A new study published last week dropped a bombshell.
Researchers found that many common medications — not just antibiotics — can quietly rewire your gut microbiome for years after you stop taking them.
We’re talking about things like antidepressants, beta-blockers, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), and even anxiety meds like benzodiazepines.
These drugs can leave distinct microbial “fingerprints” that linger for years, sometimes altering your gut in ways that mimic the effects of broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Which means if you’ve ever felt like your gut just “won’t bounce back,” even after changing your diet, taking probiotics, or trying different protocols…
…it might be due to a medication you took months or even years ago.
Your gut may still be carrying the legacy of past medications — an “invisible factor” that most gut advice completely overlooks.
from a newsletter by Sara Otto.
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and Laura Frontiero wrote:
Have you noticed your digestion feels different from how it used to?
Like, a meal you used to handle just fine now leaves you bloated.
Or you get gas out of nowhere.
Or you feel like food just sits there for hours.
Well, it’s probably true.
It’s often due to declining digestive enzymes.
Think of enzymes as the second phase of ‘chewing’ your food.
They’re proteins that break down fat, protein, and carbs into even smaller pieces, so your body can absorb them.
As we get older, our bodies make fewer digestive enzymes.
And when enzymes drop, digestion gets impacted quickly.
You start to experience more:
Bloating after meals
Gas and indigestion
Constipation or loose stools
And while you can’t really “hack” your biology to significantly produce more digestive enzymes as you get older, you can give your body the support it needs – from the outside.
One easy way to do this is eating more enzyme-rich foods like pineapple, papaya, kiwi, or fermented veggies (I have a bigger list here for you).
Supplementation can help too.
With more digestive enzymes in your system, your meals break down more smoothly, nutrients absorb better, and your gut feels calmer and more comfortable after eating.
It’s a simple shift that can make a big difference in how your gut handles meals as the years go by.
I break this whole enzyme situation down (pun intended!) along with more ways to keep your gut young and resilient.
In order to support restoring gut health, I recommend adding enzyme-rich food products in your daily diet. Several vegetables and fruits offer a supply of enzymes. Some of these are:
Papaya
Pineapple
Kiwi
Mango
Honey
Banana
Sauerkraut
Avocado
Miso
Kefir
Kimchi
Ginger
Deficiency of digestive enzymes can lead to severe health consequences, including nutrient deficiency. To help avoid this problem, add foods rich in digestive enzymes and alternate your foods often. All the foods mentioned
above are excellent for providing enzymes. Increase their intake, and you will be less likely to be short of digestive enzymes. These foods are also helpful in improving gut health.
Also consider adding a digestive enzyme capsule to your daily routine.