Does your stomach make noises? Harvard-trained gastroenterologist says it might be a sign of a healthy gut

Does your gut feel good on a daily basis? From digestion and bowel habits to bloating, gas and food tolerance, several everyday signs can offer clues about how well your digestive system is functioning. Understanding these subtle signals can help you recognise what may be normal for your body and when changes deserve attention. Harvard-trained gut doctor Saurabh Sethi recently posted a video on Instagram sharing 10 simple and unexpected signs that you have a well-functioning gut. His observations focus on common digestive patterns that many people experience but may not always associate with gut health, offering an easy way to understand everyday digestive wellness.

Regular bowel movements

Bowel movements can range from three times a day to three times a week and still be normal. What matters is that they are comfortable, consistent and typical for you, rather than following a specific frequency.

Soft, formed stool

Soft but formed stools are generally considered a healthy pattern. On the Bristol Stool Chart, types 3 and 4 are typically regarded as ideal, indicating stool that is neither excessively hard nor unusually loose.

No straining needed

A healthy bowel movement should not routinely require significant straining. If passing stool regularly feels like a strenuous workout, it may indicate an underlying issue with bowel habits or stool consistency.

Little undigested food

Occasionally seeing undigested food is not necessarily concerning. High-fibre plant foods, including corn and vegetable skins, can naturally remain partly undigested and appear in stool. Frequent or unusual amounts, however, may warrant attention.

Passing gas normally

Passing gas is a normal part of digestion. Gut microbes produce gas while fermenting carbohydrates and fibre in the digestive tract. Some amount of flatulence is therefore expected and can be a normal sign of gut activity.

Comfortable after meals

A well-functioning gut generally allows a person to eat without constantly worrying about digestive symptoms. Most meals should not routinely cause significant pain, sudden urgency, diarrhoea or uncomfortable bloating.

Stomach noises

Those familiar stomach gurgles are often simply a sign that gas and fluid are moving through the intestines. Digestive sounds can therefore be a normal part of gastrointestinal activity rather than something to worry about.

Tolerating beans

Being able to eat beans and other fermentable, fibre-rich foods without severe digestive discomfort can be reassuring. Some gas is expected because gut microbes ferment these foods, but good tolerance may reflect a gut that handles dietary fibre well.

No need for detoxes

The body already has sophisticated systems for processing and eliminating waste. The liver, kidneys, lungs and gastrointestinal tract work continuously to perform these functions, meaning routine detoxes or cleanses are not necessary for gut health.

Stool usually sinks

Stool that usually sinks can be a normal digestive pattern. Occasional floating stools are not necessarily concerning, but persistently floating, greasy and difficult-to-flush stools can sometimes indicate excess fat in the stool.