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We live in the era of "maxxing" — the relentless drive to optimize every imaginable aspect of our bodies and lives. Replacing the obsessions with high-protein diets and sleep trackers comes a new trend: "fibermaxxing." This hyper-fixation on gut health has elevated dietary fiber into the latest superfood and turned trips to the bathroom into content for social media influencers, reports El País.

Today, creators proudly share charts and detailed tracking of their bowel movements, captioning their posts with hashtags like #hotgirlshaveibs.

A $500 "Smart" Camera Inside the Toilet

At the center of this new optimization cult is the Dekoda device, priced at $449 (plus an annual $70 app subscription), along with competitors like Throne.

The gadget mounts directly inside the toilet bowl and uses artificial intelligence to scan, grade consistency, check hydration levels, and screen for the presence of blood in stool.

"Every single day, we literally flush invaluable data about our health down the toilet," claims the device's manufacturer.

The hype surrounding these gadgets spread across social platforms instantly. But while celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Kim Kardashian previously popularized Oura Rings, fitness influencers are now broadcasting their colonoscopy appointments as if they were routine spa trips.

What Do Gastroenterologists Think?

Medical experts and gastroenterologists view this "toilet-maxxing" trend with a healthy dose of skepticism.

Dr. Karina Cuiñas, an expert on gut health and published author, points out that artificial intelligence cannot measure the most critical clinical parameters:

• Strain and pain: A camera might report an "ideal consistency" even if a person is experiencing severe discomfort or pain during every visit to the bathroom.

• Hyper-control and anxiety: Continuous tracking often fuels health anxiety and causes people to become overly fixated on subtle symptoms.

Dr. Malena García Arredondo emphasizes that dropping $500 on a toilet gadget is completely unnecessary, as paying attention to major changes is enough. "The human eye is perfectly capable of spotting red flags: visible blood, abnormally dark or pale stool, persistent diarrhea, or a sudden change in bowel habits. A healthy person doesn't need AI for that."

Even Kash Kapadia, CEO of Kohler Health (the parent company behind Dekoda), candidly admits: "This is a wellness and engagement product, not a medical diagnostic device."

The Verdict

Physicians agree that bringing attention to the gut microbiome, fiber, and fermented foods is a positive shift overall. However, chasing a "perfect score" inside an app every morning misses the mark.

Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on specialized gadgets, experts recommend sticking to fundamental health habits:

• A diet rich in plant-based dietary fiber.

• Regular physical activity.

• Effective stress management.

• Seeking actual medical evaluation whenever concerning symptoms arise.

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