety of bacterial strains in our gut ensures a balanced gut flora – which is fundamental to our health. You can achieve this through a healthy diet with sufficient fiber and pre- and probiotic foods.⁵
Sources:
² Bad Gut (nd). The Scoop on Poop.
³ Jena University Hospital (2024). Gut myths.
⁴ Spor, A., Koren, O. and Ley, R. (2015). Unraveling the effects of the environment and host genotype on the gut microbiome. PLOS ONE, 10(10), p.e0140301