Michael Ruscio

“Lupus belly” isn’t a diagnosis, but does describe a legitimate experience. It’s a term used for bloating, abdominal discomfort, swelling, or visible abdominal changes that may fluctuate with lupus flares or medications. Digestive symptoms are the most common symptom of “lupus belly”. Bloating, belly pressure, nausea, acid reflux, and bowel changes often occur even when other lupus symptoms are dormant or stabilized. The gut and immune system are closely connected.

Vagal tone is a way of describing how effectively the vagus nerve is communicating with the body, influencing how the nervous system adapts to stress, recovery, and internal regulation across multiple systems. Because the vagus nerve connects the brain with the gut, heart, immune system, and endocrine signaling, vagal tone has become a useful framework for understanding whole-body regulation rather than a single symptom or condition. Vagal tone can’t be measured directly.

Fibermaxxing typically targets intakes around 50 grams per day. This amount comes from observational research and is not a universal or individualized recommendation. Most people fall short on fiber, but pushing intake higher is not always helpful. While adequate fiber supports digestion, heart health, and appetite regulation, aggressively increasing intake can backfire for some people. Whole-food fiber is generally better tolerated than supplemental fiber.