Don’t ignore gut feelings on gut health

EACH year a new health trend dominates social media and in 2026 gut health is on the rise.

For medical practitioners and researchers, the idea of keeping a healthy gut is far from new.

Gut refers to the gastrointestinal system, which includes your stomach, small intestine and large intestine. It is an essential part of the immune system and breaks down food and absorbs the nutrients people need to stay healthy.

Poor gut health can impact both physical and mental health. Symptoms, such as bloating, flatulence and constipation, can be a sign something bigger is at play.

Ash Noble is a colon hydrotherapist based on the Bellarine and says there is a plethora of reasons gut health is on-trend at the moment.

Rising rates of colon cancer in young people, new research and increased discussions on the gut impacts of diets within health communities has brought the issue front of mind.

Weeding out the good information from the bad can be half the battle.

“There is a lot of information online about gut health, and it can feel overwhelming or even conflicting,” Noble said.

“Gut health is also highly individual – what works well for one person may not work for another – so it’s best to start with simple foundations rather than overcomplicating things.”

When the microbiome within the gut is unbalanced symptoms can occur all throughout the body.

Noble said research had linked poor gut health to chronic inflammation, mental health and lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity.

She said gut healthy cook books, increasing hydration, regular movement and spending time outdoors could be a safe place to start improving gut health.

With gut health becoming a buzz word across the internet, Nobel said there is room and need for further education both at a practitioner and individual level.

She believes individuals can improve their gut health before it becomes poor by making small changes at a personal level.

“Gut health is complex and it’s rarely as simple as taking a single supplement or quick fix,” Noble said.

“A more holistic understanding is important, as many factors influence gut health, including the food we eat, the quality of the water we drink, stress levels, past infections, and the environments we live and work in.

“For practitioners, it often starts with asking the right questions to identify lifestyle factors that may be affecting an individual’s gut health and supporting people to make sustainable diet and lifestyle changes over time.

“There is also growing interest from the public in learning more about gut health, which is encouraging, as simple education and small lifestyle changes can make a meaningful difference to overall wellbeing.”

A large part of Noble’s role is educating clients on how the digestive system works and how it may be affecting other areas of their health.

Nobel encourages anyone experiencing poor gut health symptoms to not ignore them.