Snog, Marry, Avoid: The Gut Health Edition

Which gut health trends are worth a fling, which deserve a lifelong commitment — and which are a hard no? A no-nonsense breakdown for women navigating the wellness industry.

Let’s be honest: the wellness industry was built on the backs of women.

From detox teas to collagen gummies, it’s no accident that most wellness trends are marketed to us — because we’re the ones buying. Women make up 70–80% of the consumer base in the global wellness market, now worth a staggering $5.6 trillion. That’s more than the pharmaceutical industry. It’s an empire, and I’m sad to say that our female bodies are the battleground.

We’re sold solutions to problems we didn’t know we had — often invented or exaggerated by the very industry selling the “fix”. Got some bloat after a meal? This couldn’t possibly be a normal physiological response — no, you must have a “toxic gut”. Luckily, there’s a £60 de-bloat supplement for that. Feel tired after your period? Probably not the fact that you need a break from your overbearing boss and the endless questions about your dating life or “what’s next for you guys?”. Instead, here’s a five-step fasting protocol, a new powder, and a juice cleanse, all sold by an influencer telling you you’re doing life wrong.

This is what I call the unwell wellness industry — the side of wellness that preys on female insecurity under the guise of empowerment. And gut health has become its latest obsession.

Now don’t get me wrong: gut health matters. It plays a huge role in everything from digestion to immunity to mood and hormones (ICYMI: last week’s post). But the problem is, the conversation around it has been hijacked — reduced to TikTok hacks and pricey probiotics with vague promises. The nuance is gone.

So this week, we’re breaking it down.

Think of this as your gut health dating handbook. What’s worth a fling (aka fine for your hot girl summer but not someone you’d take home to meet your parents)? What deserves a long-term commitment? And what should you leave firmly on read?

Let’s get into it — no fluff, just facts (with a side of sass, because if there’s one thing that grinds my gears, it’s the wellness industry selling us insecurities disguised as “solutions”. And girl, I’ve fallen for it too. More than once).

To keep reading, head over to Dr. Emily Prpa’s Substack and dive into the full post.

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N.B. This content is for educational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for medical advice.