Gut Health Tea

.... Supports immune function, thyroid health, cell protection, and overall... Pterostilbene • Benefits: Supports liver health, bile flow, detoxification, cell ... Rice • Benefits: Supports cardiovascular health, cholesterol management, heart energy,... jitters. Supports cognition, immunity, gut health, and calm mood. 8. ...antioxidant blend (blueberry, broccoli, green tea, turmeric, tart cherry), Theobromine, ...

... both drinking as medicine for gut health or using in skincare or... g) |₹40|7| |Ready‑mix Tea spice mix (100 g) | ₹50...

... massage therapies Digestive and gut health formulations These products are formulated... natural detoxification methods herbal tea for digestion mindfulness and meditation... herbal store Australia natural health products online Australia The convenience ... Ayurveda to maintain long-term health and prevent chronic diseases. Common... solutions that support long-term health and balance. Business details Ayur...

...more to preserve your cognitive health as you age? A study... FPT Intake] ↓ Restores Core Gut Microbes (Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136 & Alistipes) ↓ Normalizes... revealed that these specific gut bacteria are directly responsible for.... But by restoring the gut microbiome, both Pu-erh teas systematically ...neuroprotection efficacy of raw Pu-erh tea and ripened Pu-erh tea in D-galactose-induced aging mice...

... as carcinogens by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research..., benefiting your memory and brain health. Blend them with unsweetened almond ...,” Rosenbloom says. 21. Sweetened bottled tea “It’s not the caffeine that ... artificially sweetened “They have no health benefit whatsoever,” Christmas says. “They ... has live bacteria to support gut health, and it’s healthier than your ...

... alternatives safer choices.Key Health Dangers and FindingsMassive Particle ... regulation and affecting reproductive health.Chronic Inflammation: Ingested microplastics can...studies say the long-term health effects of ingesting these particles... build up in the gut, poten...FohenThe Hidden Costs of ... neglected kitchen health hazard. Plastic components re...Billi UKShow allYour Cup of Tea Could Contain...

..., strange heat bubbled inside his gut. Was he…excited? "Positions!" Aemond... not prove beneficial for his health. "Now, if you'll excuse us... my friends and I for tea later this eve?" The other ...

Remedy Kombucha Tea - Wild Berry & Ginger Lemon - Naturally Sugar Free Soft Drink - Prime Probiotic for Gut Health - 24 x 250ml

... attention of both parents. Their tea and refreshments a forgotten afterthought... rather, the set of glass tea saucers you requisitioned) You line... painful stirring build in your gut. Moments later you gasp in...: None => A moderate amount Tessa's health: Sick (Major nanotoxin buildup) => Under...

...," she muttered. "Centurion's at half health, but he'll have enough charges... I get you anything? Coffee, tea?" "We'll hold off for now... feeling weighed down on her gut. "Okay…why?" The director inhaled...

...," she muttered. "Centurion's at half health, but he'll have enough charges... I get you anything? Coffee, tea?" "We'll hold off for now... feeling weighed down on her gut. "Okay…why?" The director inhaled...

...Stubborn Fat Digestive Support Supports Gut Health Non-GMO 100% Natural Safe Ingredients... Completely Safe Ingredients: Green Tea Extract Chromium Berberine Fiber Blend...uses four main ingredients — green tea extract, chromium picolinate, berberine, and... day. Ingredients like Green Tea Extract and L-Carnitine support thermogenesis...and natural formula, Green Tea Extract​ Green Tea Extract is widely known...

Thanks for posting. Very interesting showing connection directly to prostate health. Doesn't surprise me as gut microbes have been known to be very important in our health, even mental health. There are many other things that are being studied or have been proven to help with prostate cancer such as pomegranate, green tea, cucumin, broccoli, pumpkin seed oil, etc, etc.

... energy drinks nested on the tea table nearby. The woes of ...." Savagery. It flares in your gut, a sharp, rancid lash that ... be hazardous to your mental health, depending on negative rating. You ...

... |120 |20| |Soups |90 |15| |Tea|60 |10 | |Coffee |60| 10... protein and fibre, which supports gut health, digestion, and stable energy levels...

... to ground in the house's gut where all the real decisions... out of their suite with tea and the sort of expression... would be concern for your health," she sniped back. "The normal...

... ultimately converge toward gut health homeostasis! It’s about creating the ...health. Reduce Inflammatory Triggers – Avoid processed foods, refined sugars, and excessive alcohol, which contribute to gut permeability. Strengthen Tight Junctions – Nutrients like zinc, omega-3s, and polyphenols (found in berries, green tea... microbiome stabilization. Since gut health restoration is a gradual process, ...

..., Headmaster. For your own continued health, please." "Madame Longueville has been... his horrible pit in his gut. It'd happened the last time... tasting her favorite type of tea. "—but I do empathize with...

... is all that matters, and health. Peace and love to all... he was so good with gut feeling and just knowing I... holding onto that and his gut feeling that I will be... smoothie, having 2 cups green tea per day, and eating lean...

Carter was also very intelligent, though he sounded 'homey;. Even Reagan was poised, even when he signed bills that destroyed our mental health system. Clinton had a smooth tongue too, so smooth he convinced a nation to pressure Tea party fanatics to NOT gut our safety nets for the poor.

... established, a strong link between gut health and prostate cancer progression. This... the friendly bacteria in the gut helped slow prostate cancer progression ... same core ingredients (turmeric, green tea, broccoli and pomegranate) but was ... to a strategy to boost gut health in the form of a ...

...–3 days without food. Coffee/Tea: David drinks both throughout the... gut. His lab is now studying this: rejuvenating sensory nerves to produce systemic health... mouthpiece for gum and teeth health (10 minutes). David and I ... of tendons, ligaments, muscles, and gut tissue. DSIP (Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide): ... the downstream effects on systemic health are remarkable. I apply OS-01 ...

This warm amla + ginger drink is a solid morning option: Vitamin C rich Good for digestion No added sugar Easy to make Would you try this instead of morning tea/coffee occasionally? submitted by /u/tatasuv to r/ProteinIndia [link] [comments]

There’s so much gut health advice online now… probiotics, detoxes, supplements, fibre powders, teas. But what actually helped YOU in real life? submitted by /u/NursePowerPresss to r/GutHealthSimplified [link] [comments]

Honestly, for most people, what if we looked at the digestive issues first before applying the killing mindset. Adressing anything that might hinder proper digestion like: Impaired MMC / motility Low stomach acid Lack of Digestive enzymes Lack of nutrients (magnesium, b-komplex etc) Dysbiosis Impaired gut lining / leaky gut * My story - i tried everything for my (tested) sibo / imo / histamin, - rifaximin with metronidazole didnt change a thing, the sibo diets made me miserable and worse (2 phase should be illegal honestly, fodmap is a joke with 70ppm) - along with herbals (ok i overdid it a little) that made my belly swell 24/7 and achy. I understand now that imo takes several rounds, and that its better to do lower dosed herbal treatments when gut lining is compromised (and that it also needs to be calmed down first - cooked, steamed vegetables and fish, chicken, no trigger foods) What im focusing on right now and seems to be helpful - motility / MMC (slowed down by methane) - restoring gut lining (l-glutamin*, zink-l-carnosin, for sone people collostrum if no dairy issues) - getting supplements in (magnesium, b-komplex (carefull when genetically issues with methylation), c, d, omega 3 - algae oil) - antiinflammatory diet & low histamin - internittent fasting & meal spacing Trying to get my methane gut going w triphala & magensium in the evening, decaf coffee and or ginger tea in the morning. my mmc is basically functioning but methan is just slowing things down. Any similar minded on here? My lifestyle is already pretty good, but stuff like hydration, wholefoods diet, min of 5k steps a day (the scientific threshold by the way), sleep, relaxation etc. should be the starting point really. *make sure to supplement a b-komplex and magnesium when taking l-glutamin submitted by /u/kr82k to r/SIBO [link] [comments]

Liquid Remedy Kombucha Sugar Free Organic Drink, Low Calorie, Probiotic Like Tea for Gut Health - Super Sampler Variety Pack - 8.5 Fl Oz Can, 24-Pack. https://amzn.to/4dQARo4 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,630) Review: Customers love this sugar-free kombucha drink for its health benefits, smaller can sizes, and refreshing taste. They find it helps with digestion and gut health, with one customer noting it doesn't spike blood sugar levels. The flavor receives mixed reactions, with some finding it super flavorful while others say it doesn't taste as advertised. Value for money is also mixed, with some finding it a good value while others consider it pricey for the size. https://preview.redd.it/mtsy1xpzfvvg1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=6dca97fa4aa0227fb598d11ac1683a8f71d1d2fe https://preview.redd.it/jfd9x2i0gvvg1.png?width=1500&format=png&auto=webp&s=e525fed3894e8f1cc6df07fbda836b7c9deee201 https://preview.redd.it/l46chak1gvvg1.png?width=1479&format=png&auto=webp&s=1b987bf67ed46165698c61b242708bb832897771 submitted by /u/Bochai127 to r/AmazonDealsSavers [link] [comments]

I’ve spent over a decade fighting my skin since 2012. I’ve tried almost every topical and every extreme diet under the sun with zero long-term success. Accutane is likely the only thing that would have actually fixed this permanently prior, but I’ve built this current stack to address the gut-skin axis and oil production from a high-level biological standpoint. The "before" picture you see isn't even the worst my skin has been. Current Active Protocol (What I am doing NOW) 1. Current Topical & Mechanical Regimen Winlevi (2x daily): Topical androgen blocker (this actually works for my oil control). Tazarotene: High-potency retinoid (Just made the switch to this after 5 years on Tretinoin). Azelaic Acid: Antibacterial and pigment control. Ketoconazole Shampoo: Used as a face wash for oil/fungal management. Microneedling (1mm–2.5mm): At-home sessions for acne scars. Plant-Based Exosomes: Used post-needling (plant-based to avoid potential prions). 2. Injectables & In-Office KPV (0.33mg daily): Systemic anti-inflammatory peptide injection. GHK-Cu (2mg daily): Copper peptide injection for acne scar remodeling. Micro-Botox: Intradermal and intramuscular for direct oil/sebum control. Polynucleotides: 4x Salmon Sperm DNA treatments for cellular regeneration. Red Light Therapy: Regular sessions. 3. Oral Peptide & Gut Repair Stack - I have IBS (Daily) Larazotide (500mg): Tight junction regulation. Pentadecapeptide / BPC-157 (1000mg): Gastric mucosal and systemic repair. KPV MSH 11-13 Fragment (500mg): Intestinal anti-inflammatory. Tributyrin (400mg): Bioavailable butyrate. Zinc L-Carnosine (150mg): Gastric lining structural support. Lactoferrin (250mg): Iron-sequestering antimicrobial. Probiotic S. Boulardii: Pathogen-fighting yeast. Sodium Bicarbonate (166mg): Acid buffer for oral peptide stability. 4. Oral Supplements (Daily) Vitamin B5 (2g - 9g since June 2025): High-dose for lipid metabolism / oil control. Vitamin A (10,000 IU): Internal retinoid support. Vitamin D3 (5700 IU) + K2: Immune modulation. Astaxanthin (16mg): Antioxidant. NAC (Standard dose): Liver/detox support. Magnesium (100mg): Cortisol support. Quercetin (200mg): Mast cell stabilizer. Green Tea Extract (315mg): EGCG for oil suppression. Herbals: Turmeric, Boswellia, Black Seed Oil (couple of drops), Cod Liver Oil. Bovine Collagen (5g): Structural support. Health, Diet & Lifestyle Foundation: Sobriety: 14 months sober. Sleep: 7-9 hours per night. Stress: This is the primary obstacle; chronic, high-level stress/cortisol all day long :(. Diet Context: 10 years of intense trial and error (100% clean modified AIP, Dairy-free, Sugar-free, Gluten-free, Seed oil-free, Low PUFA, Keto, Carnivore, Ray Peat, Vegan). None of them moved the needle on my skin. I have now transitioned to a balanced diet (living a little!) that includes junk food. I recently had a post-holiday binge with no major skin consequences. Sunscreen: SPF 50 daily (been doing this since I was a teen). Failed History: Topicals & Actives: Benzoyl Peroxide, Salicylic Acid, Tretinoin (used for 5 years before switching), Adapalene, AHAs, Niacinamide, Sulphur 10% face wash, Topical Spironolactone, Topical Antibiotics, Topical Steroids, Ivermectin, Rosehip Seed Oil, 5β-Scymnol, Topical Peptides, Oral Antibiotics, and the "Caveman" routine. ALL TAKEN / USED for at least 3 months. Procedures: AviClear (2023) x4 and multiple Chemical Peels (2024) both failed. TL;DR / Conclusion: I’ve done a crap ton of treatments and am currently running a very expensive, tricky routine to manage my chronic inflammation. I genuinely feel this inflammation is driven by a few root causes: My Nervous System: I feel like I am an HSP (Highly Sensitive Person) and likely neurodivergent (I just feel like a fish out of water in the modern Western world). Missing my Appendix: Which permanently alters and impacts the gut microbiome. Genetics. Accutane probably would be the easier and better option, but I am stubborn. I had a terrible experience with dermatologists throwing oral antibiotics at me in 2022 (causing terrible symptoms), and I absolutely refuse to ruin my gut health any further. Anyone who wants to follow an honest biohacking journey can see more on my TikTok - MagmaFace (purely as a case study). submitted by /u/Samclegg123 to r/Biohackers [link] [comments]

**The Core Issue** While matcha tea has exploded in popularity as a global health beverage, we’ve lacked a high-level, systematic look at how it actually interacts with our gut microbiome when we ingest the whole leaf. **The Finding** A systematic review of human and animal studies reveals that matcha acts as a powerful modulator of gut bacteria. It significantly boosts "good" probiotic strains like Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Akkermansia, and Alloprevotella. Simultaneously, it appears to crowd out or inhibit potentially harmful groups, including Clostridium, Helicobacter, and the Ruminococcaceae family. **Why it Matters** Unlike standard green tea where you steep and discard the leaves, matcha involves consuming the entire ground leaf. This means you’re getting a massive dose of catechins (especially EGCG) and dietary fiber, both of which serve as "fuel" for a healthier internal ecosystem. **Limitations of Study** The results regarding alpha and beta diversity (the variety and distribution of bacteria) were inconsistent across the reviewed studies. There is still a need for more human-centric clinical trials to confirm these effects across different populations and matcha grades. **Conflicting Interests** The authors reported no potential conflicts of interest regarding this review. **Interesting Statistics** Matcha quality varies wildly based on the balance of amino acids to catechins. Because of this, the levels of the powerhouse antioxidant EGCG can differ substantially depending on the specific "grade" of matcha you buy. **Useful Takeaways** If you're looking to support your microbiome, matcha may offer a "double-win" by providing both antioxidant polyphenols and prebiotic fiber. To get the most EGCG, look for high-quality ceremonial grades, as the catechin-to-amino-acid ratio shifts with quality. **Link to Study** https://doi.org/10.1080/87559129.2026.2653654 **TL;DR** Matcha isn't just caffeine—it’s a microbiome superfood that promotes probiotic growth and suppresses harmful bacteria by delivering high concentrations of fiber and EGCG directly to your gut. submitted by /u/Technical_savoir to r/microbiomenews [link] [comments]

Sodas and diet sodas may seem harmless "refreshing, fizzy, and fun" but they’re quietly doing serious harm to your body. Regular sodas are loaded with sugar, far more than your body was ever meant to handle in one sitting. Just one can floods your system with up to a dozen teaspoons of sugar, spiking your blood sugar, overworking your pancreas, and triggering fat storage deep in your liver and belly. Over time, this damage adds up, leading to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain fog, tooth decay, and even fatty liver without a single warning sign until it’s too late. Diet sodas, despite the “zero sugar” label, are no better. Artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose trick your brain and gut into chaos. They confuse your hunger signals, damage the balance of good bacteria in your gut, and increase cravings and belly fat. Studies have linked them to stroke, Alzheimer’s, and metabolic problems that don’t show up until years later. It's like pouring chemicals into a machine that was built for clean fuel. Eventually, something breaks. The truth is, these drinks are not treats. They’re traps. Every sip may feel satisfying, but behind the scenes, they’re weakening your body one cell at a time. Think of it this way: would you ever hand your child a glass of liquid that feeds cancer cells and rots teeth, just because it tastes good? That’s what soda is. It’s time we stop pretending it’s harmless and start calling it what it really is: death in a can, wrapped in bubbles and clever marketing. If you look at some of the worst offenders, the pattern becomes even clearer. Drinks like cola-based sodas, energy sodas, and large “supersized” soft drinks can contain 35–50 grams of sugar or more per serving, often in the form of high-fructose corn syrup. This type of sugar is metabolized primarily in the liver, where excess intake drives de novo lipogenesis: the direct conversion of sugar into fat. That’s why habitual soda consumption is strongly associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, visceral adiposity, and insulin resistance. On top of that, phosphoric acid in many dark sodas has been linked to reduced bone mineral density, especially when intake displaces calcium-rich beverages. But the good news is, you don’t need them. There are so many better choices that fuel your energy, support your health, and still taste great. Sparkling water with lemon, iced green tea, cucumber mint water, or a homemade electrolyte drink with sea salt and honey: they refresh and nourish without tearing your body down. Once you stop drinking soda, you’ll feel the difference in your skin, your sleep, your energy, and your focus. Say goodbye to fake sweetness and take back real health. — Dr. Georgios Ioannou, Anti-Aging Scientist submitted by /u/GarifalliaPapa to r/immortalists [link] [comments]

Your gut is probably more fucked up than you think. Not to freak you out, but most people are walking around with digestive systems that are barely functioning. Bloating after meals? "Normal." Irregular bowel movements? "Just how my body works." Brain fog, weird skin issues, constant fatigue? We blame stress, aging, bad genes, whatever makes us feel better. But here's what I learned after diving deep into gut health research, listening to experts like Radhi Devlukia on various podcasts, reading microbiome studies, and experimenting on myself: most digestive issues aren't actually normal. They're symptoms of habits we've been told are healthy but are actually wrecking our gut microbiome. The good news? Small changes create massive shifts. Your gut literally regenerates every few days. Stop drinking water with meals This one sounds insane because we've been told to stay hydrated constantly. But chugging water during meals dilutes your digestive enzymes and stomach acid, the exact things you need to break down food properly. Radhi Devlukia talks about this extensively, referencing Ayurvedic principles that Western science is finally catching up to. Drink water 30 minutes before eating or wait at least an hour after. Your digestion will thank you. When I started doing this, the post lunch bloat that plagued me for years literally disappeared within a week. Your "healthy" breakfast is probably destroying your gut Raw smoothies, overnight oats, cold yogurt straight from the fridge. These are gut health villains disguised as wellness heroes. Cold foods dampen your digestive fire, making it harder for your body to extract nutrients. Raw foods require significantly more digestive effort. Try warm, cooked breakfasts instead. Oatmeal cooked with spices like cinnamon and ginger. Warm kitchari. Even just taking your smoothie ingredients and making a warm porridge. Radhi's book "JoyFull" goes deep into this, she's a plant based chef and her approach to food combining and meal timing is genuinely fascinating. The book won multiple awards and she breaks down ancient Ayurvedic wisdom in a way that makes actual sense for modern life. This is the best practical gut health book I've read, hands down. You're eating too fast and your gut is paying the price Digestion starts in your mouth, not your stomach. When you inhale your food while scrolling Instagram or watching Netflix, you're basically sending poorly chewed chunks directly to your gut and expecting it to handle everything. Chew each bite 20 to 30 times. Sounds excessive but try it. Put your fork down between bites. Actually taste your food. This isn't some woo woo mindfulness thing, it's basic biology. Your saliva contains enzymes that begin breaking down carbohydrates. Skip that step and you're setting yourself up for bloating, gas, and poor nutrient absorption. The timing of meals matters more than you think Eating at random times throughout the day keeps your digestive system in constant work mode. It never gets a break to actually repair and reset. Try eating within a consistent 8 to 10 hour window. Not necessarily strict intermittent fasting, just giving your gut actual rest time. Research from the Salk Institute shows this eating pattern improves gut microbiome diversity significantly. Make lunch your biggest meal when your digestive fire is strongest (between 12pm and 2pm), lighter breakfast, even lighter dinner. This timing optimization alone changed my energy levels completely. Stop combining certain foods This feels controversial but combining proteins and starches in the same meal requires different digestive enzymes that can actually conflict with each other. Fruit with meals? Even worse. Fruit digests quickly but gets trapped behind slower digesting foods, leading to fermentation and bloating. Try eating fruit 30 minutes before meals or as a standalone snack. Combine proteins with vegetables, or starches with vegetables, but minimize mixing proteins and starches. If you want to go deeper on gut health but don't have the time to read through dense nutrition research or multiple books, there's an app called BeFreed that's been useful. It's a personalized learning platform built by Columbia University alumni that pulls from books, research papers, and expert insights on topics like gut health and digestion. You can type something specific like "heal my gut as someone with IBS and food sensitivities," and it generates a structured learning plan with audio episodes customized to your depth preference, from quick 10-minute overviews to 40-minute deep dives with examples and practical protocols. The voice options are surprisingly good, you can pick anything from calm and educational to more conversational tones. It's basically pulled together a lot of the sources mentioned here, plus clinical studies and expert interviews, into one spot. Makes connecting the dots between Ayurvedic principles and modern microbiome science way more digestible. The app "Cara Care" also helps you track which food combinations trigger your specific digestive issues. It's backed by actual gastroenterologists and uses AI to identify your personal trigger patterns. Insanely helpful for figuring out your unique gut situation. Your stress is literally killing your gut bacteria When you're stressed, blood flow redirects away from your digestive system toward your muscles and brain. Chronic stress means chronic poor digestion, which means chronic inflammation, which destroys the beneficial bacteria in your gut. The gut brain connection is real and bidirectional. A fucked up gut creates anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression create a fucked up gut. Lovely cycle. Try the Insight Timer app for guided gut focused meditations. They have specific practices for digestive health that combine breathwork with visualization. Sounds weird, actually works. I use it before meals when I'm stressed and the difference in how my body processes food is noticeable. Add these to your routine immediately Fermented foods aren't optional, they're essential. Sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, miso. These contain live probiotics that directly repopulate your gut. Start small though, like a tablespoon with meals, because if your gut is really imbalanced, too much too fast can cause die off symptoms. Ginger and fennel tea after meals. Ginger increases digestive enzyme production. Fennel relaxes the digestive tract muscles and reduces bloating. This combo is stupid simple but wildly effective. Castor oil packs on your abdomen before bed. This ancient remedy increases lymphatic drainage and supports liver detoxification. Radhi talks about this practice and while it seems random, there's actually emerging research supporting its benefits for digestive health. The truth about supplements Most probiotic supplements are garbage. They die in stomach acid before reaching your intestines, or they contain strains that don't actually colonize your gut. If you're going to supplement, look for spore based probiotics or soil based organisms. These actually survive digestion. Digestive enzymes can help short term while you're healing your gut, but they're not a long term solution. You want your body producing its own enzymes naturally. This isn't about perfection You don't need to follow every single one of these principles religiously. Pick two or three that resonate and start there. Your gut microbiome is adaptable. It wants to heal. You're not broken, you've just been unknowingly working against your biology. The pharmaceutical and food industries profit from you staying sick and confused. Nobody's coming to save you. But armed with actual knowledge about how your digestive system works, you can unfuck your gut yourself. Your gut health influences literally everything: your immune system, your mental health, your skin, your energy, your hormones. Fix your gut and watch everything else start falling into place. submitted by /u/Early-Judgment8131 to r/MenAscending [link] [comments]

**The Core Issue** Social media has turned gut health into a major buzzword, promoting specific "miracle" products—like olive oil shots, bone broth, and sea moss gel—claiming they can "heal" the gut, improve mood, and boost energy. However, scientists warn that social media often oversimplifies the complex reality of the microbiome. **The Finding** Experts state that while these foods often contain a "seed of truth," they are largely oversold. * **Olive Oil:** It is anti-inflammatory and heart-healthy, but taking it as a "shot" offers no meaningful difference compared to simply eating it with food. * **Bone Broth:** While nutrient-dense, most nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine and never actually reach the microbiome in the large intestine. * **Sea Moss:** There is very little evidence supporting it for gut health, and it carries risks of heavy metal or iodine overconsumption. * **Chia Seeds:** Good for fiber and regularity, but one source isn't enough; diversity is key. * **Kombucha:** Traditional fermented tea is beneficial, but commercial versions often contain added vinegar or sweeteners that negate the benefits. **Why it Matters** For the majority of healthy people, obsessing over "healing" the gut is unnecessary. Following these trends can lead to negative health outcomes, such as increased cholesterol from fatty bone broth or health issues from excessive seaweed intake. Furthermore, people with genuine symptoms (persistent pain, diarrhea) may delay seeking necessary medical advice in favor of ineffective elimination diets. **Limitations of Study** The article highlights that gut health is a rapidly evolving field. While the microbiome is crucial, the specific evidence supporting these viral "quick fixes" is currently described as "thin" by the experts interviewed. **Conflicting Interests** None explicitly stated in the source text. **Interesting Statistics** The gut microbiome consists of trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi and is statistically more unique to an individual than their fingerprint. **Useful Takeaways** * **Diversity over Magic Bullets:** Instead of relying on one superfood, focus on eating more plants and diverse fibers. * **Cut the Junk:** Reducing ultra-processed foods is more effective than adding a trendy supplement. * **Kombucha Tips:** If buying kombucha, look for "floaters" (a sign of live culture) and avoid sugar-free varieties with sweeteners like stevia. * **See a Doctor:** If you have chronic gut issues, skip the TikTok advice and seek a medical professional. **TL;DR** Most viral gut health trends are hype. Olive oil and chia seeds are healthy but not magic cures; bone broth nutrients don't actually reach the microbiome; and sea moss lacks evidence. The best "hack" is simply eating more plants, diverse fibers, and fewer processed foods. submitted by /u/Technical_savoir to r/microbiomenews [link] [comments]

Hii I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this but I'm overwhelmed. I'm super bloated all the time, so I've been drinking Himalayan salt and ACV (occasionally with lemon) in the morning on an empty stomach, and I am looking into drinking clove water in the morning on an empty stomach as well. I also drink loads of tea throughout the day for health benefits (turmeric, ginger, green tea, spearmint, etc.), and am looking into gut friendly foods like sauerkraut, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. I guess my question is: can you overload your gut with TOO much "healthy" stuff. Like is it possible to eat too many gut friendly things and over-correct, making things worse? If there is somewhere better to post this, please let me know! submitted by /u/Late_Article_4596 to r/Microbiome [link] [comments]

Hey everyone, back again with another update on my GERD journey. After trying a million random supplements, I decided to go the "personalized" route and tried some companies that everyone's talking about. Here's my honest experience with each. Claisen - The Personalized Gut Health Approach I found Claisen through Instagram ads (of course), and their whole pitch is personalized gut health solutions. You take this 5-minute quiz about your symptoms, diet, lifestyle, stress levels, digestive issues - pretty detailed stuff. Based on your answers, they create a custom package of supplements specifically for your gut problems. For my GERD, they sent me a monthly package with three different things: Cost was around $60-70/month for all three bottles, which honestly felt reasonable compared to buying everything separately and guessing what I needed. Did it work? After about 6 weeks, I noticed a legit difference. I'd take them right before meals and could actually feel my digestion working better. Less bloating, less pressure, less reflux creeping up. The probiotic seemed to help my overall gut feel calmer. I was more regular, less gassy, and that constant low-level gut discomfort I didn't even realize I had just... went away. What I liked: Not having to research and buy a million different supplements Everything came in one package monthly The quiz actually seemed to matter - my roommate took it and got completely different supplements for her IBS Customer service was responsive when I had questions What could be better: Takes a few weeks to see results (but honestly, most gut stuff does) Kind of locked into a formula but honestly if you don't have time it works I stayed with Claisen for about 8 months and it genuinely helped. I eventually switched things up just to experiment with other brands, but I'd recommend it if you're overwhelmed by all the supplement options and want someone to just tell you what to take. Seed Health DS-01 - The Premium Probiotic After my Claisen subscription ended, I wanted to try the probiotic everyone in gut health circles obsesses over. Seed is expensive as hell - $49.99/month for a probiotic. But their whole thing is science-backed strains and actually getting live bacteria to your gut. It comes in this gorgeous glass jar with a refillable travel vial. Very fancy. It's a synbiotic - both probiotics (24 strains) and prebiotics to feed them. You take 2 capsules daily on an empty stomach. What I noticed after 2 months: My digestion was incredibly regular and smooth Way less bloating and gas My gut just felt... stable? Like not reactive to every little thing My reflux symptoms improved maybe 20-30% After 6 months: I genuinely think Seed helped rebuild my gut microbiome in a way cheaper probiotics never did. Better gut bacteria = better digestion = less backup and pressure causing reflux. That's my theory anyway. The thing is, when I stopped taking it for a few weeks (because $50/month adds up), I noticed the difference. My gut felt more sluggish, more reactive, and my GERD symptoms crept back up slightly. Is it worth $50/month? For me, yes. But I also tried plenty of $20 probiotics that did absolutely nothing. Seed's capsule design protects the bacteria from stomach acid so they actually survive to your intestines. There's real science behind it, not just marketing hype. Viome - The Fancy Microbiome Testing Okay, so Viome takes personalization to another level. You do an at-home stool test (glamorous, I know), send it back, and they analyze your actual gut microbiome - like what bacteria you have, what you're missing, inflammation markers, all that. Cost: $129 for the test kit, then $60-90/month for personalized supplements based on your results. They sent me this incredibly detailed report showing my gut bacteria composition, digestive efficiency, and what was potentially causing my issues. Based on my microbiome, they created a custom supplement pack with: A probiotic blend with specific strains I was lacking Prebiotic fiber Targeted nutrients for my gut inflammation The verdict: This was fascinating from a data nerd perspective. Seeing my actual gut bacteria was wild. But after 3 months on their supplements... I honestly couldn't tell if it worked better than Seed or even Claisen's probiotic. Maybe if I'd done a follow-up test after 6 months to see if my microbiome actually improved, I'd feel differently. But spending $400+ on testing and supplements without obvious results was hard to justify. My take: If you have money to burn and love personalized data, Viome is cool. But if you're on a budget, start with something like Claisen or Seed first. The microbiome testing is interesting but not necessary for most people. Ginger Pills - The Nausea Helper I tried Nature's Way Ginger Root capsules (around $10 for a bottle) because ginger is supposed to be a natural digestive aid and anti-inflammatory. I took 1-2 capsules before meals for about two months. Did it help? It definitely reduced nausea and that queasy, unsettled feeling I'd get. Ginger also seemed to help food move through my system better - less of that "stuck" feeling. Did it cure my GERD? No. But it made my day-to-day more comfortable. I also tried Gaia Herbs Ginger Supreme which is more concentrated, but honestly the cheaper Nature's Way worked just as well. Now I mostly drink ginger tea when my stomach feels off. The pills are fine but not a game-changer. More of a supporting player than a star. Aloe Vera Juice - The Disgusting Experiment Everyone told me to try aloe vera juice for soothing my irritated esophagus. I bought Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Juice - the "Stomach Formula" with added herbs. The reality: This stuff is VILE. Even mixed with water, it has this slimy, weird texture that made me gag every single morning. I forced it down for six weeks, drinking 2oz before meals like the bottle said. Did it help? Honestly? I have no idea. Maybe my throat felt slightly less irritated some days? But the taste and texture were so awful I couldn't tell if any benefit was worth it. Some people swear by aloe vera juice, but I personally couldn't hack it. It's only $10-12 for a bottle though, so if you have a stronger stomach than me, maybe try it. Just know what you're getting into. Ritual Essential for Women - The Nutritional Insurance Ritual isn't specifically for gut health, but I added it because long-term GERD and PPI use can deplete important nutrients like B12, magnesium, and calcium. It's a multivitamin subscription around $35/month. What I liked: Clean ingredients, transparent sourcing Delayed-release capsule with mint essence (no gross burps) Contains B12, D3, magnesium, iron in absorbable forms Includes a probiotic strain that survives stomach acid For GERD: It didn't directly help my reflux, but I felt better overall. More energy, less run-down. Knowing I was covering nutritional gaps while dealing with digestive issues gave me peace of mind. Not a GERD solution, but good insurance if you're on PPIs or have chronic digestive problems affecting nutrient absorption. My Current Stack (What Actually Stuck) After three years and way too much money spent experimenting, here's what I take now: Claisen and/or Seed daily (expensive but my gut loves it) Digestive enzymes before meals (I buy them separately now, but Claisen's worked great) Nature's Way Ginger Root as needed for nausea Ritual multivitamin for nutritional coverage What I stopped: Viome (too expensive, couldn't justify it) Aloe vera juice (tasted like punishment) Cheap random probiotics (waste of money) Real Talk About Supplements Supplements are maybe 30% of managing GERD. The other 70% is diet changes, smaller meals, not eating before bed, stress management, and sleep position. If you're just starting out and overwhelmed: Start with a personalized option like Claisen - takes the guesswork out, gives you a solid foundation Add digestive enzymes if not included - biggest immediate impact Try a quality probiotic after a month - Seed if you can afford it Skip expensive testing unless you've tried everything else I know some people hate medications, but I'm a nurse - I've seen untreated GERD turn into Barrett's esophagus. It's not worth the risk. Has anyone else tried Claisen or Viome? I'm always curious about other people's experiences since everyone's gut is different submitted by /u/Timeless_Trick2427 to r/Supplements [link] [comments]

I’m homeless… haha not because I have to be but because I can. What are some good gut health additives to my diet? The issue here is a fridge. I take probiotics, but I want more. I’d love to have yogurts and teas, but they spoil fast. PS: I make 79k at one job and 10-20k doing side jobs. I live at work. In the parking lot literally. I keep my head down and save 18-24k a year on rent. In a few years I will pay cash for a house. I’m atypical lol if you hate on me you may be struggling to understand. I’m healthy, young, and clean. I go to the gym and can shower anytime. I’d recommend this life for anyone. The money is easy the risk is low. Thanks in advance for helping and reading! submitted by /u/Effective_Dog2855 to r/Microbiome [link] [comments]

Dietary protein is essential for a healthy gut. It supports proper gut barrier integrity, microbiome balance, wound/inflammation repair, and gut motility/enzyme production. The important part here is to just ensure you’re eating enough total protein. People aiming to improve their gut health should eat at least .7-1g/lb per day. Walmart has a lot of meat options, like beef burgers, for $4-5/lb. Canned salmon is also quite affordable. The best sources are generally going to be from animal foods like beef, eggs, chicken, lamb, dairy, etc. Plant-based options include soy protein, pea protein, lentils, and quinoa (just ensure you’re accounting for bioavailability with your micro/macronutrient targets). For either diet, you can supplement with protein powders, but they are usually stripped of other nutrients. Optimizing one single nutrient is not enough. You need to ensure you’re hitting all your daily nutrients if you want substantial and lasting changes. Chronometer is a useful tool to track them for free. Your gut probably won’t improve if you aren’t also consuming diverse plant food groups (fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, beans, herbs, spices, teas) and eating 4-6 fermented foods per day. Other important foundations include exercise/movement, stress management, adequate sleep, and toxin exposure. *DM me for questions about your specific case. Edit: Ex. .8g protein x 200lbs = 160g protein per day submitted by /u/Acceptable-Aspect698 to r/SIBO [link] [comments]

Microplastics are slowly killing us, and most people don’t even know it. These tiny pieces of plastic are now found in our blood, lungs, guts and even in our brains. They come from everyday things: water bottles, food packaging, clothes, and even the air we breathe. Once inside, they don’t just sit there: they cause inflammation, mess with our hormones, and damage our cells. Over time, that adds up. Fatigue, brain fog, weak immune systems, faster aging… it’s all linked. But we can do something about it. One of the easiest ways to protect yourself is to stop drinking from plastic bottles. It might seem harmless, but every sip you take, especially if that bottle has been sitting in the sun or reused, could be full of plastic particles. Go for stainless steel or glass instead. It’s a small change that protects your body every single day. Filtering your water is another powerful move. Even “clean” tap water often carries microplastics, especially in big cities. A good filter (like reverse osmosis or a strong carbon block) can catch a lot of what your eyes can’t see. Think of it as an invisible shield for your gut and bloodstream. Watch out for plastic food containers too. When you heat food in plastic or wrap it while it’s hot, it sheds even more plastic into your meal. Switch to glass, stainless steel, or ceramic. It’s not just for the environment, it’s for your body. Every bite matters. Your clothes matter more than you think. That fuzzy fleece, those comfy leggings. If they’re made of synthetic materials like polyester or nylon, they’re shedding microfibers into the water every time you wash them. And guess what? That water ends up back in us. Choose organic cotton or bamboo when you can, and if you must wear synthetics, use a microfiber-catching laundry bag to trap what would otherwise go back into the world. Try eating fewer processed and packaged foods. Most are wrapped in plastic that breaks down into particles you end up swallowing. Whole foods, fresh produce, grains, and legumes from paper or bulk bins are not only healthier. They’re safer. Cooking more at home also cuts exposure from takeout containers that leach plastic when filled with hot food. Dust in your home can carry plastic, too. We breathe it in, every day. That’s why it helps to vacuum with a HEPA filter, use damp cloths instead of dry ones for cleaning, and keep fresh air flowing. Choose natural fiber rugs and furniture when you can, and don’t forget to clean those corners where plastic particles like to hide. Finally, fight back with food. Colorful berries, turmeric, green tea: these antioxidant-rich foods help your body calm the damage microplastics cause. Fiber helps push them out. We may not be able to avoid every microplastic, but we can build a body that fights back. Every step you take adds up. You’re not just protecting your health. You’re choosing to live stronger, clearer, and longer. submitted by /u/GarifalliaPapa to r/immortalists [link] [comments]

Edit: Not sure why so many people are taking my choices so personally. I am only posting this because the topics of gut health and lowering exposure to endocrine disruptors are not as often discussed as a holistic approach to PCOS. If you don't want to follow what I've done, okay? But don't try and discredit what I've achieved because yuu don't want to take personal accountability for the chemicals you interact with. I have had more results in the last 3 months than I have ever had on any medication. I started fermenting my own foods, eliminated inorganic groceries, processed foods and stopped using soaps, fibers and household chemicals that include endocrine disruptors. I also switched from teflon and silicone cookware to cast iron and teak wood. Here are the things I am doing: 16oz Anthony's organic spearmint tea in the morning with 2g of Ovasitol 1hr Swim or yoga interchanged every day. Hiking when weather permits. Helps lower cortisol Only cultured dairy with active probiotics Cook everything in butter Only carbs come from fruit, veg, brown rice, whole wheat or brown rice pasta or sourdough. Noodles and rice are cooked and then cooled to turn it into resistant starch. Akkermansia supplements. Help with GLP-1 activation like ozempic. No longer doing intermittent fasting. Overall, I have gained weight from 180 to 190lbs, BUT my clothes fit better and my hirsutism is beginning to fade naturally and slow dramatically. submitted by /u/FunAttorney53 to r/PCOS [link] [comments]

I am not The OOP, OOP is u/dorkvader23 Bride made a profit on bachelorette trip!! (SIL drama) Originally posted to r/weddingshaming Thanks to u/Kresley for suggesting this BoRU TRIGGER WARNING: financial exploitation, controlling behavior, theft, fraud, manipulation, mentions of mental health issues, body image insecurity Forced to wear revealing bridesmaid dress!! Jan 20, 2024 I miss the days when bridesmaids were treated like people and not like stage props! My future SIL is getting married so of course I’m a default bridesmaid. She didn’t give us options for the dress, she picked it out and told us it’s the one we’ll be wearing. The dress is a strapless, backless, thigh slit halter neck. I am a larger girl - triple D chest should explain why I don’t wear backless or halter styles. Backless means I can’t wear any form of supportive bra AND there is virtually no shapewear I can put underneath it. The only bras that work are stickies or tape, which do not hold me up in the least. I tried the dress on….my chest is spilling out the sides, back rolls are on full blast, and I am popping out of this thing every which way. I’m so uncomfortable. I basically told the bride sorry, I know it’s your big day but there is no way I’m wearing this dress. My body shape is different from the rest of the bridal party and I can’t justify wearing it. I told her I’d be fine if I can simply modify it to be more conservative at the back and chest. She DECLINED and told me to “just be more confident in myself” because all the dresses must be identical for photos. I have no body confidence issues, there are plenty of styles that suit my figure. It just so happens that this dress was not made for larger women and does not look appropriate on my body. I want to drop out of the wedding but my family insists I stay in because it’s my SIL and it would “ruin” the wedding and the relationship. I don’t get why I should have to be paraded around in front of my entire family, extended family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, etc in an outfit that makes me uncomfortable. It’s just getting ridiculous. Brides - please have enough tact to make sure your girls are comfortable on your special day. We’re humans, not props. RELEVANT COMMENTS beckerszzz Did she not go shopping with her bridesmaids to try on the dresses? I feel like this would have solved all the problems. OOP Nope, she chose one online (no consulting with any of the bridesmaids.) I know a few of the other BMs were irked because they would have liked to have a say in the dress, but ultimately no one else complained to her face. The rest of the group is fairly tiny so I’m sure they’re ok in the dress even if it’s not their first choice ~ gnosticnightjar Can anyone link to a similar dress? I’m having a very hard time picturing what a dress that is backless but also both strapless and a halter top looks like. Aren’t strapless and halter mutually exclusive? OOP Yes……so a backless halter dress. ———————- UPDATE First of all thank you so much for all the support. I appreciate your helpful advice and suggestions. On that note, I’ve decided to stay in the wedding to avoid sending my mother to an early grave. HOWEVER!!! I’ve also decided I’ll be wearing the sh*t out of this dress and making sure the center of attention is not on the lovely bride. I tried to resolve the issue with tact and class and was shot down, so I feel I’ve earned the right to be petty. I’m going to order some really specific shapewear which can be concealed under what little material this dress has (kudos to you all who sent me suggestions!!) I’ll be going FULL side boob, FULL shimmer added on the exposed back, and FULL body oil on the legs for the thigh slit. I’ll be doing an updo on the hair so there is nothing getting in the way of this dress 💃🏻 I’ll be wearing a shawl for everything else, but TRUST that for the ceremony I’ll be looking like Salma Hayek in Dusk till Dawn. Let’s see what she thinks about this “body confidence” she asked me to find. GIRL please! If anyone is curious I’ll most likely come back in May to post my pics!! Bride made a profit on bachelorette trip!! (SIL drama) Jan 23, 2024 SO MUCH TEA. I’m glad I can spill to my Reddit community because I can’t gossip about it to my family! SO - about 6 months ago the bride planned her destination bachelorette trip and charged each of the 11 girls $650 for the Airbnb. I was salty about the high cost but it’s my SIL so I sucked it up and paid her. I also was suspicious about the high AF price so I did cross check the Airbnb listing and it checked out. (Yes this b wanted a $2300/night beachfront house.) Well today I’m chatting about wedding stuff with my brother (who is marrying future SIL) and he said something along the lines of “what a relief her dad paid for the Airbnb because that would have been so expensive for your group.” I about choked! I said hey are you sure about that because all 11 girls paid $650 for the house alone. Maybe run it by her…:..his face turned purple so I take it he had no idea. To add to the greed going on here - when I got married I flew her out, paid for her accommodations, paid hair and makeup, paid for her bridesmaid dress, and paid transportation because she was going through a hard time. Now she has the balls to steal from me. I get that weddings are expensive but don’t have one if it requires stealing from your BMs. I’m assuming I’m the only BM who is aware of what’s going on here. Not sure if I should spill to the group or just let it go…… There’s a chance her dad stepped in and paid for it after the fact, and she just chose not to refund us. I’m not clear on the exact situation and want to avoid embarrassing my brother. —————— UPDATE #1 Thanks for all the advice and support! Yes - I agree with most of you who are saying I’m morally obligated to spill the beans because $650 is not child’s play. This is what I’m going to do. First, I’m going to talk to my brother and give him a chance to clear it up with SIL. Before I make a scene, I want to understand what’s really going on. For example, did daddy pay for the trip but SIL decided to put that towards a different wedding expense? Things like that. That answer will determine when/how I tell the rest of the BMs. Im going to give my brother only 1-2 days because this trip is literally next week. Stay tuned for update #2 —————————— UPDATE #2 Alright so I regrouped with my brother. My mom also stepped in, bypassed my brother, and got some more info directly from her dad! HERE’S THE TEA - future SIL’s dad did not offer to cover the cost until a few months after we all paid for the trip. This was after he found out the cost and was pissed that she chose a $2300/night house and asked us to pay. Apparently he threatened not to pay for the wedding if she added more expenses onto the wedding party. Turns out she originally wanted it at the Maldives and he forbid her! According to my mom who chatted with him directly, he felt embarrassed when he heard about the Airbnb price and wanted to save face with my side of the family. So he gave SIL about $7k to cover the cost of the house. She was supposed to refund us but obviously that never happened. THIS IS WHERE IT GETS GOOD - so my mom went total FBI and learned that in addition to not paying us, SIL didn’t put the money towards a different wedding expense either. SHE DOESNT HAVE IT. So where did it go?? What did she spend it on?? There is currently a FULL BLOWN INVESTIGATION going down between our two families rn! I have been asked by my mom not to alert the BMs just yet until we get the last bits of info AND come to a resolution with both SIL and her dad. But we WILL tell them asap one way or another. I will come back tomorrow with another update!! Wow, CRAZY. ————————— UPDATE #3 The plot thickens!! So as this drama is all unfolding, the maid of honor (who doesn’t know what’s going on yet) is continuing her duties. We all get a 4-paragraph text from her outlining the dress code for each night of the bachelorette, per the brides orders. Keep in mind the bride is asking us all to go out and buy new outfits for each night of the trip. And the themes are WILD - animal print Thursday, Faux Fur Friday, Sparkle Dress Saturday, and Barbie brunch Sunday. As if we’re all going to go out and buy that sh*t one week before the trip (or at all!!) Thankfully the BM’s seem to be waking up to the BS. Several of them wrote back saying they won’t be able to pull together those outfits in time, and one flat out said it’s just not going to happen. But that’s just a side story to the absolute sh*t show that is unfolding. My mom is very involved now as she’s paid a decent chunk of this wedding as well, and does NOT like that the bride is throwing around THOUSANDS of dollars from her dad as well as lying to the bridal party. SHE SET UP A MEETING directly with SIL to cut the BS and explain what’s going on. She told SIL she’s going to inform the BM’s herself unless she gets a valid answer. At this point I’m just shoveling down popcorn waiting for the events to unfold. I will be back tonight with hopefully the final update!! ———————— UPDATE #4 A SWAN ICE SCULPTURE. She used the $7k to book a swan shaped ice sculpture to be displayed at the reception and didn’t tell anyone. Turns out her dad banned her from adding any more “extras” to the wedding design because it was already so expensive and unnecessary. When he venmoed her for the Airbnb, she thought she was being sneaky and kept it instead. She didn’t even tell my brother this - he only found out that her dad decided to cover the Airbnb because those two went out for cigars one night and it came up. So that mystery is solved thanks to my mini FBI crew - but now the REAL questions remain. Where tf is my $650 and how to break the news to the BM’s!?? Out of the kindness of her SOUL my mom is giving SIL 24hrs to confess to the bridesmaids and figure out how to pay us back our money. Because you know what, I did not spend $650 on some damn ICE!!!!! I have kids to feed! I have BILLS TO PAY. It is taking everything in me not to text the BM group right now but my mom is trying to give SIL one opportunity to do the right thing. This has been a roller coaster - don’t know if anyone here is still interested, but let me know if I should post the final outcome with the BM’s in one last update. Lord have MERCY. ———————————— UPDATE #5 Ok - as promised here is the latest tea, served BOILING hot. This is a long update and I’m going to try and get everything in. First let’s start with the bride’s explanation to her family: myself, my mom, my brother (her fiance) and her dad. She broke down crying saying that wedding planning has been getting to her head, and she has been “crushed” under the pressure to have the perfect wedding. Which she felt couldn’t go on without this alleged Ice Swan. I didn’t buy her sob story. After this whole incident I think she is a delusional, controlling, attention-starving bridezilla who is using the wedding as a way to compete with other girls on instagram. Btw her job is “influencer” if I didn’t mention that yet. My brother took the bait. To be honest, I don’t even blame him. This is his future wife, and he said he wants to help her with her mental health and get her back to a good place. He is disturbed by the situation but will continue to support her. The wedding is on, for those who were curious. Next let’s get into the matter of the missing $7K and whether we’re getting our money back. The sad, gut wrenching answer: probably not. Her dad said he has already paid the Airbnb cost once and he will not do it again. He said his daughter is 31 and needs to get herself out of her own mess and figure out how to make it right. She chimed in that the $7K is gone and asked how she would possibly pay us back. My brother refused to pay for her screw up. While I love that everyone is finally forcing this b to be an adult, I would like my money back more. Unfortunately we’re not going to get it unless she magically wins the lottery or gets a real job. For those that asked, there is nothing we can do legally. We all willingly paid a fixed amount and we would have to move mountains (and spend more $$$) to sue. Plus, while she was incredibly shady and a terrible friend, she technically didn’t do anything wrong that we could prove. Now onto the bridesmaids. After some threats from my mom, SIL finally broke down and contacted the BMs in our group chat. She sent a text that made my skin crawl: “Hey Ladies! You’re my bride squad so I feel compelled to share that my dad recently offered to pay for our bach accommodations. However, being that the wedding is so expensive, I have decided to put his donation towards a wedding expense. I hope you all understand and I can’t wait to party with you all next week!” Oh HELL no. I immediately replied back making sure everyone knew the “expense” was an ice sculpture. AN ICE SWAN!! Come ON PEOPLE! Many of them replied and expressed how they would have loved to use that $650 for something more important. But ultimately no one has backed out…..one of the girls started a side chat without the bride and asked if there is any chance of getting our $$ back if we force SIL to cancel the reservation. Unfortunately since we’re only a week out, we aren’t eligible for a refund. They decided to go through with the bach or else it would be a literal waste of $650. As for myself…..I’m in the same boat. I would rather run myself over than go on this trip. But $650 is not a small amount and I can’t fathom just throwing it down the drain. I haven’t made my final decision yet. If I do go, it will solely be to avoid eating the $650 plus my airfare. I will not be doing any of the planned events or outfits, or contributing even $1 more. I would have my own mini vacation as best I can. Im really upset that it seems like this crazy person is going to get her way after all!! MINI UPDATE 5.a There are so many curious comments coming in so I want to keep you in the loop!! More drama has unfolded among the bridesmaids. The side-text without the bride popped off and we have all agreed to do the following: We will be going on the trip, but it is NO LONGER a bachelorette trip. We will all be taking personal vacations with our hubbies/significant others while staying at the property. We were forced into this beachfront mansion + airfare, so we’re going to make the most of it. We have all backed out of hosting and paying for the bridal shower. The bride will need to find another way to move forward if she wants to have it. We will attend as guests if she has it, and we will not be gifting anything. Mother of the bride is absolutely furious. More on this later. We’re letting the bride know she needs to cancel the Ice Swan ™ and give us our money back. After some more research, we doubt all of the $7k went towards the alleged swan because it doesn’t seem liken they cost that much. I won’t be back for a while because I want to save my next update for after the trip! Stay tuned. FUN FACT This is not one of my updates but I thought you guys might like to know that bored panda picked up this story 😂 Check it out: link to article I will be back around Tuesday with the FINAL post bachelorette trip update! RELEVANT COMMENTS/ADDITIONAL INFO Perspex_Sea Info: I need to know if you're also paying for your own dress, shoes, make up, hair on top of this. OOP Yes - everything. A $350 dress (I have a whole other post about that scandal) $150 hair, $150 makeup, $200 shoes, and I haven’t done jewelry yet. Oh and the bridal shower cost is being split among the 11 girls, PLUS the shower gift, PLUS the wedding gift from me and hubby. I truly hope bridesmaids go out of style in the very near future…..I go broke every time and on top of that you end up slaving away for some bridezilla. Not all brides are like this. I’ve been in a few weddings that were really great. THIS is not one of those times. ~ SouthernCrime So, you have paid $650 for the Airbnb but now you have the added expenses of everything on the trip on the 4 coordinated outfit activities with her sparkly, furry, barbie dresses. (So glad yall just dismissed those!!) Why do these sad sad women think they need to beat everyone on IG instead of just sticking to a reasonable budget and having a good, stress free wedding. OOP Oh helllll no. IF I go, I will not be doing any of the planned outfits or events. I’ll most likely have my own mini vacation so as not to eat the cost of my airline ticket on top of everything else - which I already paid for too ~ Tis_But_A_Scratch- Good LORD. $650 is good money to anyone not absolutely rolling in the stuff. Honestly if my friend or family expected me to fork out 650, I’d tell them to take a hike off a short pier. When I got married, I paid for hotels, meals, everything related to my wedding. Guests just had to show up. OOP Yes - this exactly. I got married out of the country, which tbh was a way to cut my guest list down to only 15 people. With that said, we paid for flights, accommodations, BM dresses and hair/MUA, no bridal shower / no bach, and all the guests had to do was show up and have a good time. And yes, future SIL was part of that group. The petty part of me wants to send her the bill of her costs from my wedding! If I could go back in time…. ~ Castianna Whatever happened to just going out to dinner and maybe a few drinks with your girlfriends? Shadiness aside, this just seems like a lot of work and I'm experiencing secondhand exhaustion. OOP Weddings and all the events that go with them have gotten completely out of control lately. And while this one is pretty extreme, I’m in 3 other weddings this year which are equally involved and expensive. And why is it only the BM’s who are victim to the extreme cost and all the labor/hard work that goes into it? Looking at my brother and the groomsmen - the bachelor party was a short drive up to the mountains where they stayed (for free) at a friend’s place, hung out, had some beers, and wished my brother well. Meanwhile the BM’s are spending our life savings, using up PTO, and putting in Olympic sport effort just to get through the bachelorette alone. Not to mention the bridal shower and all the other things still to come. Sorry to create another rant but I am so over weddings and bridezillas. OOP UPDATED AFTER THE BORU WAS POSTED NEW UPDATE FINAL UPDATE #6 Warning - this is a long one. The absolute TEA I have today. It took me so long to write this because I am at a complete and utter LOSS FOR WORDS. Where to begin 🐸☕️ …. Let me start with this: there is no Ice Swan. There never was an ice swan. It was all an elaborate fabrication designed to distract everyone from where the missing $7k actually went. RIP Ice Swan ™ Turns out there was a reason behind SIL’s luxury bachelorette location. Here’s what happened - all the bridesmaids show up to the beachfront mansion with our significant others. SIL had already been made aware that it was no longer a bachelorette, but to our complete shock, she was still stunned that we actually meant it. She arrived last in her pre-booked limo absolutely FUMING that no one else showed up to the limo meeting spot at the airport. She was the only one still sticking to the original itinerary. Then she was flabbergasted that the husbands/SO’s were with us. It was a comedy show at best. Anyway we went about our individual mini vacations and eventually someone realized it had been about 48hrs since anyone had seen SIL. I assumed she was mad and either flew home or went to stay somewhere else. Then the unthinkable unfolds. SIL rolls up the driveway in a wheelchair being pushed by two female nurses. The entire group jumped into action thinking something horrible happened - everyone ran over to see what was going on but the nurses ushered us away and wheeled SIL into her room. At this point I’m actually VERY concerned - we’re all banging on her door asking if she’s ok. The nurses eventually leave and say they legally can’t reveal the nature of her health issue but assure us she’s fine. I call my brother and mom but get no answer, so I finally decide to call her mom (aka the mother of the bride, who was FURIOUS that we took over the bachelorette party.) MOB reveals what actually took place. She isn’t sick, she didn’t have a health issue, there was no accident - She got her boobs done. 🍈🍈 Yes folks you read that correctly. She had planned - as part of the original itinerary - to disappear for an afternoon and return with a set of new melons. ……..I’m sorry….WHAT????? The location of the beachfront mansion is conveniently 5 mins away from a very famous cosmetic surgeons office. The reason she needed this giant ass property was not really to host 11 girls, it was to host 11 girls plus the surgery recovery nurses and personal chef she had reserved for after the operation. There is so much more that we need to unpack, I honestly don’t know where to begin. • What was her mother’s knowledge/involvement in all this? • What was the cost of the procedure (GUESSING AROUND $7K) and WHY was it meant to be part of the bach??? • WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE ICE SWAN LIE??? wtf??!? • will the bridesmaids (myself included) pursue legal action? • where does this leave my brother? Is this lady OK mentally? Was this a horribly misplaced cry for attention? Was it an FU to the bridesmaids somehow? So many questions remain….i am only a few hours back from this trip so this is all the information I have right now. I was intending for this to be my final update and I just want to say - thank you ALL for your support, advice, bags of popcorn, and funny input. This has been a WILD ride and I’m glad I could share it with you. So far we have had this crazy ordeal picked up by a news publication, multiple podcasts, and a magazine. I literally want to write a book about this experience 😂 I’ve already revealed a great deal of info and so to protect my brother’s privacy moving forward, I think I need to step away from the updates. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 RELEVANT COMMENTS/ADDITIONAL INFO nunyaranunculus Oh my god. Are you SURE your brother wasn't in on the theft? Because breast augmentation isn't exactly something you do without consultations and having someone to help you for the ensuing few weeks following the procedure. Did her mother know and was she in on it? I'm assuming FoB and MoB are divorced? If your brother is truly in the dark, his fiancée is throwing red flags around like Oprah threw car keys and he still has time to back out of this. OOP So far I know that my brother was aware of the procedure but never imagined our money went towards it. We’re still figuring out exactly where the money went. Apparently there was going to be some grand boob reveal during the bach and we would all celebrate her - I’m still piecing together the details crumb by crumb ~ jaduhlynr I'm guessing she planned on paying out of pocket for the surgery (and having the BMs cover the house), then when the dad offered to pay for the Airbnb she saw the dollar signs and ran with it OOP Yeah, we’re assuming this is most likely what happened. I’m still piecing together details about when the hired staff became involved (was this before or after the BM’s backed out?) but at the very least we think she saw an opportunity for free $$$ towards the procedure in one way or another ~ BananaIceTea Nah, this story was kinda believeble at first, but the last few updates were just pure fiction. How did you all managed to organize your spouses to go with you so suddenly? How much was the surgery, personal chef, limo? I just doesnt add up. Especially given the time frame. OOP I don’t know all the costs yet or the timeline that she organized all these things - we’re still gathering information 🤷🏻‍♀️ I can’t speak for the other BMs but my husband works remote and was more than happy to tag along. Plus he got to leave the kids at grandmas, which is another incentive lol. As for the new melons, this is total speculation but I’m betting she has an onlyfans. I know her influencer career (if you can call it that) is not working out, and I have seen several “influencers” switch over to OF. Not trying to cast even more judgement on her but I just wouldn’t be surprised at this point. LiberryExpresso So she gets wheeled past you, you and the bridesmaids find out that she got a boob job with your money, and you all just...left without any follow up discussion? What did the other bridesmaids say? How was there no confrontation with the bride at this point? OOP Of course there was confrontation/questions/discussion. It simply has not yielded all the answers yet. We also didn’t chain down the bride and water board her for answers - we took it all in and tried to end our trip on a somewhat normal note 🙂 Editor's note: AGAIN- PLEASE REMEMBER THE NO BRIGADING RULE. Do NOT dm OOP or comment on their posts. This is becoming a serious problem on this sub and we don't want to get banned. THIS IS A REPOST SUB - I AM NOT THE OOP submitted by /u/Direct-Caterpillar77 to r/BestofRedditorUpdates [link] [comments]

Very tired parents here. We were at our wits ends with our 9 month old. Doctors were useless “lol he’ll grow out of it, moisturize and use these steroids for now.” Rebounds after steroids made it worse than before. We were lucky to sleep for 2 hrs each for almost a month straight. I spent a whole weekend on PubMed doing research. Turns out people with eczema are colonized by staphylococcus aureus instead of good bacteria. We started treating the baby for staph and taking steps to encourage other bacterias to take hold, including applying topical probiotics. There’s been a few successful trials using strains of bacteria to treat AD, and we had nothing to lose. We got a 98% reduction in symptoms within a week. I’ll make a detailed post sooner or later, but a shift in treatment philosophy might be useful for some of you guys. Edit: Wow so much positive response! I’m getting a lot of questions from people asking for brief outlines of what I did, so hopefully this tides you over: Look up MRSA decolonization procedures and follow them. Get yourself some Hibiclens (chlorhexidine soap) and a topical mupirocin prescription. Don’t use the mupirocin for more than 10 days. Be aware that staph can build resistance to chlorhexidine. Bleach baths can be effective/soothing but do not actually kill bacteria (concentrations are far too low). The exact mechanism behind bleach baths are still unknown. Edit: I found a cool study that actually showed that bleach baths over the long term (a month and longer) actually led to changes in the skin’s microbiome composition. Less staph and more good guys! Get a good oral probiotic and some topical probiotic sprays (several available on Amazon). Bacillus subtilis and coagulans help kill/inhibit staph. Others help outcompete the staph. We rotate several to maintain a diversity of species. Streptococcus thermophilus, lactobacillus johnsonii, vitreoscilla filiformis, and bifidobacteriums are what you should be looking for to help outcompete staph and help your skin with ceramide production and healing. There has been a very interesting study on roseomonas mucosa but it doesn’t seem to be commonly available. Just because a bacteria hasn’t been studied doesn’t mean you should stay away, just that we simply don’t know. These will not live on skin permanently and fix you long term. Frequent reapplication is needed. If you cannot access probiotic sprays, get probiotic capsules with high CFUs (less filler, more active spores) and mix them with hydrogel (currently using McKesson) and apply that topically. Hydrogels seem to be one of the most effective spore carriers that helps the spores to adhere and germinate. Hydrogel also moisturizes. If you need more info on specific probiotics, I answered that somewhere in the comments. Short answer: Garden of Life Skin+ is good but also has lycopene that turns it red. If the red is a problem, you can buy the bacteria strains I listed individually and blend them together. When I go this route, I just open the capsules and pour out like a quarter of each of them into a few mL’s of hydrogel, mix it up, and apply. Use prebiotics (microbial foods for good bacteria) like GladSkin (arginine is a prodrug for urea; has protein complex that feeds bacteria) and MiteBGone (contains sulfur. It stinks, but it feeds good bacteria and staph doesn’t like it; also contains tea tree oil which is known to inhibit staph). Smart lotion contains both sulfur and hydrocortisone, but we prefer to apply topical steroids infrequently and separately. Daily hydrocortisone use can thin the skin and has other drawbacks you can look up. Moisturize. Our go to is EpiCeram (prescription only in US; contains lipids the skin needs to repair itself). Other stuff: Amerigel Hydrogel contains oak tannins that fight staph and is an astringent that helps weeping wounds heal and is a great moisturizer. Aloe and coconut are also nice moisturizers that staph does not like. Edit: As time goes on, the more impressed I am with this Amerigel. It’s being used in long term wound care to prevent staph/MRSA because it doesn’t seem to create resistance. And I’m talking pretty gnarly wounds, like diabetic ulcers on feet. Don’t just take my word for it! Start googling or searching PubMed for “topical probiotics atopic dermatitis” and the stuff I’ve mentioned. Unfortunately, this is a shotgun approach by a desperate dad, and not a scientific approach. I can’t tell you which of these treatments are the most important/effective. But it’s a shotgun approach that at least has some evidence behind it. Look for scientific journal articles and reviews. Any other sources like health/beauty sites and mommy blogs should be taken with a grain of salt and further investigated through PubMed. The science is out there! Eczema is crazy complex, poorly understood, and can have many causes. Just because this worked for us doesn’t mean it will work for you. My infant has had zero negative reactions to anything I’ve listed here, but make sure you research ingredients and spot test before slathering anything on your child or yourself. But I truly hope this helps some folks. Edit 2/Update: The scope of this project has broadened considerably as I get sucked further down this rabbit hole. I am currently on a side quest exploring acidification of skin as a therapy. The severity of AD flare ups directly corresponds to ph. The higher the pH, the worse the flare up. There have been studies that found that found acidification of skin with polyhydroxyl acids (PHAs) not only prevents AD development, but halts the atopic march in murine models. They simply added PHAs to Cetaphil. Cetaphil is usually ph 7.4; the researchers brought down to ph 2.8. I will be incorporating skin acidification into our routine for our son. Edit/Update: we’ve also been using AmLactin rapid relief and a lotion (Neostrata) with PHA for a week now and so far so good! My wife can’t stand the smell of the MiteBGone, so I only use it when she’s away at work. I still want to keep tea tree oil in the rotation, so we add a drop here and there to other treatments. Yes, I’m still working on this paper. The scope keeps getting larger and larger as time goes on and I sift through more and more research papers. Life is crazy rn and it will take some time, but I’ll finish eventually. I was a molecular neuroscience and biochem nerd in another life, and I never expected to be teaching myself all the pathways involved in atopic dermatitis, yet here we are. Edit 3 or 4: Over the past 10 days, the importance of acids has been apparent. AmLactin Rapid Relief has become the moisturizer we reach for the most. Very fast redness relief, not a single hint of flaring since we started using it (still using the other stuff throughout the day too). We cover him head to toe immediately after the shower/bath. Using it in conjunction with the Neutrogena PHA cleanser and the Eczemact Body Wash has been huge for us. Switching to ph balanced cleansers have also allowed us to increase the frequency of bathing. Things are going very, very well over here. Edit 5 (almost 6 months later): Our son is still clear and free! We still use the AmLactin and PHA lotion in rotation, but we only moisturize once per day (twice if he takes a bath, which happens every 2-3 days). We haven’t had to use mupirocin or hydrocortisone in months. Every few weeks, we might see that purplish tint to his skin that precedes a flare up. When that happens, we use a dab of Hibiclens and it clears up within a few hours. We are still applying topical probiotics, but only once per day. The most recent round of IgE testing has revealed that he is no longer allergic to soy, wheat, or oats. We have incorporated those foods back into his diet with zero problems. He is still allergic to peanuts and diary, but he is now less sensitive to both. He went from level 5 to 3 for peanuts and level 4 to 3 for dairy, 5 being the most allergic. We’re on the right track. It really does seem that we’re reversing the atopic march. The amount of love I have received for this post has been unreal. 6 months later, I am still getting regular DM’s from patients and parents saying that this has changed their life, with many reporting total relief. I am so glad my combing through the research has helped so many people, I and am truly touched by all your messages. Seriously, it makes my day when I hear from someone who is enjoying a better quality of life. What a great community. 2/19/2024 Edit: This NIH-funded study found that a specific strain of b. subtilis (MB40) resulted in a major reduction (95% in gut, 65% in nostrils) of staph colonization. The MB40 is available for a reasonable price from AmeoLife. Some success stories from other anti-staph subreddits have started to trickle in. Personally, we have just incorporated it into our routine. I think this could be HUGE, since our guts and nostrils are reservoirs for reinfection. (Side note: make sure everyone in your house decolonizes together) Will update about after allowing the probiotic to do its thing for a while month. In the meantime, we are switching to HU58 b subtilis and megasporebiotic for topical use. Unfortunately, the AmeoLife has other ingredients besides probiotics, so we’re avoiding it for topical use. The megasporebiotic has some other bacillus strains known for skin-colonizing and anti-staph properties. However, I can’t vouch for its safety or efficacy yet. Use at your own risk. 2/21/2024 Edit: So there have been some pretty promising studies on Vitreoscilla filiformis extract. It’s a prebiotic that’s selective for good bacteria. Looks like a new product line from L’Oreal was released that contains said VF extract. I’m particularly interested in the “La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+” that’s endorsed by the National Eczema Foundation. It should be available online and at major retailers. I’m gonna pick some up. I’ll add that while my son def isn’t having a flair up, this is the worst his skin has looked in months. Winter sucks. submitted by /u/NJoose to r/eczema [link] [comments]

Relationship Backstory: We have been together for 10 years. We don’t have children and we own a house together. My family is estranged/dead so I don’t have any familial support, but I’m quite close with his family. We had our ups and downs, but the first 7 years were pretty good. By year 7, I bought the wedding dress of my dreams and planned to propose to him. And then his physical health started drastically declining. Personal Backstory: I’m only including this because it’s relative to the reader to fully understand my perspective of things. My father and mother were both addicts to various things, my mother was abusive, and my father tried to murder me. I’ve been married before (young and trying to escape my mother), but that man unfortunately turned to drug dealing and abuse as well. I’ve heartbreakingly joked that maybe I just bring the worst out in people. You know what they say - when everyone around you is an asshole, you’re the asshole? Yeah it’s that feeling. I went through many years of therapy and medications, and my current partner had been super supportive when I had my own mental breakdown at one point, and I’m happy to say that I am now much improved and loving life. Current Story: 3 years ago, my partner started acting strange. It was a very stressful time for society because that was the beginning of the pandemic, but as we were both introverted homebodies, the pandemic didn’t impact our social life that much. I had already been working remote, and his office job finally transitioned to remote much to his delight. We had separate offices to keep the boundaries, and everything seemed good. But then he would start sleeping A LOT. A lot a lot. During the day, during the night, while working, passing out while going out with friends (beginning of the pandemic when no one knew what was going on). I coaxed him to get sleep testing to rule out things like narcolepsy and apnea, but nothing was conclusive. In this time period, he started drastically losing weight, became distant and angry with everyone, and for the first time in our relationship, was actually quite cruel with me. He refused to visit any other doctor, and instead started dosing himself with kratom tea to “calm his anxiety”. 9 months after his mysterious health issues began, he started having delusions, visual and auditory hallucinations, and manic episodes. I was horrified, and took him to a psychiatrist, who diagnosed him with bipolar disorder and put him on Divalproex for it. I was unconvinced it was bipolar disorder, but hey I’m not the doctor. And the doctor also okayed the continued usage of kratom tea. 2 months after that, he disappeared in the middle of the night. I tracked him down to the local hospital where he ended up staying for one week due to 3 day long psychotic break. They found absolutely nothing wrong with him, and sent him home. 4 days later, it happened again. I was at my wit’s end here. Eventually, the psychotic breaks calmed down, but then he started having nocturnal seizures. They would last literally all night long, and I honestly couldn’t figure out if they were sleepwalking, seizures, or just nocturnal psychotic breaks. Sleep specialists, his PCP, and his psych (who took him off the Divalproex) were most unhelpful. One day I finally snapped (from my own stress and lack of sleep) and dragged to another doctor who prescribed him Klonopin for the anxiety, which also magically stopped the nocturnal issues. We were referred to another psychiatrist, who thinks that my partner has been suffering from nocturnal temporal lobe epilepsy this entire time - since the Klonopin had stopped whatever was going on at night. I was again unconvinced this was this issue. Just - everything felt so wrong in my gut. But it’s ok because the Klonopin seemed to be helping, and he even got a medical marijuana card. Now, it had been a tumultuous 3 years for me. I lost my grandmother (may she rest in peace) and my abusive mother to COVID-19, my senior kitty had also passed on, I had horribly broken my foot which took forever to heal, and had also been diagnosed with a physical health issue of my own, we were bleeding money from the economic downturn and all the added bills, plus his mysterious health issues and - And through all of it - he just did not care. At all. He did not care that all that was happening to him. He did not care that my family and my cat died and that I was injured and in pain, and I had to deal with all that alone. I meant it when I said he was distant. We may have officially been in a relationship, but the past 3 years, I’ve been completely alone and yet still trying to care for him. He had even lost his remote job due to his health, and I ended up going through my connections to get him hired in another cushy remote position that doesn’t even mind if he needs to suddenly take the day off because of health. And then I found the drugs hidden in his nightstand. I looked a ton of them up, and I still can’t even figure out what some of them are, but a lot of them were various opioids, benzos, and muscle relaxants. I confronted him about it, he came clean to me that he’s been dosing and overdosing himself with these things for the past few years. Everything he and I had gone through, he had caused himself. And he lied to and gaslighted me the entire time. I tore the house apart and found, hopefully, his entire stash. There were thousands of pills, like he was hoarding or heck even drug dealing for all I know. I called his family, and his mother is the one who - after this entire time - confided in me that my partner has had substance abuse issues in the past, before we had met. Y’all I swore I would never be the type of person who would leave because my partner is going through serious shit. That’s why I tried to stay by him for these past 3 years. Even my first reaction - upon finding all these pills - was oh gosh we need to get him in rehab and therapy. He did the normal reaction.. begged me to stay and that he’ll do whatever I ask of him and all that jazz. I didn’t want to give up on him just yet, but I needed some sort of boundary to keep my sanity, so I asked him for separate bedrooms in the time being while we sorted out his future. Finally, it came to a breaking point during a car ride home from his parents. He has a performance car and loves risky speeding and weaving and racing in traffic. I absolutely hate it for the obvious reasons, but also especially since I’ve been in a car crash before that nearly killed me. I’ve begged him before to slow down, at least when I’m in the car. He doesn’t care and just tells me that he “likes to drive this way”. After spending the last 3 years with him, after supporting him so much and then finding out all this shit, I realized that this simple car ride just summed up what our relationship was going to be like for the rest of our lives. He was never going to prioritize me - not for my safety or sanity or out of any love for me. If he couldn’t choose me over his car, he was never going to be able to choose me over drugs. It makes sense now why, weeks later, there’s just been excuses upon excuses with his insurance and struggle to find a rehab center and a therapist who would take him. I need to bow out. I no longer have the fortitude for this. And unfortunately - in this economy, with no one left in my life to help me - I am stuck. tldr: My partner has mysterious health issues for 3 years, becomes a bag useless of dicks, turns out he's abusing drugs, and now I want out but can't because this economy sucks. Thank you for reading my vent. edit: Thank you for the outpour of support. I wish I could reply to every single one of you but I am quite overwhelmed with all the stories and advice and love I've received here! Please know that I've read every single reply though and I've taken everything to heart and mind. update 04/10 one week later: I decided to expedite my plans to leave ASAP. I found a lovely roommate and we'll be moving in together in a couple months. This last Friday, I had decided to tell my partner that I'm leaving. He seemed amicable and cooperative enough that I didn't have any fear for myself, but then he disappeared in the middle of the night. In the morning, I found out that he had been arrested for DUI and felony drug possession with intent to sell (!!!). Both me and his parents refused to bond him out, which was fortunately quite a low bond to begin with, and he was forced to use a bondsman. The only other thing I know is that he had been forcibly sent to an inpatient crisis center. It's incredibly sad that it's come to this, but my plans are not changing - I am still packing. submitted by /u/GlitterRiot to r/TrueOffMyChest [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/memorialmonorail to r/science [link] [comments]

Edit for disclaimer: For those messaging me asking for the brand name, STOP. I will continue to ignore. I asked for one boundary and stated my reason for doing so. I don't need any more qualifiers. I also did not intend for this post to become a chat about encouraging unhealthy and damaging eating habits. Please seek help if you are suffering from an ED or trying to find a "quick and easy diet" in the form of laxatives or other methods; these are damaging. I did not consider this intially, but it's something that has been made aware to me. The story might be written in a funny way, but that's my process of the events. It wasn't funny or cool that I lost weight and dehydrayed myself in this method. It was painful and I'm going to need some recovery. Edit 2: Removed indentifiers and potential encouragement for harmful ED behaviors So, here's the thing. I may or may not have a slight to moderate addiction to these delicious violet mint candies. (I'm choosing not to give away the name of the maker of these candies in an effort to protect the small company. I won't sully their reputation because I sullied my toilet.) I recently found these succulent fragrant treats again after trying them years ago on a whim. They are the perfect blend of strong fragrance and chalky texture. I am enthralled with them. Or...I was. I forgot all about them until that first fateful day, about 4 or 5 weeks ago, while browsing online for nostalgic candies. Fuck up 1: I found the same brand of violet candies and was very excited to have them again. I ate all four packages of mints in an embarrassingly short time. I started having some minor poopy issues here and there, but chalked it up to basic bacteria and subsequently forgot about them. I even went to so far as to passively blame by boyfriend by asking him if our dinners were giving him issues too. (He has been picking up a lot of the slack in the cooking department since I got a second job. Bless him.) Fuck up 2: Seeing how I needed to refuel my latest addiction, I went directly to the manufacturer's website and...you guessed it...ordered 2 WHOLE BOXES of mints. -Fuck up 2.0: Almost a moment of clarity- Something told me look up the ingredients of the mints, just for shits (lol) and giggles. I briefly read something about - specific chemical name-, but the article had too much of that darn fancy science mumbo jumbo. So, I went on with my life, or...what was to become of it, my careless days of yore. I should have trusted my gut...literally. I've read that animals have basic instincts of impending doom, like a signal of their own death. If only I knew my impending doom would result in the lament of my toilet. My triumph turned to tragedy. My seemingly harmless addiction leading me into a dark bathroom of despair. Third and final fuck up, or, "The Violet Flower Enrapture and Evacuation of the Bowels": Since the delivery date of my precious violet goldmine, I prided myself in how well I was conserving the candies. I only ate a few here or there, and would just pop a few in my mouth at work. Luckily I have been busy with both of my jobs, so I only ate them at home for the most part. And so began the turmoil of my poor gastrointestinal system. I began to notice more frequent trips to the bathroom, oftentimes more and more painful and horribly-smelling diarrhea. I mentioned it to my boyfriend because I was becoming concerned. I told him "It's the smell...it's like nothing I've ever dealt with. It's not normal, but more like a chemical smell?" I even asked my boyfriend a few more times if he was having similar issues. I was also very projective and passive-aggressive about his cleanliness around the kitchen. I feel awful and know I owe him a big fat apology when I see him. Poor guy :( (Sidenote: I chalked these bathroom trips to stress from the recent zoom family therapy sessions, thinking I was so clever for remembering that "stress can do that to you, y'know." I totally didn't take into account that I was EATING THE MINTS DURING THERAPY. Yeah, I'm such an academic.) Fuck up assurance and toilet resolution: A few days ago I started noticing my weight was dropping pretty fast. Again, in my brilliance, I credited this to me working a lot as well as quitting soda. I switched to tea and coffee. (I also thought the coffee was to blame, but coffee never gave me those painful, cramping, and horrid blowouts.) Last night I stayed up very late talking on the phone for almost 3 hours with my sister, catching up about stuff that happened in our family therapy. By the time our call was up, I had consumed 1 and one-third entire packages....about 20 mints or so in just that phone call's time. A new record. But there are no wins here, only profound losses. Today's Fuck Up Confirmation: I woke up a few hours later at the asscrack (lol) of dawn. I was strangely feeling hungry. Bf went to work. I kissed him goodbye and went back to bed. Or so I thought. A violent violet cramp began to rumble until I was nearly doubling over on my way to the bathroom. Total (violet) Recall. (Bonus Willy Wonka quote: "You're pooping violent violet!") And somewhere between my agony and my confusion, something just clicked. I went to search that pesky chemical I remembered from the ingredient list. And welp, what would you know: magnesium stearate, when consumed beyond small doses, acts like a LAXATIVE EFFECT...........Fuck. For clarification: I consumed almost 14 entire packs of mints, plus a few extra from the first order, in 4-5 GODDAMN WEEKS?! I did the math for 18 packages....that's 270 MINTS. 270?!?!?! (My bowels when reading this: I gotta get outta here!) Pls kill me. Jesus Christ I'm so dumb it hurts. It literally hurts. My butthole. My pride. My self-assurance. But most of all, my butthole. The memory of these mints has been tainted by my willful ignorance, now conditioned by my folly. I feel sick just looking at them now. RIP my sweet violet mints of long ago: once held in the light of careless happiness, now fallen to the deepest recesses of a hell where toilet blowouts reign. But most of all, I'm sorry to you, my sweet innocent boyfriend. You're amazing and I will be reading you this after work. Love u bby :{ TL;DR for those with normal gut health: I ate a fuckton of violet candies in a very short time and got horrible diarrhea for weeks. Turns out it was a chemical ingredient that caused a laxative effect. TL;DR Lite Version: Bad thing in candy make tum tum go ouchie. Ate many candy in short time. Feel sad and not smart in brain. submitted by /u/telekittysis to r/tifu [link] [comments]

PHOTO ID verification, to be clear. I think that every looks-centric social media app like Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok should require users to be at least 18 years old and should require ID verification to create an account the same way that some online investment apps do because: Exposure to face-tuned images on Instagram leads kids to internalize unrealistic beauty standards and seeing their own faces face-tuned and filtered to 'perfection' on Snapchat and Instagram is giving a generation body dysmorphia. When I discovered 'thinspo' online at the age of 11 back in the early 2000s I had no idea that all of that crap was photoshopped. While kids today are probably more aware of the fact that everything they see is manipulated since filters and facetune are so ubiquitous, they are clearly still internalizing those images-- just look at all the teenagers who are injecting their faces with unnecessary filler. The average age of plastic surgery patients keeps getting younger and younger. While plastic surgery isn't inherently bad, the demand for trendy surgeries has led to a thriving cosmetic surgery black market. Take a look at r/botchedsurgeries and you'll see a heartbreaking number of teenagers and people in their early 20s who have become disfigured because of often dangerous 'trendy' procedures. Looks-centric social media apps contribute to the sexualization of children. Kids as recently as 10 to 15 years ago were allowed to look like KIDS and now every 12-year-old girl is pressured to look like a 20-something. Google the "13-year-olds then vs now" meme if you don't believe me. I know that every generation in the past has thought that 'kids these days' were growing up too fast and dressing too provocatively, but past generations didn't have their inappropriate pictures splashed all over the internet for strangers to see and message them about. Even worse than that, social media provides predators with easy access to insecure kids they can groom and worse. Social media companies are able to get away with advertising shady diet supplements and cosmetic procedures to minors, whereas even if TV will rot kids' brains I can't imagine the Disney Channel running ads for lip-filler and shit-your-guts-out tea or diet pills that will give kids heart attacks. 'Pop up beauty clinics' and 'health spas' without a single physician on staff are well... popping up everywhere and they advertise heavily on Instagram, sometimes with the testimonials of soulless influencers that kids look up to. None of the claims of these ads are verified for accuracy. There's no oversight at all. Image-centric social media teaches kids to value sex appeal and consumerism too much. Online validation is addictive and leads kids (as well as adults) to engage in potentially dangerous social media "challenges" and other unhealthy behavior for clout. Social media addiction can be as crippling as other addictions. We should not be teaching our kids to seek shallow looks-based validation. Kids are stupid and if they post stupid stuff on social media that can hurt their future chances of employment. The "benefits" of social media for children aren't enough to justify the costs (maybe social media can provide some sense of connection, but that's negated by the sense that kids get by looking at other people's posts that everyone else is happier and more connected to each other). I met some of my closest friends on forums dedicated to my interests a decade ago so I'm not against online friendships at all, but Instagram and other image-centric social media don't create friendships by bringing together people with similar interests--it's all based on looks and the format of Instagram (et al) isn't conducive to getting to know people. Hashtags and captions aren't conversations. Children and teenagers require more sleep than adults. Staring at screens and checking notifications in the evening leads to sleep disruption, which leads to a host of mental and physical health issues. Even if requiring ID verification might mean that people who don't have the means to get an ID aren't able to use image-centric social media, that doesn't cause them harm any more than the fact that people who can't afford IDs can't buy cigarettes harms them. ID verification would prevent predators and bullies from creating throwaway accounts to target children; online crimes against kids would be easier to trace and prosecute. Someone, please change my view so I can stop despairing at the thought of what an entire generation is being exposed to on Instagram, TikTok, etc. submitted by /u/hellhellhellhell to r/changemyview [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/cassidy498 to r/science [link] [comments]