Can chia seeds and bone broth really 'heal' your gut?

"From drinking chia seed water first thing in the morning to adding sea moss gel to smoothies and sipping bone broth to "heal" your gut, these products are credited with everything from better moods to more energy. But behind the viral foods, scientists say the reality is more complicated - especially as it's a growing field with new evidence emerging almost every day."

"BBC science broadcaster Caroline Steel describes the gut as the entire digestive tract, from mouth to anus. Inside it lives the gut microbiome - trillions of bacteria, viruses and fungi that play a crucial role in how the body functions and "impacts your mental and physical health". Steel says our "gut microbiome is more unique than our fingerprint" and a healthy microbiome is linked to better energy extraction from food, blood sugar regulation and immune defence."

"Chia seed water: Chia seeds are rich in fibre, "which can feed beneficial gut bacteria and help with bowel regularity" according to Rossi. Walker explains that no single fibre source is enough on its own as different microbes feed on different fibres, so diversity matters more than any one ingredient. "There's no harm in drinking chia seed water," he says, but it has little benefit on its own."

Social media promotes foods as 'gut-healing' solutions, often promising improved mood, energy and wellbeing. The gut is the entire digestive tract and houses a microbiome of trillions of bacteria, viruses and fungi that affect physical health. A healthy microbiome links to better energy extraction from food and blood sugar regulation, while individual microbiomes are highly unique. Many trending foods contain a small seed of truth but are often oversold as miracle products. Single ingredients like chia seeds supply fibre to feed beneficial bacteria and aid bowel regularity, but fibre diversity and diet matter more than isolated fixes; evidence that olive oil 'shots' boost the microbiome is limited.

Read at www.bbc.com