Health

Guide to a healthy gut

Illustrations by Liz Zonarich/Harvard Staff


1 min read

Test your knowledge by taking our quiz — featuring advice from doctor’s new book

About 40 percent of Americans say their bowel movements, or lack thereof, are disruptive to their daily lives, according to Trisha Pasricha, the Harvard Medical School assistant professor of medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and director of research for the Institute for Gut-Brain Research at BIDMC.

The gastroenterologist and the writer behind The Washington Post’s “Ask a Doctor” column is also the author of a new book, “You’ve Been Pooping All Wrong: How to Make Your Bowel Movements a Joy.” She helped us to develop the following quiz about gut health.


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Step 1 of 9

1. True or false: Pooping once a day is ideal.

2. Aside from humans, what other animal is prone to severe constipation?

3. What is the medical term for rumbling, gurgling, or churning noises in the bowels?

4. True or false: Telling a lie can affect the function of the bowels.

5. How much fiber does the National Academy of Sciences recommend for men and women under 50, respectively?

6. When you think of high-fiber foods, you likely think of prunes. What other fruit has been extensively studied for its bowel effects?

7. Which of these loaves of bread is best for gut health?

8. True or false: Processed meats are actually good for gut health.

9. Which of the following is true of people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?

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