DigestsBlogs by Suna

Guides, comparisons and definitions on gut, GLP-1, hormones and energy, in plain English.

Written by Dr Chad Okay, NHS doctor and UCL researcher, and Dr Parisah Hussain, GP and Suna’s Chief Medical Officer.

Every entry is reviewed by a doctor and cites NHS, NICE, BSG and peer-reviewed sources.

Guides

18 guides

Poo, stool and bowel movements
The Bristol stool chart
The Bristol stool chart sorts poo into seven types by shape and consistency. Types 3 and 4 are the healthy zone: smooth, sausage-shaped, easy to pass.
5 min read
Dr Chad Okay
GLP-1 side effects
How long does Ozempic take to work?
Appetite changes often start in the first few weeks. Blood sugar usually begins to improve early on, though the formal trial measurements were taken…
4 min read
Dr Chad Okay
Fibre and prebiotics
Fibre: how much, what kind, how to add it
Adults should eat 30 g of fibre a day. UK average is 19 g. Most people are 11 g short. The fix isn't just more bran, it's more variety: soluble fibre…
4 min read
Dr Chad Okay
Bloating
Why am I bloated?
Most bloating is one of three things. Trapped gas from fermentation in the lower gut. Water retention tied to salt, hormones, or carb load. Or slow…
5 min read
Dr Chad Okay
Energy and tiredness
Why am I tired after eating?
A small dip after lunch is normal. Your blood pools in the gut, your circadian rhythm is mid-trough, and a meal is genuinely an event for your body. A…
5 min read
Dr Chad Okay
Gut microbiome
10 signs of bad gut health
Your gut talks to you in patterns, not single symptoms. Daily bloating, irregular bowel movements, food cravings, low mood, poor sleep, sluggish…
6 min read
Dr Chad Okay
Hormones and the cycle
Luteal phase bloating
About half your cycle is spent in the luteal phase, the second half between ovulation and your next period. Progesterone dominates here. It slows gut…
4 min read
Dr Chad Okay
GLP-1 side effects
Ozempic constipation: the playbook
GLP-1 drugs slow your gut on purpose. That's the point. The side effect rate varies by dose and drug, closer to 1 in 4 on Wegovy 2.4 mg (Wharton 2022…
5 min read
Dr Chad Okay
Gut microbiome
How to track your gut at home
You can build a useful gut snapshot at home in 2 weeks with no kit. Track 6 things daily: stool form (Bristol scale), bowel frequency, transit time…
4 min read
Dr Chad Okay
GLP-1 side effects
Constipation when starting GLP-1: the fix
GLP-1 drugs (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro) slow gut transit on purpose, that's part of how they suppress appetite. The trade-off is constipation in 12-17…
4 min read
Dr Chad Okay
Bloating
Stomach flat in morning, bloated by night: why
Almost everyone bloats by evening. For most people the belly is measurably bigger in the evening than in the morning. Food, water, gas and gravity all…
4 min read
Dr Chad Okay
Perimenopause
Perimenopause and the gut: what changes
Perimenopause (the 4-10 years before periods stop) reshapes the gut. Falling oestrogen slows transit, alters the microbiome, and increases visceral…
4 min read
Dr Chad Okay
Food intolerance
Are you actually intolerant or is it FODMAPs?
Most people who say they're intolerant to dairy, gluten or onions are actually reacting to FODMAPs (fermentable carbs) in those foods, not the dairy…
4 min read
Dr Chad Okay
Bloating
Why am I bloated in the morning?
Morning bloat is overnight digestion catching up with you. The biggest levers are when you ate last night (the closer to bedtime, the worse), what you…
4 min read
Dr Chad Okay
Bloating
Why am I bloated after eating healthy food?
It's not your imagination. Beans, broccoli, cauliflower, onion, garlic, apples, and oats are some of the healthiest foods AND the highest in FODMAPs…
4 min read
Dr Chad Okay
Sleep and the gut
Sleep, gut and morning bloat: the link
Most people who chase morning bloat through food are missing sleep. One short night can lift cortisol by roughly 37 to 45 percent the following…
3 min read
Dr Chad Okay
Poo, stool and bowel movements
What your poo says about your gut
Your stool is the most useful daily data point about your gut. The 4 things to read: form (Bristol scale 3-4 is healthy), frequency (1-3 a day, or…
4 min read
Dr Chad Okay
GLP-1 side effects
GLP-1 reflux and bloating: a meal-timing fix
GLP-1 drugs slow stomach emptying by design, that's the appetite mechanism. The trade-off is reflux and post-meal bloat that can last hours. The fix…
4 min read
Dr Chad Okay

Comparisons

5 side by side

Definitions

81 terms

Bowel movements

Digestive symptoms

Energy and fatigue

Postprandial somnolence

Food intolerance and FODMAPs

GLP-1 and metabolic medicine

Gut anatomy and function

Hormones and the cycle

IBS and IBD

Microbiome science

Nutrition and diet

Sleep, stress and recovery

Wearables and tracking

Microbiome test

Weight loss and gain

Digests is general information, not medical advice. It is not a substitute for talking to a qualified healthcare professional about your own situation.

DigestsBlogs by Suna

Guides

The Bristol stool chart

How long does Ozempic take to work?

Fibre: how much, what kind, how to add it

Why am I bloated?

Why am I tired after eating?

10 signs of bad gut health

Luteal phase bloating

Ozempic constipation: the playbook

How to track your gut at home

Constipation when starting GLP-1: the fix

Stomach flat in morning, bloated by night: why

Perimenopause and the gut: what changes

Are you actually intolerant or is it FODMAPs?

Why am I bloated in the morning?

Why am I bloated after eating healthy food?

Sleep, gut and morning bloat: the link

What your poo says about your gut

GLP-1 reflux and bloating: a meal-timing fix