5 Common Health Problems Surprisingly Linked to Your Gut

As unglamorous as it may seem, gut health is a hot topic in the world of healthcare these days. An explosion of research in the last 10 to 15 years has revealed that the itty-bitty bacteria that make up our intestinal flora exert tremendous power over the entire body — for good or for ill. Increasingly, science is uncovering surprising connections between your microbiome and numerous chronic conditions we’d all like to avoid. Here are five common health problems with evidence-based links to intestinal health. (You might want to reach for that bottle of probiotics right about now.)

1. Heart Disease: The number one cause of death worldwide, heart disease earns its reputation as a scary health condition. Since heredity is a major factor in blood cholesterol and high blood pressure, many people feel there’s little they can do to prevent cardiovascular problems. Of course, diet and exercise play a major role in prevention, but it turns out the microbiome is another controllable variable in the fight against heart disease. Dozens of studies (including this recent one) have identified the benefits of good bacteria on the heart. These protective effects appear to have several root causes. Friendly gut flora help maintain healthy weight and regulate blood sugar, meaning that obesity and diabetes (two significant factors in the development of heart disease) are kept under better control. Secondly, since heart disease often correlates highly with inflammation, the anti-inflammatory effects of a healthy gut may be another mechanism at play.

2. Obesity: Historically, many of us have bought into the simplistic outlook that obesity comes down to calories in versus calories out. But the latest research indicates that the reasons people carry extra weight are usually much more complex than that equation, and once again the microbiome holds sway. Though the exact nature of the connection requires further study, researchers theorize that good gut bugs help regulate the hormones that control appetite, influence the expression of certain weight-related genes, and affect the speed of metabolism. In one study, when researchers analyzed the gut flora of people with and without obesity, those with obesity had “low bacterial richness.”

3. Type 2 Diabetes: Type 2 diabetes joins heart disease and obesity as the third arm of the trifecta of known as “metabolic syndrome” — a comprehensive term for the interplay between these conditions. So it’s no surprise that type 2 diabetes has links to the health status of the gut too. As in heart disease, inflammation contributes to the onset and development of type 2 diabetes. Since a healthy microbiome protects against this irritation within cells, it can slow the progression of diabetes. A meta-analysis of clinical research concluded that probiotic supplementation may improve blood sugar control (a strong indicator of the severity of diabetes). Experts encourage that a high-fiber diet also fosters the growth of good bacteria that help lower blood sugar.

4. Alzheimer’s Disease: What if the key to preserving your memory were less in your head and more in your tummy? A 2017 study examined the microbiomes of patients with Alzheimer’s, comparing them to samples from patients without dementia. Those with Alzheimer’s had decreased diversity in their digestive tract: Specifically, their guts contained less Bifidobacteria, one of the primary bacterial strains in yogurt and most probiotics. The researchers concluded that the gut “may be a target for therapeutic intervention” in the treatment of Alzheimer’s.

5. Depression: You may have seen the term “gut-brain axis” in health headlines recently. While the terminology has overtones of a military alliance, it actually describes the communication back and forth between the central nervous system located in the brain and the enteric nervous system housed in the digestive tract. With this understanding of a “superhighway” between the brain and the gut, it only makes sense that the health and stability of one has major implications for the other. Studies have shown that supplementation with probiotics leads to fewer depressive behaviors in animals, and a recent human study revealed that drinking probiotic-enriched milk positively affected the emotional centers of the brain in humans. As research progresses, treatment of depression in the future may revolve as much around the belly as the brain. To get your fill of healthy gut bugs, eat plenty of fermented foods and take a regular probiotic — because in light of all the research, it looks like the ancient physician Hippocrates was on to something when he proclaimed, “All disease begins in the gut.”

How are you incorporating the link between your gut and disease prevention into your life? Tweet us at @BritandCo!

(Photos via Getty)

Nicole Kidman is, as the kids say, mothering. She's giving fans plenty of movies and TV shows to pick from while we wait for the next seasons of Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect StrangersA Family Affair, Expats, The Perfect Couple (and the AMC intro, of course). Her steamy drama Babygirl, which hit theaters on Christmas Day 2024, is mixing work and pleasure. Pour yourself a glass of wine for this one, folks.

Scroll down to learn more about Nicole Kidman's Babygirl — including when you can stream it on Max.

Where can you stream Babygirl?

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Babygirl will be streaming on Max starting April 25, 2025. That means you can watch THAT milk scene as many times as you want.

What is the plot of Babygirl?

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Babygirl Plot

In Babygirl, Nicole Kidman plays powerful CEO Romy, who's struggling to hold her perfect persona together. Her marriage to Jacob has never provided with much pleasure, despite the fact he's caring and artistic. But when Romy immediately feels drawn to a young intern named Samuel, the two begin a torrid affair.

Filming scenes with Harris Dickinson got so intense, Kidman said she literally had to take breaks. “There were times when we were shooting where I was like, ‘I don’t want to orgasm any more,'” she told the Sun. “Don’t come near me. I hate doing this. I don’t care if I am never touched again in my life!”

But the fact the movie was made by women empowered Kidman — and gave her a sense of freedom. "Doing this subject matter in the hands of the woman that wrote the script, that's directing it and is a really great actress herself — we became one in a weird way, which I'd never had with a director before," Kidman says in a statement. "When you're working with a woman on this subject matter, you can share everything with each other.”

"I really decided in the beginning, I want to make a sexual film, just as sexual as all these films that I've always admired so much," adds writer-director-producer Halina Reijn, "but now I'm going to do it completely through female eyes. What does that mean and what does that look like?”

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In our Brit + Co exclusive, Nicole Kidman revealed she "spent a lot of time in bed" with Harris while filming. (TBH, a job that requires you to hang out in bed sounds like a pretty good job to me).

"As soon as he walked in, I was like, 'Oh good, here's somebody who's gonna play with me," she says. "We spent a lot of time in bed. Hours would go by, and it was like you would step out of there and you would say, 'What just happened?'"

"From the moment [Samuel] sees her, he's attracted to her. He realizes there's someone at the height of their power," Harris adds. "There was an element of mystique that needed to be there for the exploration of the relationship."

When is the Babygirl release date?

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Babygirl Release Date

Babygirl made its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, and then opened in theaters on December 25, 2024.

Who's in the Babygirl cast?

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Babygirl Cast

The cast of Babygirl includes Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Sophie Wilde, and Antonio Banderas.

What has Nicole Kidman said about making Babygirl?

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Nicole Kidman revealed Babygirl is the most "exposing" film she's done because she's “made some films that are pretty exposing, but not like this.”

“It left me ragged," she says. "At some point I was like, I don’t want to be touched. I don’t want to do this anymore, but at the same time I was compelled to do it...This is something you do and hide in your home videos. It is not a thing that normally is going to be seen by the world.”

“I felt very exposed as an actor, as a woman, as a human being,” she continues. “I had to go in and go out like, I need to put my protection back on. What have I just done? Where did I go? What did I do?”

What does babygirl energy mean?

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"Babygirl" is a term of endearment that's usually applied to a man (you've probably heard it describe Pedro Pascal or Paul Mescal). When someone is giving babygirl energy, they're kind, cute, and disarming. And considering Babygirl plays with power dynamics, we might just find ourselves guessing who the "babygirl" in question is up until the very end.

Watch The 'Babygirl' Trailer Here!

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There were SO many moments in the Babygirl trailer that made our jaws drop here:

  • The thumb in the mouth
  • The pink skirt moment
  • NICOLE CRAWLING ON ALL FOURS?!
Yeah, this is one you won't wanna watch with your parents, friends. 🥵 And even Nicole agrees! At the December 2 Gotham Awards, when People asked who moviegoers should bring to the theater with them, "Whoever you want to, but you can also watch it alone." Tea.

Are you looking forward to seeing Nicole Kidman onscreen again? We might have to wait until December to see Babygirl, but there are plenty of incredible Fall Movies coming our way.

This post has been updated.

Make way Olivia Culpo because Karlie Kloss and her husband Joshua Kushner are expecting baby No. 3! We weren't looking for this unforeseen news, but we're overjoyed now that we know about it.

The model and entrepreneur excitedly spilled the beans on Instagram today and was met with an overflow of adoration and support. It's the kind of energy that's erased our Monday blues and has us thinking about all the cute baby names we've been covering!

If we're lucky, maybe Karlie and Joshua will turn to us for inspiration when naming their bundle of joy!

Scroll to learn more about Karlie's pregnancy journey and the announcement we can't stop fawning over!

Karlie posted her pregnancy announcement a couple of hours ago with the first picture in the carousel being one of her holding her and Joshua's youngest son Levi. He's situated atop of her cute baby bump in the black and white snapshot while the third and fourth images are close-ups of Karlie cradling her stomach. But it's the last pic that's tugging at our hearts.

Young Elijah and Levi are wrapped in the sweetest embrace which makes us think baby No. 3 will be born into an affectionate family. Also, Karlie's caption sums up how she feels: "Three’s a party 🥹🫶🎉."

The comment section isn't short on love, but we especially adore model Karolina Kurkova's comment. "Welcome to the 3s club," she wrote. We guess it's a rite of passage to join the multiple kids club!

Also, designer Christian Siriano expressed his excitement for Karlie by writing "omgggg yay" while Parish Hilton said, "Congratulations love🥰."

Most importantly, Karlie's husband Joshua left the "🥰" emoji and that's enough for us to look for Dustin Poynter aka the flag guy to wave something green in his direction.

We can't wait to see if baby No. 3 will be a boy or girl this time.

Follow us on Facebook for updates!

As far as I'm concerned, 2024 was Daisy Edgar-Jones' year. The Normal People actress captured our hearts with her role as Kate in Twisters (as well as her viral Hot Ones interview with Glen Powell and "Apple" TikTok dance). But while Kate led a pretty adventurous life, her risk threshold is nothing compared to Daisy's newest character, Muriel, in On Swift Horses.

Living in post-Korean War California, Muriel's life with her husband Lee is disrupted when Lee's brother Julius arrives in all his addictive, charming glory. The film, based on Shannon Pufahl's 2019 book of the same name, made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7. Here's everything you need to know.

What is On Swift Horses about?

Luc Montpelllier

On Swift Horses Plot

Muriel begins a new life with her husband Lee when he returns to California from the Korean War. But the life they're building together — and their future — changes forever when Lee's brother Julius, a headstrong gambler, arrives. Julius is attractive, charismatic, and hiding plenty of secrets.

According to the official synopsis, "when Julius takes off in search of the young card cheat he’s fallen for, Muriel’s longing for something more propels her into a secret life of her own, gambling on racehorses and exploring a love she never dreamed possible."

Luc Montpelllier

The story explores LGBTQ+ identity and desire in the 1950s, but does so with a hopeful tone rather than a devastating one. “The first scenes that we filmed were the scenes we had together, so we got all of that done with—when we were apart, we had put the groundwork in,” Daisy tells Vanity Fair of working with Jacob, who adds, "I believe Taylor Swift calls it an invisible string.”

"I loved the connection between gambling and risk-taking, and pushing the boundaries of her desire and what she’s looking for,” Daisy adds. “Muriel’s rebellion throughout the film is quite quiet, in the small ways in which she takes back her power by concealing things. A lot of what’s happening is behind closed doors.”

Who's in the cast of On Swift Horses?

Luc Montpelllier

On Swift Horses Cast

On Swift Horses stars Daisy Edgar-Jones, Jacob Elordi, Will Poulter, Sasha Calle, and Diego Calva.

"It's not hard to make chemistry with Jacob because he's just so charismatic," Daisy said during a Q&A, via People, adding that the script "felt almost like reading poetry and so much of what happens is in the subtext."

"This movie is just about love,” Calle added. “It’s important to just feel that — whoever that might be, where that takes you. It’s important to feel that and to feel safe in it.”

Has On Swift Horses been released?

Luc Montpelllier

On Swift Horses Release Date

On Swift Horses premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, and is currently looking for a distributor. Check back here for news on its release date!

Watch The Teaser Trailer For 'On Swift Horses'

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- YouTube

As charming as Julius appears in the teaser trailer, his brother Lee tells Muriel they live differently than he does. "He's just not like us," he says before a scene cuts to Muriel exploring her own "passions." Based on this, On Swift Horses appears to blur the lines of love, lust, secrets, and recognizing one's identity.

Read up on Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh's We Live In Time, which also premiered at TIFF last year!

Lead image via Robin Marchant/Getty Images

This post has been updated.

We all want to give our space a tailored and personalized touch, but elevating your home with that touch of "quiet luxury"doesn’t always have to come with a hefty price tag. In fact, Marshalls is packed with luxe-looking home decor pieces that rival the high-end finds you’d shop from Anthropologie or West Elm, all without designer prices! I scrolled through Marshalls' site to uncover 10 total hidden gems that’ll easily help you level up your decor game – all under $20.

Scroll on to shop 10 stunning (and budget-friendly!) Marshalls finds that will give your space an instant upgrade!

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MDesign Cotton Striped Pillow

This $17 striped throw pillow with tied corners screamscoastal luxury. While playful, it's still fairly understated in terms of the color palette, so it'll match really well with any interior design setup!

Marshalls

Sagebrook Home Nautilus Shell Planter

Same thing goes for this gorgeous shell-shaped planter. Embrace the coastal vibes as the weather starts to warm up for just $15! All your seasonal blooms will adore this piece.

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Echante Ribbed Glass Candle Warmer Lamp

Well, hello there! Your search for a chic candle warmer – AKA the most bougie home decor purchase at the moment – is officially over, thanks to this $20 piece you can find at Marshalls!

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Enchante Leather Two Wick Candle

Of course, you'll need a delicious-smelling candle to go with your new warmer, which is where this $13 leather scent comes in! While you could go the floral or gourmand route, musky aromas like this one tend to lend your space with more of a sophisticated, grown-up vibe.

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Petal Lane Strawberries Framed Wall Art

The ornate gold frame on this fruit-themed art piece gives it such a luxurious feel, though no one has to know you snagged it from Marshalls for just $13! It'll look stunning on any wall you want to hang it from – all the way from the kitchen to the bathroom.

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Laura Ashley Printed Curtains

Give your window fixings some extra quiet luxury oomph with this $20 set of curtains! The floral pattern will definitely add a refined touch to any room. If you want to take 'em up a notch, layer each one with a sheer white or lace curtain to enhance the wispy, romantic vibes.

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Enchante Bow Detail Tabletop Picture Frame

This picture frame is oh-so Anthro – but only costs $7! Whether it houses photos of recent dear memories or snaps of loved ones, it adds a luxe touch through the gold lining and the adorable little bow motif up top.

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Sagebrook Home Glass Taper Candle Holder

This taper candle holder is also reminiscent of something our favorite upscale home decor stores would carry. Luckily, you can find it at Marshalls for $13 to infuse your dining table spreads or bedside table setup with playful opulence!

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Madison Scalloped Coir Mat

The scallop trend is hot right now. Without it being overly kitschy, try accentuating smaller spaces in your home with the pattern! This $14 doormat is a great place to start, since it'll welcome each and every one of your guests (including you, of course!) with a lively and youthful effect. Everyone will be asking where you got it!

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Sagebrook Home Arch Handle Indoor Planter

As classic as straight, clean edges are for the quiet luxury look, you can still lean into more organic, earthier decor pieces for the same effect, or to get some contrast goin'. This charming $15 plant pot features some unique handles on the side and a textured base that'll make your houseplants feel right at home.

Subscribe to our newsletter to discover more luxe home decor finds for less!

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Disney continues to keep your childhood alive because alongside several other remakes of beloved titles, a live-action remake of the 2002's Lilo & Stitch is headed to the big screen. While filming on this spring movie was supposed to begin in April 2023, a costume trailer fire delayed it until May. Thankfully, it looks like the production recovered — and that we'll be seeing Lilo, Stitch, and Scrump soon. Check out the rest of Disney's upcoming live-action remakes for more news!

Here's everything we know about the live-action Lilo & Stitch coming in May 2025!

The 'Lilo & Stitch' trailer reminds us that "Ohana means family."

Walt Disney Studios

If there's one line in a Disney movie that impacted me, it's "Ohana means family, and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten." Hearing that in the live-action Lilo & Stitch trailer makes me a little weepy! There are so many moments from the OG movie that made it into the new film, and I can't wait to see the full movie. You can watch the trailer here.

And considering the video got 158 million views in 24 hours, making it Disney's second most-viewed live-action trailer behind The Lion King, I'm not the only one who's excited. "Doesn't even look like modern day Disney slop. It actually looks faithful to the og. Incredible," one YouTube user commented, while another added, "This is the first Disney live-action remake I’m actually excited for, Stitch and the other alien characters look great and it’s really nostalgic to see all the scenes recreated."

And whoever decided to make the iconic Disney castle a sandcastle in the first movie teaser? Genius. Stitch has always been one of my favorite Disney characters and this new live-action version definitely has just as much chaos as the OG.

Who is playing Lilo in the live-action movie?

Maia Kealoha/Instagram

Lilo & Stitch Cast

Lilo will be played by Maia Kealoha. The adorable character was voiced by Daveigh Chase in the original 2002 movie, and by Dakota Fanning in the sequel.

Who else is in the Lilo & Stitch cast?

Walt Disney Studios

The Lilo & Stitch cast is definitely one to remember. The lineup includes:

  • Maia Kealoha as Lilo, a lively and fiery young girl.
  • Chris Sanders as the voice of Stitch, a blue alien who changes Lilo's life.
  • Sydney Agudong as Nani, Lilo's big sister.
  • Billy Magnussen as the alien Pleakley.
  • Zach Galifianakis as Jumba, another alien.
  • Amy Hill as Tūtū.
  • Kaipo Dudoit as David.
  • Courtney B. Vance as Cobra Bubbles.
  • Tia Carrere (the original voice of Nani!!) as Mrs. Kekoa.

When is the live-action Lilo & Stitch coming out?

Walt Disney Studios

Lilo & Stitch Release Date

Lilo & Stitch is coming to theaters on May 23, 2025. It's the PERFECT early summer flick.

Where was the live-action Lilo & Stitch filmed?

Walt Disney Studios

The new Lilo & Stitch is filmed in Oahu. The original animated film takes place on Kauai, but we'll have to wait and see if they change the story's setting for the live-action remake.

Is there a live-action Lilo & Stitch coming out?

Walt Disney Studios

Yes! According to The Hollywood Reporter, the remake of the animated film will be done with both live-action and CGI. Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich, who worked on the live-action Aladdin, are producing, and up-and-coming screenwriter Mike Van Waes, who has previously worked primarily in horror, wrote the script.

The live-action Lilo & Stitch remake is the latest in a long list of classic titles Disney is reimagining for modern audiences. Are you excited about Disney’s latest remake? Let us know @BritandCo and check out the latest news on Disney's Snow White.

This post has been updated.