Quaternary ammonium compounds — often called“quats”— are widely used disinfectants found in household cleaners, wipes, sanitizers, and many institutional cleaning products. While effective at killing microbes on surfaces, growing scientific evidence suggests that repeated exposure may disrupt the body’s own microbial ecosystems and delicate cellular membranes.
Because these chemicals are now so common in homes, schools, hospitals, and food environments, it can be difficult to know where exposure is coming from — or what practical steps can reduce it.
We created thisConsumer Guide to Quatsto help you understand where these chemicals are used, why they may matter for gut and immune health, and simple steps you can take to reduce everyday exposure.
It's easy to think of movement primarily in terms of exercise, weight management, or cardiovascular health. But movement also affects digestion, metabolism, inflammation, and the microbial communities living in our gut. That's an important connection that deserves more attention. Here's what to consider about movement as we transition to fall.
Most of us think of this as simply part of the changing seasons. But from a biological perspective, something much more interesting is happening. Light is one of the most important signals our bodies receive from the environment. And when that signal changes, it can influence everything from our sleep and energy levels to our metabolism and even the rhythms of our gut microbiome.