7 Signs of Poor Gut Health
Prebiotics, probiotics, and digestive health- taking care of your gut microbiome has never been more important. From immune function to mental health, your digestive system can be found connected to most parts of your body. With that said, it can be difficult to figure out whether or not your gut is the source for your symptoms. Lucky for you, we've compiled a small guide for you to optimize your gut health as best as possible!
Why is it Important?
A healthy gut means there are more good bacteria than there are harmful ones. When this balance is thrown off due to more harmful bacteria, it can lead to a variety of different issues. In addition, this imbalance is also known as gut dysbiosis. An unhealthy gut microbiome can:
- Lead to negative weight gain & put you at a higher risk for obesity
- Cause intestinal diseases like IBS/IBD (irritable bowel syndrome/disease)
- Produce chemicals, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), that can block arteries and lead to heart disease
- Throw your blood sugar off balance leading to a higher risk of diabetes
- Negatively affect brain health and contribute to mental health disorders. A study conducted by the National Institute of Health showcased that participants with various psychological disorders had different species of bacteria in their guts, compared to healthy people.
Recognize the Signs
In brief, here are 7 signs to watch out for if you have an unhealthy gut:
- You’re irritable.
An upset stomach can lead to an increase in stress & anxiety. According to NY-based gastroenterologist, Aditya Sreenivasan, the gut uses neurons to send signals to the brain when it’s distressed.
- You’re more exhausted than usual.
If your gut is not absorbing enough of the right nutrients, it can lead to malabsorption. As a result, this can negatively affect your energy levels and make you feel more tired than usual. For the same reason, if you catch yourself yawning more or not getting a good night’s rest, you may need to take better care of your gut.
- Migraines & headaches.
There are studies that show that migraines and abdominal pain are linked. Forthis reason, your gut ends up triggering hormonal imbalances and these can trigger more headaches.
- You’re constipated or constantly bloated.
If you’re finding that you’ve been having issues going to the restroom for more than seven days, more than likely you’re experiencing severe microbial imbalance. This can also lead to irregular bowel movements.
- Bad breath.
This leads us to our next sign: bad breath. If you’re experiencing chronic constipation, it can cause a buildup of toxins and lead to your breath smelling bad (even with regular tooth brushing and mouthwash).
- New food sensitivities.
This can be caused by what is known as a “leaky gut”. Typically, the gut lining is semi-permeable meaning the nutrients and water that you obtain from food can enter the bloodstream. When you have an unhealthy gut, the gaps between cells become larger and lead to increased permeability. In turn, this causes larger food particles and bacteria to enter the bloodstream leading to inflammation and new food sensitivities. It can also lead to common GI symptoms such as bloating, nausea, diarrhea or constipation.
- Poor skin health.
Some studies show that gut health is also associated with skin health. In that case, if you’re experiencing an imbalance, it can cause your skin to be irritated and break out.
Ways to Improve:
- Limit processed foods & foods high in sugar
- Eat more fermented foods and foods high in fiber
- Add pre/probiotics to your diet like my Inulin powder
- Exercise regularly
- Try to get as much rest as you can
- Quit smoking
To learn more, listen to my podcast on gut healthhere!
