Why People Are Spending Thousands at Gut “Reset” Retreats

The Trend: Gut health has long been a focus of wellness circles, but it’s recently graduated from fiber-maxxing to five-star wellness getaways, where a week of carefully planned meals, meditation, movement, and microbiome testing can cost as much as $20,000. That may sound outrageous, but for people dealing with serious digestive discomfort, a fresh start sounds pretty good no matter the cost.

What People Are Saying: Research shows that short-term changes in diet can result in beneficial changes in the gut microbiome. One oft-cited study that followed 24 people on a nine-day meditation retreat with a vegetarian diet found a “rapid shift” in microbiome content. Other research shows that this phenomenon is reproducible. The problem is, there’s “no clinical or scientific consensus around what constitutes a healthy microbiome,” according to Hannah Holscher, PhD, a professor of nutrition, in an interview for NPR.

What to Know: Your gut microbiome can respond to dietary changes within days, but those shifts may not last. And you don’t need a luxury retreat to support your microbiome: Gradually eat more fiber-rich foods, include fermented foods if you like them, stay active and hydrated, and prioritize good sleep. If persistent digestive symptoms are driving your interest, consult a healthcare professional who specializes in gastrointestinal health.