Intestinal sounds: What your gut is telling you - and when to take them seriously
ca. 26 Minuten
The key points
Intestinal sounds occur when the intestinal muscles push gas and liquid through the intestines. They are generally a sign of normal digestive activity, not illness - even when they are loud. They should only be taken seriously when warning signs are also present: significant weight loss, blood in the stool, fever, or paleness.
This explainer describes how intestinal sounds occur in the body, what types there are, why they are louder in some people than in others, and when a combination of symptoms warrants medical evaluation. Every claim is backed by an institution and year, and anything that is not proven is clearly identified as such.
Read Chapters 1 and 2 if you want to know what is normal, Chapter 3 for warning signs, Chapters 4 and 6 for information about diet, irritable bowel syndrome, and gut flora, Chapters 5 and 8 for what cannot be substantiated in practice, Chapter 7 for everyday steps, and Chapter 9 for an overview of the different types.
What to expect in this article
2. Which intestinal sounds are normal?
3. When are intestinal sounds a warning sign?
4. What role do diet and fiber play?
5. What is true about common assumptions regarding intestinal sounds?
6. What role do irritable bowel syndrome, an irritable stomach, and gut flora play?
7. What can help in everyday life when intestinal sounds are bothersome?
8. What is not proven about intestinal sounds?
9. What types of intestinal sounds are there?
10. How mybody® can help
11. Putting it into perspective: What a microbiome test can and cannot do
12. Conclusion
Frequently asked questions
You might also be interested in
Sources
What are intestinal sounds - and how do they occur?
Intestinal sounds occur when the intestinal muscles move gas and liquid through the digestive tract. The medical term for this is borborygmus. Intestinal sounds are therefore an acoustic by-product of digestion - not a sign of illness in their own right.
The intestines are a muscular tube. Ring-shaped muscles contract in waves, pushing their contents along. This movement is called peristalsis and goes on around the clock, whether or not you have just eaten.
Peristalsis becomes audible whenever gas and liquid are pushed through a loop of intestine at the same time. Liquid alone makes hardly any noise, and neither does gas alone - only the mixture of the two produces the characteristic gurgling and rumbling.
Where does intestinal gas come from?
Gas in the intestines has two main sources: swallowed air while eating, drinking, and speaking, and gases produced when bacteria break down undigested food components in the large intestine.
The second mechanism explains why some meals cause more sounds than others. Carbohydrates that the small intestine does not fully absorb reach the large intestine and are fermented there by bacteria, producing gas.
The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG, 2023) describes this mechanism for the group of FODMAPs, or certain short-chain carbohydrates: “It is thought that consuming FODMAPs causes more water to enter the intestines and can promote diarrhea.” More water and more gas in the intestines mean more audible movement.
Why are bowel sounds louder for some people?
How loudly bowel sounds can be heard from outside depends less on intestinal activity itself than on the surrounding conditions: a mostly empty intestine muffles sounds less than a full one, a thin abdominal wall less than a thick one, and a quiet room less than a noisy environment.
That’s why the volume says little about the state of the intestines: a sound that stands out in a quiet meeting would go unnoticed in a crowded restaurant.
How often bowel sounds occur in everyday life has not been measured in reliable figures—any number would be an estimate. By contrast, we do have figures for the conditions many people first think of when sounds persist. These numbers strongly suggest there’s no need to worry.
Source: IQWiG, “Irritable bowel syndrome” (as of 22.02.2023) and “Crohn’s disease” (as of 04.03.2026)
Which bowel sounds are normal?
Virtually any bowel sound is normal if it occurs without other symptoms. Gurgling, rumbling, growling, and occasional whistling are part of normal digestion and, on their own, do not need to be investigated.
Frequency is not a criterion either. The digestive tract works day and night, so hearing it is the norm, not the exception.
What matters is not the sound, but what comes with it. Only when it occurs alongside persistent pain, changes in stool, or one of the warning signs in Chapter 3 does a sound become a finding that should be assessed by a doctor.
Key point: Bowel sounds are not in themselves a sign of illness, but a sign that the intestines are working. Neither their volume nor their frequency tells you anything about a disease. They become meaningful only when considered alongside other symptoms.
Why does your stomach growl when you’re hungry?
The familiar hunger growl doesn’t happen because the stomach is empty, but because it’s still working. Even between meals, waves of muscle contractions move through the stomach and small intestine, carrying food remnants onward.
Because there is hardly any food in this phase, but air and digestive juices are still moving through, there is less cushioning—the same movement is therefore much more audible than after a meal.
Hunger growling is therefore a sign of a normally functioning, currently empty digestive tract—not an indication of a deficiency or a disorder.
Why does it get louder again after eating?
After a meal, activity increases throughout the digestive tract: the stomach empties into the small intestine in portions, while farther along, space is made. So sounds in the first few hours after eating are to be expected.
Sounds that occur much later often have a different source: food components that the small intestine has not absorbed reach the large intestine and ferment there. Legumes, cruciferous vegetables, and whole grains are typical examples.
Diet also plays a role here—but, as Chapter 4 explains, with an important caveat: fewer bowel sounds are not automatically a healthier goal.
How does this article differ from the related articles?
This explainer covers the phenomenon of bowel sounds exclusively: how they arise, what is normal, and when they need to be checked. If nausea is your main concern, Nausea after eating is the right article for you. If you’re dealing with abdominal pain and pressure, Stomach pain after eating can help. And if intestinal inflammation has already been diagnosed, Intestinal inflammation: What to eat? covers nutrition. The most reliable microbiome tests for your gut flora explains how to examine the gut microbiome.
When are bowel sounds a warning sign?
Bowel sounds alone are not a warning sign, regardless of how loud or frequent they are. They only become a warning sign when accompanied by certain symptoms, which are clearly defined.
IQWiG writes about irritable bowel syndrome (as of 2023): “Additional symptoms such as significant weight loss, blood in the stool, fever, or paleness are more likely to indicate another intestinal disease.”
IQWiG (2023) is particularly clear about one sign: “Blood in the stool should always be examined by a doctor to determine the cause." This applies even if it has happened only once.
These accompanying signs should be medically evaluated
- ✓ Significant, unintended weight loss - without changes to diet or exercise (IQWiG, 2023).
- ✓ Blood in the stool - according to IQWiG (2023), should always be medically evaluated, even if it happens just once.
- ✓ Fever - points away from a purely functional cause (IQWiG, 2023).
- ✓ Paleness - may indicate anemia (IQWiG, 2023).
- ✓ Persistent vomiting - anyone who repeatedly cannot keep meals down no longer has a dietary issue.
There are also two situations in which visiting a doctor's office should be the first step: nighttime symptoms that wake you from sleep, and sudden, severe abdominal pain.
A clearly changed pattern also warrants medical evaluation: new, persistent pain, a lasting change in bowel movements, or symptoms that do not ease over several weeks. The reason here is not the noise, but the change.
An honest assessment also needs to cover the other side. Persistent abdominal discomfort with loud intestinal noises is most often caused by irritable bowel syndrome - and IQWiG (as of 2023) offers explicit reassurance on this point. The following statement refers to irritable bowel syndrome as a diagnosis, not to intestinal noises in general:
“
“Irritable bowel syndrome is not dangerous. Most people affected have a mild form that they manage well without treatment.”
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG)
“Irritable bowel syndrome,” as of 22.02.2023
Both halves of this chapter belong together: The warning signs mark the point at which self-observation should end. As long as none of them are present, an audible bowel is generally no cause for concern.
What role do diet and dietary fiber play?
Diet directly affects intestinal noises because it determines how much gas is produced in the large intestine and how quickly intestinal contents move. It is therefore the most effective lever - and at the same time, the one where the obvious conclusion is wrong.
The German Nutrition Society (DGE, as of 2021) describes the connection as follows: “Dietary fiber - also known as roughage - affects the transit time of food through the stomach and intestines, the volume and consistency of stool, and the frequency of bowel movements."
Dietary fiber therefore leads to more activity in the intestines - and consequently tends to cause more noises. Reducing it for that reason treats a harmless symptom while also giving up a nutrient with proven benefits.
How much dietary fiber is beneficial?
The DGE (as of 2021) recommends that adults consume at least 30 g of fiber per day. This amount refers to foods such as vegetables, fruit, legumes, and whole grains—not a supplement.
The reason for this recommendation lies beyond digestion. According to the DGE (as of 2021), “increased fiber intake has protective effects against cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, colon and breast cancer, and the risk of death.”
The pace of changing your diet is important in practice: anyone who sharply increases their fiber intake within a few days risks triggering exactly the bloating and noises they wanted to avoid. Gradually increasing it over several weeks, while drinking enough fluids, is easier to tolerate.
Which foods cause more noise?
Foods that produce gas include those whose components are not fully absorbed in the small intestine and are therefore fermented in the large intestine—including the short-chain carbohydrates known to experts as FODMAPs.
The effects of individual foods vary from person to person. Regarding diet for irritable bowel symptoms, IQWiG (2023) notes: “People’s reactions to certain foods are very individual.” This does not provide a basis for a universal list of forbidden foods.
The way you eat also matters: eating too quickly, drinking carbonated beverages, and chewing gum introduce extra air into the digestive tract.
What’s true about common assumptions regarding bowel sounds?
There are several persistent assumptions about the gut, despite evidence to the contrary. Three of them come up particularly often in connection with bowel sounds.
All three assumptions are based on the same way of thinking: a noisy gut is a problem that needs to be fixed. That premise simply doesn’t hold up—a working gut makes noise, and this is not a disorder that needs treatment.
What role do irritable bowel syndrome, irritable stomach, and gut flora play?
When loud bowel noises occur alongside abdominal discomfort for weeks, irritable bowel syndrome is the most common explanation. According to IQWiG (2023), estimates suggest that about 10 to 20 out of 100 people have irritable bowel syndrome.
IQWiG (2023) lists “persistent abdominal or lower abdominal pain, cramps, and changes in bowel movements” among the typical symptoms. Noises alone are therefore not enough for this diagnosis – at most, they are an accompanying symptom.
What is known about the causes of irritable bowel syndrome?
The mechanisms are still not fully understood. IQWiG (2023) states: “Among other things, it is suspected that hypersensitive intestinal nerves, disorders of the intestinal muscles, changes in the gut flora, and inflammation of the intestinal wall may play a role.”
The word “suspected” is central to this statement. Hypersensitive intestinal nerves explain why the same intestinal movement may barely be noticed by one person but feel unpleasant to another – without anything being pathologically altered in the intestine itself.
How is an irritable stomach different?
An irritable stomach – medically known as functional dyspepsia – affects the upper abdomen rather than the intestines. IQWiG (as of 2025) lists “a feeling of fullness in the upper abdomen, nausea, and belching” as the main symptoms, as well as “pain and a burning sensation in the upper abdomen.”
As initial steps for an irritable stomach, IQWiG (as of 2025) describes “adjusting the diet, getting more exercise, and taking individually tailored medication.” The order is noteworthy: diet and exercise come before medication.
Do bowel noises reveal anything about the gut flora?
The volume or type of noises cannot reveal the composition of the gut flora. No such connection has been established, and no one can read a bacterial profile from a gurgle.
The only thing established is that gut bacteria ferment undigested food and produce gas in the process. Only a laboratory analysis of a stool sample can show which bacteria are present and in what proportions.
And even such an analysis does not answer the question of what causes the symptoms. According to IQWiG (2023), the role of the gut flora in functional symptoms is explicitly “suspected” – it is a plausible contributing factor, not a proven cause.
In brief
When loud bowel noises occur alongside persistent abdominal discomfort, irritable bowel syndrome is the most common explanation: According to estimates from the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG, 2023), 10 to 20 out of 100 people have irritable bowel syndrome. The causes are not fully understood; IQWiG lists hypersensitive intestinal nerves, disorders of the intestinal muscles, changes in the gut flora, and inflammation of the intestinal wall as suspected mechanisms. The noise itself cannot establish a diagnosis or reveal the state of the gut flora – that requires a medical examination or laboratory analysis.
What can help in everyday life when bowel sounds are bothersome?
If bowel sounds are bothersome in everyday life, four approaches can help: swallow less air while eating, increase fiber gradually rather than suddenly, track your own patterns for a few weeks, and get some exercise after eating.
None of these steps requires a new diet, a supplement, or a course of treatment. They only change how a meal you were already planning is put together and what happens afterward.
Eat more slowly
Chew thoroughly, don't talk with your mouth full, and cut back on carbonated drinks and chewing gum - this reduces swallowed air.
Increase fiber slowly
Gradually work toward the at least 30 g per day recommended by the DGE (2021) - from food, with enough fluids.
Write down patterns
For two to four weeks, note when the sounds occur, what you ate, and whether pain or changes in bowel movements accompany them.
Get moving instead of lying down
For irritable stomach, IQWiG (2025) explicitly lists getting more exercise as one of the first steps - a short walk is enough.
It's important to set your expectations as you try these steps. The goal isn't a silent gut - that wouldn't be a sign of good health. The goal is to identify the triggers that bother you most in everyday life.
A noisy gut is first and foremost a working gut - not a sick one.
A noisy gut is first and foremost a working gut - not a sick one.
There is no reliable information on how long a single episode of loud bowel sounds lasts. Anyone who gives a number is estimating - which is why there isn't one here.
What has not been proven about bowel sounds?
There is a large market of claims surrounding digestive complaints. Several of the most heavily promoted measures lack evidence - and an honest explainer should include that just as much as what works.
Probiotics: well tolerated, but no claim of effectiveness
The evidence on the tolerability of probiotics is comparatively clear. IQWiG (2023) states: “Probiotics are generally well tolerated: mild side effects such as flatulence occur only rarely.”
However, being well tolerated is not the same as being effective. This statement does not support any claim that it works against bowel sounds - anyone trying a supplement should treat it as an experiment with an uncertain outcome.
Low-FODMAP diet only for a limited time and with professional guidance
A low-FODMAP diet is often recommended for irritable bowel symptoms because it targets gas production. IQWiG (2023) describes the suspected mechanism, but also points out the risk in the same breath: “However, there is a risk of malnutrition because it becomes difficult to get enough vitamins and minerals.”
A low-FODMAP diet is therefore not an ongoing self-experiment for bowel sounds, but a time-limited measure supervised by a qualified professional, followed by the gradual reintroduction of foods.
No diet replaces treatment for inflammatory bowel disease
For inflammatory bowel disease, medical treatment comes first. The IQWiG overview of Crohn’s disease (as of 2026) does not mention any diet proven to affect an existing condition.
As a preventive measure, it describes a diet “with plenty of vegetables and as few animal products and highly processed foods as possible.” This is expressly not intended as treatment for an existing condition.
Regarding symptoms during a flare, IQWiG (2026) states: “During an acute Crohn’s disease flare, abdominal pain and diarrhea occur above all.” Bowel sounds are a secondary phenomenon here, not the main symptom.
Key message: According to IQWiG (2023), there is no evidence that additional fiber supplements help; according to the DGE (DGEinfo 3/2018), there is no scientific evidence for detox and cleansing diets. According to IQWiG (2023), probiotics are considered well tolerated, but this does not mean they are effective. According to IQWiG (2023), a low-FODMAP diet carries a risk of malnutrition and should be supervised by a qualified professional.
What types of bowel sounds are there?
Bowel sounds can be categorized by what accompanies them and when they occur. Four patterns cover most cases, from completely harmless ones to those that warrant a visit to a doctor.
The following overview compares these four patterns according to the same four criteria. It is not a substitute for a diagnosis, but it can help put your own observations into context.
| Criterion | Hunger growling on an empty stomach | Sounds after a meal | Sounds with functional complaints | Sounds accompanied by warning signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What does it sound like / when does it occur? | Deep growling and rumbling, several hours after the last meal, often especially audible at rest | Gurgling and bubbling during and in the hours after eating; later sounds occur as food ferments in the large intestine | Varies in volume, recurs over weeks and months, often more noticeable in phases and barely noticeable in between | Not tied to individual meals; during an acute Crohn’s disease flare, “abdominal pain and diarrhea occur above all” (IQWiG, 2026) |
| Typical accompanying signs | Feeling hungry, with no other symptoms | A feeling of fullness and bloating that subside on their own | With irritable bowel syndrome, “persistent abdominal or lower abdominal pain, cramps, and changes in stool” (IQWiG, 2023); with functional dyspepsia, “a feeling of fullness in the upper abdomen, nausea and belching” (IQWiG, 2025) | “Significant weight loss, blood in the stool, fever or paleness” (IQWiG, 2023), as well as persistent vomiting or nighttime symptoms |
| Common triggers | Long gaps between meals; less food in the digestive tract dampens the sounds less | Swallowed air, carbonated drinks, gas-producing foods; according to IQWiG (2023), FODMAPs probably cause “more water to enter the bowel” | Not yet fully understood; IQWiG (2023) lists possible causes including oversensitive intestinal nerves, problems with the intestinal muscles, changes in the gut microbiome and inflammation of the intestinal wall | Must be assessed by a doctor; according to IQWiG (2023), the warning signs “are more likely to indicate another bowel disease” |
| Harmless or should it be checked? | Harmless, no evaluation needed | Harmless as long as no warning signs occur | Have a doctor assess it; according to IQWiG (2023), irritable bowel syndrome is “not dangerous,” and the diagnosis is made by ruling out other causes | Always seek medical evaluation; “Blood in the stool should always be checked by a doctor” (IQWiG, 2023) |
The overview reveals a pattern: the more clearly the sounds are linked to hunger or a single meal, the more likely the explanation is harmless. The less they are linked to these factors, and the more other symptoms occur, the more important it is to seek medical evaluation.
How mybody® can help
There’s no need to test bowel sounds themselves – they’re a normal part of digestion. If, after consulting a doctor, you want to know what your gut microbiome is made up of, you can have it analyzed in a lab.
mybody® (MYBODY Lab GmbH) offers an analysis based on a stool sample. It describes the current state and explicitly does not provide a diagnosis – this distinction is deliberately made clear before the product details.
Darmflora MIKROBIOM-Test Complete
The Darmflora MIKROBIOM-Test Complete analyzes more than 1,500 bacterial species from a stool sample using DNA sequencing and summarizes the results in around 15 pages, covering bacterial diversity, the balance between protective and potentially problematic microbes, signs of dysbiosis, links to digestion and diet, as well as the FODMAP index and enterotype. It explicitly does not include a diagnosis: the test does not explain individual bowel sounds, detect inflammatory bowel disease, tumors, infections or celiac disease, or replace medical evaluation when warning signs are present.
Price: €189.00 (instead of €219.00) · Sample type: Stool sample · Processing time: approx. 20–25 working days after receipt of sample · Laboratory: ISO-certified laboratory analysis, ISO 27001
Go to the COMPLETE MICROBIOME TestPrices as of July 28, 2026. Prices, report contents, and processing times may change—the linked product page is authoritative.
For context: mybody® works with an ISO-certified partner laboratory, processes samples pseudonymously and in compliance with the GDPR, and transfers data using SSL encryption. Find out what to look for when choosing a microbiome analysis in Gut flora tests: Microbiome analysis meets practical recommendations.
Putting it in perspective: What a microbiome test can—and cannot—do
A microbiome test provides a snapshot of the bacteria in your gut. Its limitations are considerable when it comes to gut noises—and they should be stated openly.
First, a microbiome test is not a diagnostic procedure. It cannot detect chronic inflammatory bowel disease, a tumor, an infection, or celiac disease. If you want answers to any of these questions, you need a medical examination.
Second, no finding can explain a single sound. A list of bacteria cannot tell you why your stomach was noisy on a particular afternoon—only your own observations over several weeks can help with that.
Third, the role of gut flora in functional symptoms has not been proven. IQWiG (2023) explicitly describes it as a hypothesis when it mentions changes in gut flora alongside oversensitive intestinal nerves and problems with the intestinal muscles.
Fourth, mybody® does not offer a standalone test product for lactose or fructose intolerance. The H2 breath test is the medical standard for both, and this requires seeing a doctor.
And fifth, medical assessment takes priority. If you have significant weight loss, blood in your stool, fever, paleness, persistent vomiting, nighttime symptoms, or sudden severe pain, seeing a doctor is the first step—not taking a self-test.
Conclusion
Intestinal sounds are a normal byproduct of digestion. They occur when the intestinal muscles move gas and fluid along, and on their own say nothing about a disease - neither their loudness nor their frequency.
The figures support this reassurance. IQWiG (2023) estimates that 10 to 20 out of every 100 people have irritable bowel syndrome, which according to IQWiG is “not dangerous”; chronic inflammatory bowel diseases are much less common: an estimated 320 out of every 100,000 people in Europe have Crohn's disease (IQWiG, 2026).
In practical terms, this means eating more slowly, reducing the amount of air you swallow, gradually increasing your fiber intake toward the DGE's recommended minimum of 30 g per day (as of 2021) - through foods rather than supplements - and moving around after eating instead of lying down.
And draw the line early: Significant weight loss, blood in the stool, fever, paleness, or persistent vomiting should be assessed at a doctor's office. Once a doctor has assessed the symptoms, an analysis of the gut flora may be a useful addition - but it cannot explain an individual sound.
Frequently asked questions about intestinal sounds
Are loud intestinal sounds dangerous?
Usually, they are not. Loud intestinal sounds show that the intestinal muscles are moving gas and fluid. How loud they are depends greatly on how full the intestines are and how quiet the surroundings are. Sounds become a warning sign only when accompanied by symptoms such as significant weight loss, blood in the stool, fever, or paleness (IQWiG, 2023).
How do intestinal sounds occur?
Ring-shaped muscles push the intestinal contents along in waves. The sounds become audible when gas and fluid are pushed through a loop of intestine at the same time. The gas comes from swallowed air and from the bacterial breakdown of undigested food in the large intestine. The technical term for the sound is borborygmus.
When should I see a doctor about intestinal sounds?
Seek medical care immediately if you have warning signs. IQWiG (2023) lists “significant weight loss, blood in the stool, fever, or paleness” as signs that “are more likely to indicate another intestinal disease,” and notes: “Blood in the stool should always be examined by a doctor.” You should also seek medical advice for persistent vomiting, nighttime symptoms, and sudden, severe pain.
Can intestinal sounds be caused by irritable bowel syndrome?
Sounds can be an accompanying symptom, but they are not a diagnostic criterion. IQWiG (2023) lists “persistent abdominal or lower abdominal pain, cramps, and changes in bowel habits” as typical symptoms. An estimated 10 to 20 out of every 100 people have irritable bowel syndrome; according to IQWiG, it is “not dangerous.”
Does a microbiome test show where my bowel sounds come from?
No. A microbiome test describes the composition of the gut flora from a stool sample. It does not provide a diagnosis, explain a single sound, or detect chronic inflammatory bowel disease, a tumor, an infection, or celiac disease. If there are warning signs, medical evaluation takes priority.
Want to know how your gut flora is composed?
The Complete Gut Flora MICROBIOME Test analyzes over 1,500 bacterial species from a stool sample using DNA sequencing, including the FODMAP index and enterotype determination. Results are available about 20–25 business days after the sample is received. The test shows the current state - not a diagnosis or an explanation for a single bowel sound.
Go to the COMPLETE MICROBIOME Test See all gut health testsYou might also be interested in
→ The most reliable microbiome tests for your gut flora
How to recognize the quality of a gut flora analysis.
→ Gut flora tests: microbiome analysis meets practical recommendations
What you can infer from a microbiome report in everyday life.
→ Gut glossary: all bacteria and markers of your gut flora
Reference guide with over 6,000 microbiome biomarkers - from beneficial bacteria and fiber fermenters to the key figures in your report.
Sources
- Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG): Irritable bowel syndrome (as of 22.02.2023)
- IQWiG: What helps with irritable bowel syndrome - and what doesn’t? (as of 22.02.2023)
- IQWiG: What can help with an irritable stomach? (as of 17.09.2025)
- IQWiG: Crohn’s disease (as of 04.03.2026)
- German Nutrition Society (DGE): Reference values for dietary fiber (as of 2021)
- German Nutrition Society (DGE): Detox diets, DGEinfo 3/2018
Information about irritable bowel syndrome, suspected mechanisms, and warning signs is based on [1]; statements about FODMAPs, fiber supplements, probiotics, and individual responses to foods are based on [2]; information about irritable stomach is based on [3]; figures and statements about Crohn's disease are based on [4]; recommended fiber intake and its effects are based on [5]; and the discussion of cleansing and detox diets is based on [6]. All other references mentioned in the text are cited at the relevant point, with the institution and year. All product information about mybody® (MYBODY Lab GmbH) comes from the official product pages at mybody-x.com (as of July 28, 2026).
mybody® Editorial & Expert Team
Gut health Bowel sounds Microbiome Digestion Nutrition science Laboratory diagnostics
This article was written and reviewed by the mybody® editorial and expert team at MYBODY Lab GmbH. The team brings together expertise in the microbiome and gut science, nutrition science, laboratory diagnostics, and nutrigenetics. Learn more about the people behind it on the mybody® author page.
Published on July 28, 2026 · Last updated on July 28, 2026
Medical notice: This article is for general information and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Self-tests provide indications, not diagnoses. If you experience significant weight loss, blood in your stool, fever, paleness, persistent vomiting, nighttime symptoms, or sudden, severe abdominal pain, please consult a doctor. If you take medication, are pregnant, or are breastfeeding, discuss dietary changes with a doctor beforehand.
