The Holiday Gut Check invites South Florida residents to reveal what’s affecting their digestive comfort, from rich meals and sweets to holiday stress.
The holidays bring plenty of opportunities to celebrate, but they can also bring digestive discomfort. From rich holiday meals and sugary treats to travel disruptions and seasonal stress, everyday habits can take a toll on gut health.
Now, Fort Lauderdale-based ThriveX, a functional medical clinic and physician-led wellness practice, wants to know what’s affecting South Florida’s digestive comfort this holiday season.
The medical wellness practice has launched the ThriveX Holiday Gut Check, an interactive community campaign inviting residents to identify their biggest holiday digestive triggers and contribute to a growing picture of gut health across South Florida.
“Everyone experiences the holidays differently, and our digestive systems are no exception,” says ThriveX’s Clinical Director Dr. Mary Van, PharmD, DACBN. “For some people, it’s the rich food or sweets. For others, stress, travel, or changes in their daily routine can affect how they feel. We want to start a conversation about those everyday factors.”
How the Holiday Gut Check Works
Participants visit ThriveX’s Holiday Gut Check, register with their email address, and select the factor that most affects their digestive comfort during the holidays:
- Rich meals
- Alcohol
- Sweets
- Caffeine
- Travel and changes in routine
- Holiday stress
Each participant’s choice becomes an anonymous mark in an evolving community picture. Individual responses are not publicly identified.
“People often associate digestive problems with what they eat, but the gut is also influenced by stress, sleep, and changes in routine,” says Dr. Van. “We hope this campaign encourages people to pay closer attention to how their bodies respond during one of the busiest times of the year.”
A Community Picture of Holiday Gut Health
The campaign will collect responses throughout November, with the final community results scheduled for release on November 30, 2026.
ThriveX hopes the findings will spark conversations about digestive wellness and encourage South Florida residents to recognize patterns in their everyday habits.
“The goal is to get South Florida talking about gut health in a way that’s engaging and relatable,” Dr. Van adds. “When we share our experiences, we can learn from one another and become more aware of the habits that affect our well-being.”
The Holiday Gut Check is a voluntary community education project, not a medical study or diagnostic tool. Its results will reflect the experiences of participating residents rather than the broader South Florida population.
How to Participate
South Florida residents can take the Holiday Gut Check by clicking here.
Participation is free. Responses appear anonymously, and the final community results will be revealed November 30.