There’s a quiet revolution happening inside your body, specifically in your gut. Once overlooked, gut health is now one of the most talked-about frontiers in wellness and medicine.
From bloating and fatigue to anxiety and chronic conditions, researchers are discovering that nearly everything in the body connects back to the trillions of bacteria living in our digestive system.1
What’s even more exciting? You no longer need a lab or a specialist to begin understanding your gut. A new wave of smart, at-home gut health devices is changing the game, offering personalized insights into how your body digests, absorbs, and responds to food.
But as this technology grows, so must access. For Black and Brown communities, who face higher rates of digestive diseases, food insecurity, and medical bias, this movement toward personalized gut care could be life-changing—if we make sure everyone is included.2
What Is Gut Health, Really?
Your gut isn’t just your stomach, it’s your body’s command center for digestion, immunity, and even mood. It contains a complex community of microorganisms known as the gut microbiome: trillions of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that help you digest food, absorb nutrients, and fight inflammation.1
When your gut microbiome is balanced, you feel it—steady energy, smoother digestion, clear skin, sharper focus, and stronger immunity.1 But when it’s out of balance, symptoms can show up almost anywhere:
- Bloating or stomach discomfort.1
- Food intolerances or sensitivities.1
- Chronic fatigue or brain fog.1
- Skin flare-ups (like acne or eczema).1
- Mood changes or anxiety.1
Researchers now refer to the gut as the body’s “second brain,” because of how closely it’s linked to mental health and hormone regulation.3 A healthy gut doesn’t just digest food, it supports nearly every system in the body.3
Why Gut Health Matters in Black and Brown Communities
For too long, gut health conversations have centered around boutique wellness trends with a particular focus on green juices, probiotics, and expensive testing kits. But behind that glossy marketing lies a serious health equity issue.
Black and Brown Americans are more likely to experience digestive and inflammatory conditions such as:4
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)4
- Ulcerative colitis and crohn’s disease4
- Lactose intolerance4
- Obesity and Type-2 diabetes, which researchers have also linked to gut bacteria imbalance.4
Many of these disparities stem from structural barriers: limited access to fresh food, underdiagnosis in primary care settings, and fewer referrals to gastroenterologists.2 On top of that, cultural stigma often keeps conversations about digestion behind closed doors.
Emerging technology, when made affordable and accessible, has the power to change that. These new devices can bring personalized, data-driven gut care directly into homes and communities that have historically been excluded from preventive health innovation.
5 Devices Transforming the Future of Gut Health
1. Lumen — $$ (Starting at $249)
The Lumen device is a small handheld breath analyzer that measures the carbon dioxide in your breath to reveal whether your body is burning fat or carbs for fuel. This gives you insight into your metabolism and how certain foods affect your gut and energy.5
Why it helps your gut: Understanding how your body processes nutrients helps prevent inflammation and bloating.5 By learning which foods give you steady energy, you can support a healthier gut microbiome and improve digestion over time.
2. ZOE Personalized Nutrition Program — $$$ (Starting at $294)
The ZOE test kit uses a combination of microbiome analysis, blood sugar tracking, and blood fat testing to create a personalized nutrition plan. You’ll send a stool sample to the lab and wear a continuous glucose monitor for two weeks.6
Why it helps your gut: ZOE focuses on how your body uniquely responds to food, not generic diet rules. It identifies which foods spike inflammation or slow digestion, helping you eat in a way that keeps your gut calm and your blood sugar balanced.6
3. Seed Health Gut Probiotic + Tracker App — $ (Subscription-based)
While not a device in the traditional sense, Seed’s symbiotic formula (a combination of probiotics and prebiotics) pairs with a companion app that helps you track improvements in digestion, skin, and immunity over time.7
Why it helps your gut: Seed’s app turns gut health into a daily habit. By logging digestion patterns and tracking changes, users can visualize how small adjustments like hydration, fiber intake, and timing affect their overall balance.7
4. Oura Ring — $$$ (Starting at $299)
The Oura Ring tracks sleep, heart rate, and stress—all factors that deeply influence gut health. Poor sleep and high stress disrupt gut bacteria and slow digestion.8 If you can’t afford an Oura ring, check out this article for cheaper alternatives to help you reach your health goals!
Why it helps your gut: The Oura app helps you understand when your body is in recovery mode versus overdrive. By improving rest and managing stress, you indirectly create a healthier environment for your gut microbiome to thrive.8
5. Fitbit — $$ (Starting at $199)
The Fitbit isn’t a gut health device specifically, but it supports the pillars of gut wellness like movement, sleep, and stress. It tracks activity, heart rate variability, and even mindfulness minutes.9
Why it helps your gut: Exercise increases blood flow to the intestines and promotes the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. By monitoring your physical activity and rest patterns, Fitbit helps keep your entire digestive system running smoothly.9
The Bigger Picture: Tech and Health Equity
These innovations are powerful, but only if they’re accessible. The same communities that face higher rates of chronic conditions are often the last to benefit from health technology.
Imagine if every Black family had access to affordable tools that could prevent illness before it starts. Imagine if digital health companies prioritized diversity in their studies so that algorithms reflect our biology, our foods, and our lived experiences.
That’s the next frontier of gut health equity: making sure everyone can participate in this personalized revolution.
A Call to Action
Your gut tells a powerful story. A story of what you eat, how you live, and how you feel. With today’s technology, you have the power to listen more closely than ever before.
Start by exploring one of these devices. Learn how your body responds to stress, food, and rest.
Then, share your experience with a community that understands your journey.
Download the NOWINCLUDED App to connect with others improving their gut health, one habit at a time. Because your story doesn’t end with symptoms, it begins with solutions.
A healthier gut means a stronger immune system, sharper mind, and longer life. And in every community, that’s a story worth telling.
References
- Bull, M. J., & Plummer, N. T. (2014). Part 1: The Human Gut Microbiome in Health and Disease. Integrative Medicine. doi:26770121
- Odoms-Young, A., Brown, A. G., Agurs-Collins, T., & Glanz, K. (2023). Food Insecurity, Neighborhood Food Environment, and Health Disparities: State of the Science, Research Gaps and Opportunities. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. doi:10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.12.019
- Ochoa-Repáraz, J., & Kasper, L. H. (2016). The Second Brain: Is the Gut Microbiota a Link Between Obesity and Central Nervous System Disorders? Current Obesity Reports. doi:10.1007/s13679-016-0191-1
- Borum, M. L. (2023). Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. doi:37799459
- Lumen. (2025). How it Works . Retrieved from Lumen: https://www.lumen.me/how-lumen-works
- ZOE. (2025). Make it a good gut day. Retrieved from ZOE: https://zoe.com/en-us?srsltid=AfmBOopmgzey3wwoVB2W0MF3HCk0UfHDNqRNoWOb7_DOCw25ivyIG3lq
- SEED. (2025). Whole body health starts in the gut. Retrieved from SEED: https://seed.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorqnogXKvkQ3kmMWBFLc42SOTX-Kpjk1O3EQxwVpn30XO7FMvbc
- Oura Ring. (2025). Ring True To You. Retrieved from Oura Ring: https://ouraring.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopQ5m60n9FGyjFJXsVCnKpFNUpcntCdicgMNlOUE38Wp-vpqxHb
- Fitbit. (2025). Pixel and Fitbit keep you moving. Retrieved from Fitbit: https://store.google.com/gb/category/watches_trackers?hl=en-GB
