Gut Microbiome Recovery: How the Bacteria in Your Digestive System Change After Quitting
Smoking alters the gut microbiome—the ecosystem of bacteria that regulates digestion, immunity, and even mood. After quitting, the microbiome recovers—slowly. The gut-microbiome dimension of cessation is one of the newest frontiers in nicotine science.
Smokers have a different gut microbiome than nonsmokers—altered composition, reduced diversity, and changes in the metabolic functions of gut bacteria. After quitting, the microbiome begins to recover—but the recovery is slow, taking months to years. **The gut-microbiome dimension of cessation may explain some of the physical symptoms of quitting—digestive disruption, appetite changes, weight gain—that are traditionally attributed to nicotine withdrawal alone. The microbiome is both affected by smoking and affects the experience of quitting.**
