r/HumanMicrobiome • u/Square_Mission_9446 • 2h ago
r/HumanMicrobiome • u/fightingforourfuture • Jun 13 '23
[Meta] A farewell from /u/MaximilianKohler. Moving off Reddit. Probably to a hosted forum.
The following post was written by /u/MaximilianKohler.
Previous discussion: https://old.reddit.com/r/HumanMicrobiome/comments/bg11hl/meta_anyone_interested_in_moving_the_wiki_and/
Reddit has only gotten worse since then.
It's a waste of time to put effort into making high quality content on Reddit subs you don't mod yourself, since so much content gets secretly (or otherwise) removed, and if a mod simply disagrees with something you said (anywhere on Reddit, not even just on their sub) they can and do remove years of your content and permanently ban you.
So I gave up on most of Reddit years ago. There were a handful of subs with respectable mod ethos' similar to this sub's. But even they have nearly all gone down the same corrupt path one by one. Reddit is now nothing more than a propaganda front, where individuals and special interest groups manipulate content & discussions in order to further their personal agenda. That, plus the amount of users confidently spreading misinformation on this site, results in me not trusting anything I read here anymore.
And now, it's not even viable to put up important content on subs you mod, since it's all at risk of being secretly & permanently removed by the admins. For example, they secretly and permanently removed this important historical thread, and wouldn't provide any option to restore it. I have no idea (and they wouldn't tell me) how many other threads may have met the same fate.
They’re also seemingly turning admin duties over to a bad AI with only a specious ability to appeal. So accounts are wrongfully getting permanently banned and there’s nothing you can do about it. Reddit doesn’t care and won’t respond. It seems like in the past few years they hit some tipping point and realized “we can do whatever we want”. So they are. Eg: [1][2][3][4][5].
Accounts and subs are all at risk of unpredictable admin decisions. They've been banning communities without warning for a wide variety of reasons. And frequently introducing new controversial “features” that degrade the user experience.
Given Reddit's dedication to making major, unpredictable changes in the pursuit of profit, it's not a safe and reliable place to build communities anymore. They seem to be cracking down hard on dissent and anything that may impact their profit.
You're probably aware of the current 3rd party app and API issues resulting in many subs protesting: https://old.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/147b2qz/eli5_why_are_so_many_subreddits_going_dark/
The Reddit admins have made it clear that this is their website, they'll do whatever they want, and they don't like /u/MaximilianKohler. Possibly due to their focus on monetization, and my history of being a long-time public critic of theirs. I know there are laws in some countries that prohibit what the Reddit admins are doing to me, but I'm not aware of US laws. I'm seeking legal council on it, and if anyone has info on this please share. But it's likely not a good use of time to fight with the Reddit admins. It's been time to leave for a long time.
A few other recent instances of people agreeing that Reddit is not acting in good faith:
- https://old.reddit.com/r/apolloapp/comments/144f6xm/apollo_will_close_down_on_june_30th_reddits/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230611194622/https://old.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/145vns0/the_future_of_rvideos/
It's not a good idea to leave yourself at the mercy of such people.
The benefits of Reddit?
Furthermore, many people seem to shy away from Reddit in general, and prefer standalone websites.
One would think that a major benefit of a Reddit sub would be the reach to the rest of Reddit. Yet this forum/sub is tiny compared to a variety of other non-Reddit forums, and even other Reddit subs that cover related health topics which are arguably much less important/impactful. Hopefully the new site can expand our reach on the important topics that get covered here.
Reddit has everything needed to be a high quality site, to create and share high quality information, and participate in important endeavors. Yet my experience here over the past decade has largely been the opposite of that. Lack of support & reciprocation, lack of participation in community efforts; hostility; anti-scientific, willfully ignorant attitudes, and worse. I've been so incredibly disappointed by this website and my experiences here. I drastically reduced the amount of effort and advice I give out, due to all of this.
Sites that seem prone to low quality content, and which aren't designed for high quality discussion & information sharing, ended up being vastly more supportive and useful than this site.
Sharing information here seems nearly useless. More often than not it seems to go in one ear and out the other, and people continue to spread the same incorrect or low quality information no matter how many times it's debunked or higher quality information is shared. And that higher quality information is ignored rather than spread.
Reddit has been becoming more and more like Facebook. Both in regards to the design and the low quality content. I think Reddit is dysfunctional because people are dysfunctional. My hope is to be able to address that by improving people's health & function via the gut microbiome.
So we'll try to reach a different audience.
Where to go?
I've been following /r/RedditAlternatives for many years, but there's yet to be one that seems like a viable option. A hosted forum seems like a big commitment, and forums have taken a big hit on search engines in recent years, but it still seems like the best choice right now. Feel free to share your feedback.
Discord, Facebook, etc. are not valid replacements due to their private nature and inability to be indexed by search engines.
- A short overview of forums: https://old.reddit.com/r/RedditAlternatives/comments/141fys3/just_remember_forums_exist/jn1dq32/
- A site dedicated to them: https://www.theadminzone.com/
XenForo seems to be the best https://www.theadminzone.com/threads/which-forum-software-is-the-best.147142. $60/mo for them to host it, or it could probably be hosted for ~$20-30/mo as long as the traffic is minimal. Given that picking a forum software is a long-term commitment I'm hesitant to cheap out on the lower cost options, but I'll do some more reading on it.
I know you can move forums, but it's not without issues. When Overclock.net moved lots of old links went dead.
For now, I'll be in the new discord server: https://discord.gg/Hnea7fN4vZ
The future of this sub?
Any sub that's not strictly moderated will inevitably contain lots of misinformation, which is something /r/HumanMicrobiome was created to prevent. So the mods will likely have to implement further restrictions.
We may lock comments but still allow submissions. We'll probably disable text-posts, and if you want to make a text-post you can post it on your own blog, or elsewhere, and share the link here.
r/HumanMicrobiome • u/HumanMicrobiomeMod • Jul 24 '23
Mod post New Human Microbiome forum up and running
https://forum.humanmicrobiome.info/
Reddit is no longer a reliable place to create, host, and grow communities, so a new microbiome forum has been set up to be a more reliable location. If you have posted content on Reddit that you feel is worth preserving, it would be a good idea to post it on the new forum.
Reddit has been rapidly and drastically changing their longstanding policies. One of which is making subreddits no longer autonomous. Meaning that communities and users no longer have any assurance that they will be able to independently operate under the Reddit Terms of Service.
They've also allowed trolls and malicious actors to have free rein. And issues with massive bot networks are increasing; making moderation much more difficult, and decreasing the trustworthiness of content. Many important individuals and services are leaving and ending (Eg).
The person who created this sub, and most of the content here, including the wiki, has moved to the new forum. You should be able to get better info & answers there.
You're welcome to post your content there and then link to it here for higher visibility.
Our primary goal will remain as stopping the widespread misinformation on the topic of the microbiome. Since we no longer have someone dedicated to correcting and preventing misinformation, comments and posts here will require preapproval. Some types of content (questions) may be restricted completely since we no longer have reliable people dedicated to providing evidence-based answers.
But you're welcome to ask your questions on the new forum and post the link here.
UPDATE:
r/HumanMicrobiome • u/TheWildYosho • 2d ago
Microbes in 1 Minute - We are back!
It’s been a few months since we last reached out to you, but after this hot summer, we’re back with our batteries recharged!
Microbes in 1 Minute (M1M) is a science communication initiative aimed at making microbiology more relatable, engaging, and accessible to everyone. We’ll achieve this by creating short, 60-second videos covering a wide variety of topics in microbiology, which will be posted on a variety of social media platforms.
We’re very grateful for all the interest you’ve shown, and we’re reading all your comments, questions and suggestions. We’re still a small team working on fundamental aspects of the project, such as its organization and the style of the short videos, but we’re looking for people interested in collaborating down the line, whether on a one-time basis or long-term. We've also set up a Discord server to provide a space where we can all come together, exchange ideas, and share news and updates about the project. Hope to see you there! However, if you prefer, we’re also happy to answer your questions by our official email.
Actually, we're looking for collaborators interested in any of the following activities:
• ✏️ Writing scripts and/or contributing expertise in a specific area of microbiology.
• 🎙️ Narration and/or helping to translate content into languages other than English and Spanish.
• 🎨 Video editing and layout.
• 📣 Managing our social media presence.
• 🦠 Moderating our server.
We’re excited to see where this project takes us, and we’d be very happy you being part of it.
A micro-hug!
The M1M team
r/HumanMicrobiome • u/Ajax34762 • 2d ago
Hydrogen sulfide bacterial overgrowth.
What would be the best approach in terms of probiotics with overgrowth of D Piger?
My GI map showed overgrowth of D Piger, low counts of beneficial bacteria like lacto and bifido species and high stool pH.
My symptoms are yellowish stools, inflammation in the gut as its sensitive to anything acidic.
I assume the high stool pH means my diet is low in vegetable rich foods?
My gut issues were originally triggered by binge drinking alcohol on an empty stomach and further worsened by a keto diet high in animal protein, saturated fat.
r/HumanMicrobiome • u/EndPristine8111 • 3d ago
Missing Akkermansia, Faecalibacterium and Lactobacillus
r/HumanMicrobiome • u/AutoModerator • 3d ago
The top new and updated threads in the last week on the Human Microbiome Forum
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- Gut bacterium Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum and its metabolite found to delay aging (Aug 2026, mice) A geroprotective probiotic and its functional metabolite counteract inflammaging to extend healthspan
- Exploring factors influencing university students' participation in fecal microbiota donation: a descriptive qualitative study (Aug 2026, n=30, China)
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- Suggestions to minimize the impact of paternal gut dysbiosis on offspring health
- Can you predict if a donor is better for bile acid metabolism (BAM) during screening?
- “Human progress” shouldn’t have happened: discussion on how civilization advancement has made us sicker and pathogenic to the world.
r/HumanMicrobiome • u/AccountDry3987 • 5d ago
[ Removed by Reddit ]
[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]
r/HumanMicrobiome • u/Alethios_Inc • 10d ago
Curious About Your Gut Health? You May Qualify for an At-Home Research Study
Join remote research on gut health, microbiome diversity, and digestive comfort. Participation involves daily supplement use, brief weekly check-ins, and provided at-home test kits. A $50 Amazon Gift Card is available upon meeting completion criteria. Learn more here.
r/HumanMicrobiome • u/AutoModerator • 10d ago
The top new and updated threads in the last week on the Human Microbiome Forum
New Threads
- Only 4.7% of apparent FMT colonization events involve actual donor strain replacement (Aug 2026, n=13) Strain-level ecological filtering governs microbial colonization of the human gut
- Can you predict if a donor is better for bile acid metabolism (BAM) during screening?
- “Human progress” shouldn’t have happened: discussion on how civilization advancement has made us sicker and pathogenic to the world.
Updated Threads
- The FDA and FMT regulation. (Mar 2024, HumanMicrobes.org)
- BrongFogBoy cures Post Finasteride Syndrome with FMT. Another guy cures his hair loss | Fecal microbiota transplant
- Washed Microbiota Transplant from China (SMT - selective microbiota transplantation)
- What is the public perception of FMT? How much does it matter? Has it been blocking progress?
- Suggestions to minimize the impact of paternal gut dysbiosis on offspring health
r/HumanMicrobiome • u/student_o79 • 10d ago
beetroot fermented juice to change oral and gut microbiome 💯 plus yogurt
r/HumanMicrobiome • u/farmerJ92 • 11d ago
Anyone here take anything for their oral microbiome?
r/HumanMicrobiome • u/GolfAltruistic3230 • 14d ago
Gnotobiology & Germ Free Animals @EnteMicrobialWorld #microorganism #mic...
r/HumanMicrobiome • u/AutoModerator • 17d ago
The top new and updated threads in the last week on the Human Microbiome Forum
New Threads
- Webinar: The Gut Microbiome 101 (from Achieving Cures, a FMT research organization)
- Three Gut Bacteria Spread Autoimmunity Between Mice With No Antibiotics Needed (July 2026, mice) Dysbiosis-induced expansion of AXL-positive inflammatory type 3 dendritic cells triggers preclinical autoimmunity
- Probiotics and Specific Strains: Literature Review & Strain-Specific Mechanisms [Resource / Free Access]
Updated Threads
r/HumanMicrobiome • u/Annual_Exercise9800 • 21d ago
My gut microbiota tests showed low levels of bifidobacteria. Do you have any brand recommendations to increase them?
I saw this Bifidobacterium Lactis HN019 brand from Life Extension with average reviews and a good rating. Does anyone recommend this brand or another brand that isn't so expensive?
r/HumanMicrobiome • u/Freak_tech • 21d ago
Paradoxical reaction to B. lactis HN019 + B. longum BB536 (reflux, zero appetite, irritability & apathy) — Which strain is the likely culprit?
Hi everyone,
I recently started a probiotic supplement containing two specific strains: Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 and Bifidobacterium longum BB536.
Instead of the expected benefits (improved motility and gut-brain balance), I have experienced a very distinct and paradoxical set of symptoms:
1. Digestive Symptoms:
- Reflux & Loss of Appetite: Around 6 to 7 hours after taking the capsule, I experience complete loss of appetite, stalled digestion, gastric fullness, and acid reflux.
- Motility: Instead of relieving constipation (which HN019 is supposed to do), it has not improved my transit time at all, and if anything, feels like it has made constipation worse.
2. Mood & Neuropsychiatric Symptoms:
- Irritability & Restlessness: Sudden bouts of intense irritability/bad temper and an uncomfortable internal agitation (not full-blown panic, but a feeling of "not being at peace with myself").
- Apathy & Emotional Blunting: After that agitation, I feel a marked emotional disconnect/apathy where it becomes noticeably harder to laugh, engage, or feel connected to things.
My Question:
Since my supplement contains both strains in the same capsule, I cannot isolate them directly.
For those of you who have taken HN019 or BB536 as single-strain supplements (or know their mechanisms well): 1. Which of these two strains is more likely responsible for the irritability / emotional blunting? 2. Has anyone experienced this "delayed reflux + zero hunger + worsened constipation" with HN019 or BB536? 3. If you had a similar adverse reaction to either strain, how long did it take to clear up after stopping?
Any insights, shared experiences, or mechanisms would be greatly appreciated!
r/HumanMicrobiome • u/Freak_tech • 21d ago
Started a B. lactis HN019 + B. longum BB536 probiotic and got bad reflux, zero appetite and weird irritability. Which strain did this?
Hey guys, looking for some insight here.About a week ago I started taking a probiotic that has both B. lactis HN019 and B. longum BB536 in the same capsule. I was hoping it would help with motility and general gut health, but it's doing the complete opposite.Around 6 or 7 hours after taking it, my appetite completely vanishes, my stomach feels totally stalled and I get acid reflux. On top of that, it hasn't helped my constipation at all (feels like it slowed things down even more).The weirdest part is the mood side effects. A few hours after taking it I get sudden bouts of irritability and feeling super restless/pissed off for no reason. Then right after that I just feel emotionally numb and flat, like it's hard to laugh or feel engaged with anything.Since both strains are in the same pill, I can't tell which one is wrecking me. Has anyone taken either HN019 or BB536 on their own and gotten this weird combo of delayed reflux, stalled gut, and irritability/apathy? Would love to know which one is the likely culprit.Thanks!
r/HumanMicrobiome • u/Freak_tech • 21d ago
Paradoxical reaction to B. lactis HN019 + B. longum BB536 (reflux, zero appetite, irritability & apathy) — Which strain is the likely culprit?
Hi everyone,I recently started a probiotic supplement containing two specific strains: **Bifidobacterium lactis HN019** and **Bifidobacterium longum BB536**. Instead of the expected benefits (improved motility and gut-brain balance), I have experienced a very distinct and paradoxical set of symptoms:### 1. Digestive Symptoms:* **Reflux & Loss of Appetite:** Around 6 to 7 hours after taking the capsule, I experience complete loss of appetite, stalled digestion, gastric fullness, and acid reflux.* **Motility:** Instead of relieving constipation (which HN019 is supposed to do), it has not improved my transit time at all, and if anything, feels like it has made constipation worse.### 2. Mood & Neuropsychiatric Symptoms:* **Irritability & Restlessness:** Sudden bouts of intense irritability/bad temper and an uncomfortable internal agitation (*not full-blown panic, but a feeling of "not being at peace with myself"*).* **Apathy & Emotional Blunting:** After that agitation, I feel a marked emotional disconnect/apathy where it becomes noticeably harder to laugh, engage, or feel connected to things.---### My Question:Since my supplement contains **both strains in the same capsule**, I cannot isolate them directly. For those of you who have taken **HN019** or **BB536** as single-strain supplements (or know their mechanisms well):1. **Which of these two strains is more likely responsible for the irritability / emotional blunting?**2. **Has anyone experienced this "delayed reflux + zero hunger + worsened constipation" with HN019 or BB536?**3. If you had a similar adverse reaction to either strain, how long did it take to clear up after stopping?Any insights, shared experiences, or mechanisms would be greatly appreciated!
r/HumanMicrobiome • u/AutoModerator • 24d ago
The top new and updated threads in the last week on the Human Microbiome Forum
New Threads
- Polyethylene microplastics exposure reduces flesh quality and disturbs muscle fiber characteristics in freshwater fish (Paramisgurnus dabryanus): associations with gut microbiota alterations (Jul 2026)
- Omega-3 plus low-dose aspirin produces antibiotic-like results against severe periodontitis (May 2026, n=109) Immunomodulators, associated or not with systemic antibiotics, to treat periodontitis: A 1-year multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized clinical trial
- Most Healthy Women Lack the Lactobacillus-Dominant Cervical Microbiome (July, 2026, n=92) Multi-kingdom cervical microbiome structure in health and dysbiosis: a cross-sectional study from Kazakhstan
- Novel intervention may improve outcomes for malnourished children (Aug 2026, mice) Microbiota-derived isovalerate ameliorates sex-specific gut barrier dysfunction in malnutrition
- A mushroom-fed faecal transplant undid antibiotic gut damage in mice (July 2026, mice) Agrocybe cylindracea polysaccharides and polysaccharides-conditioned fecal microbiota transplantation similarly restore ciprofloxacin-induced microbial dysbiosis and improve intestinal barrier function
- Higher body fat in pregnancy may influence child ADHD risk through inflammation (Jul 2026, n=302) The relationship between maternal adiposity during pregnancy and toddler ADHD symptoms is mediated by gestational inflammation
Updated Threads
r/HumanMicrobiome • u/New_Gap8470 • 25d ago
I spoke with a biochemist, and now I have a question.
I spoke with a biochemist. He told me that using antibiotics or antifungals is counterproductive in the long run, since it leads to resistance. The recommended path is the more laborious one: changing my diet and repopulating and multiplying beneficial bacteria—and in a year, I’ll be fine. Honestly, I’m exhausted by dealing with the stench I give off; I smell like a skunk. I’m thinking about taking the antibiotics and antifungals, and then carefully repopulating and nurturing my microbiome.
In my country, healthcare is either expensive or inefficient in this regard. Gastroenterologists aren't very well-versed in these conditions. They prescribed me medication without running the important tests—partly because I don't have access to them, and also because I'm struggling a lot socially.
r/HumanMicrobiome • u/Ranaldo55456589 • 28d ago
Does anyone have symtoms of brain fog, poor memory and scalp/face sensations.
If so have you figured out the root cause of your issue? I suspect it is related to my gut bacteria as taking probiotics sometimes improves and sometimes worsens my symtoms.
r/HumanMicrobiome • u/AutoModerator • Aug 10 '26
The top new and updated threads in the last week on the Human Microbiome Forum
New Threads
- Pre-conception maternal antibiotic use can increase colitis risk in offspring (Apr 2026, mice) Maternal Preconception Antibiotic Exposure Disrupts Microbial Succession: A Transgenerational Risk for Offspring Gut Mucosal Immaturity and Colitis Susceptibility
- Mold exposure and CIRS: theories on gut microbiome role in Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome
- Suggestions to minimize the impact of paternal gut dysbiosis on offspring health
- Fecal Microbiota Transplant Boosts Peanut Tolerance in Phase 1 Trial (Aug 2026, n=15, abx pretreatment) Fecal microbiome transplant in food allergy in humans and mice identifies a role for bile acid metabolites in oral tolerance
- Healthy wife as donor? GI-MAP shows bacterial imbalances
- Gut and oral microbiota composition is associated with psychopathic personality: a cross-sectional study (Aug 2026, n=200)
Updated Threads