Bye Bye Bloating: A Guide to Gut Health

Updated Published

Sarayu Bethi Student Contributor, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Mich chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

Pilates or Spin? Rosie Graham or Chloe Ting? Stairmaster or walking? All anyone can talk about these days is what can help debloat their figure. However, recently, more and more women are figuring out that the key to saying goodbye to their bloat lies not in the workouts that they do, but rather the things that are going into their body. Gut health has become the newest trend of 2025, with products such as Coconut Cult, Bloom and digestive enzymes flooding the market. With so many options, how do we know what actually works? Where do we begin?

A bit of background…

To begin, let’s take a closer look at the gut microbiome. Our body is full of trillions of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, which makeup our body’s microbiome. These bacteria line your intestines and control digestion, immune system function, and many aspects of health. What many don’t know is how maintaining your gut microbiome is the key to overall health. Aside from these factors, our gut microbiome controls processes ranging from our entire body, from brain function, blood sugar, and weight to its secondary influences on bloating, skin health, and mental health. An imbalanced gut microbiome can lead to bloating, constipation, fatigue, and even mood swings. While it may be tempting to use quick fixes to heal your gut, gut health is built on sustainable habits that sustain and nourish your body from within.

So, what are some ways that we can improve our gut health?

The easiest way would be to incorporate more fiber into your diet. At college, fresh fruits and veggies may be hard to come by, but fiber is found in dining hall staples such as broccoli, carrots, brown rice, chickpeas, beans, and oats. Similarly, incorporating proper hydration with water or teas into your daily routine can help digestion run smoothly and prevent bloating. Including more of these into your daily diet can help reduce cravings, as well as feed your gut bacteria to aid digestion.

Now let’s dive into prebiotics and probiotics:

Prebiotics and probiotics are often terms that are thrown around but not fully understood. With so many gut health products on the rise, it can be overwhelming to decide what to use and when to use it. Prebiotics are the fibers that feed probiotics, and can be found in oats, bananas, asparagus, onions, and garlic; whereas probiotics are found in products such as Kefir, yogurt, Coconut Cult, and kombucha. The best way to maximize your gut health would be to incorporate both prebiotics and probiotics into your daily diet. By incorporating both types of foods into your diet, you’ll be supporting a healthy environment in your gut, which will help with digestion, reduce bloating, and enhance overall well-being. For example, making a yogurt bowl with bananas is a delicious, gut-healthy breakfast!

But what about the products? What do they do?

Products such as Coconut Cult, Bloom, digestive enzymes, kefir, and kombucha are probiotics and contain live bacteria that support gut health. Traditional pasteurization in products such as yogurt and milk destroy the ‘good’ bacteria, whereas products such as kefir and Coconut Cult do not pasteurize before fermentation, and are resultantly probiotic rich. While that may sound intimidating to put ‘live’ things into your body, these bacteria aid in digestion, and therefore help with issues such as bloating and inflammation. Trial and error and seeing what product works best for your body is the best way to determine which of these products is ‘right’.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, gut health isn’t just about following the latest trend — it’s about understanding how the things we eat and drink directly affect our digestion, energy levels, and overall well-being. True wellness isn’t about achieving an unrealistic body standard; it’s about nourishing yourself and giving yourself the care you need to feel your best. While products like Coconut Cult, Bloom, kombucha, and Kefir can be helpful tools, the real change comes from incorporating nutrient-dense foods into your daily diet, managing stress, and listening to what your body needs!

So whether you’re grabbing a probiotic drink or simply adding more fiber rich foods to your plate, remember that your body is already strong and beautiful, and taking care of your gut isn’t simply about looking a certain way, but rather supporting yourself in a way that allows you to feel energized, empowered, and confident.