Social media’s gut feeling is all wrong: there is no fast track to a healthy microbiome

‘The microbiome is extremely individual and while for some people improving their diet can improve their gut microbiome in two weeks, for some people it will take a year.’ Composite: Getty Images

The emerging evidence of how our gut microbiomes influence our overall health has seen a surge in interest in how to achieve a healthy gut.

Perhaps nowhere is that interest more manifest than TikTok’s obsession – the hashtags #guttok and #guthealth show endless videos of influencers promising ways you can “eliminate bloating!” or “heal your gut”.