The biggest enemy of your gut health isn't just junk food; it's generalized advice.

Phrases like "eat more fiber" or "take probiotics" are dangerous because they ignore context.

Your gut is a unique ecosystem.

So watch out the next time you hear one of these 5 things:

👉 Myth #1: “Bloating is normal. Just live with it.”

The reality is chronic bloating is common, but it is not normal. If you look 6 months pregnant after a meal, your body is trying to tell you something.

We have normalized suffering in women especially.

Extreme bloating often points to specific malfunctions: SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth), constipation, severe food intolerances, or motility problems (gastroparesis).

Takeaway: Don't buy bigger pants. Ask your doctor for a SIBO breath test.

👉 Myth #2: “Probiotics help everyone.”

Probiotics are not one-size-fits-all. This is a hill I will die on.

If you have SIBO or significant dysbiosis, throwing a generic "200 Billion CFU" probiotic into the mix is like adding fuel to a fire.

It can actually worsen gas, brain fog, and bloating.

Strain, dose, and timing matter. You need targeted bacteria for specific jobs (like binding toxins), not just a random "gut bomb."

SIDE NOTE (if you’re worried about microplastics): Dr. Tabibian and I are excited about promising new animal studies showing that specific strains, specifically Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus paracasei, can physically bind to microplastic particles in the gut.

Unlike generic strains, these bacteria have unique cell wall properties (hydrophobicity) that allow them to "trap" plastic particles and escort them out of the body before they enter your bloodstream.

👉 Myth #3: “More fiber is always better.”

Fiber is powerful, but it’s not a magic eraser. If your gut motility is slow (i.e. you aren't pooping efficiently), adding massive amounts of fiber creates a traffic jam.

It bulks up the stool but doesn't help it move, leading to severe pain and distension.

Takeaway: In conditions like IBS or slow transit constipation, the wrong type of fiber can backfire.

Pick a quality fiber supplement and start low and go slow.

👉 Myth #4: “If your colonoscopy is normal, your gut is fine.”

A colonoscopy only looks at your colon (the large intestine) and at times, the last few centimeters of your small intestine (known as the “ileum”).

That means that it misses most of your small intestine, which is about 20 feet long!

You can have a pristine colon but still suffer from SIBO, Celiac disease, malabsorption, or NSAID-related injury in the small bowel.

Takeaway: A clear colonoscopy rules out cancer and colitis, but it doesn't rule out everything, especially if careful biopsies aren’t taken.

👉 Myth #5: “NSAIDs are harmless if you take them with food.”

Food offers only partial protection. We used to think the damage from NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen) was purely from direct contact with the stomach lining. We now know the damage is also systemic.

Once the drug is absorbed into your bloodstream, it inhibits prostaglandins, protective chemicals that maintain the lining of your entire GI tract.

Takeaway: Chronic use can cause ulcers and strictures in your small intestine (NSAID enteropathy) that mimic Crohn’s disease, regardless of whether you ate dinner first.

Finally, I just want to say thank you to each and every one of you as we head into 2026!

Doctor Versus has grown to several hundred readers, and we are inspired by each and every one of you, every day.

Stay tuned, we have big things planned in the New Year :)