When you think about an unhealthy gut, what's the first thing that comes to mind? Chances are, you thought about common symptoms like gas, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. While accurate, these aren't the only red flags. Known to medical and science experts alike as the "second brain," the gut plays a vital role in overall health and wellness. From digestion to the immune system, when the stomach is unhealthy, everything goes haywire.
Whether you know it or not, more than a trillion microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and yeast, reside in your gut. Collectively referred to as the microbiome, both good and bad bacteria must remain balanced for bodily systems to function correctly. However, if harmful bacteria should take over the good, it can lead to a series of physical and mental health problems.
Should your microbiome become unbalanced, your body will send you subtle (and not so subtle) signs that something is wrong. By having a clear understanding of what these are, you can make effective decisions on achieving optimal health and wellness. Below are some signs of an unhealthy gut you may not have been aware of and strategies to get back on track.
General Stomach Problems
Everyone deals with an occasional upset stomach, gas, constipation, or diarrhea, but if you experience these regularly, it's a telltale sign that there's an imbalance. While visiting a doctor for an accurate diagnosis is best, these could be Irritable Bowel Syndrome or bacterial infection symptoms.
Mental Illness
Though research on the gut and brain connection is relatively new, evidence has shown that the microbiome impacts mood. Dysbiosis or bacteria overgrowth causes inflammation of the gut. Experts believe that this inflammation and imbalance link to mental illnesses like anxiety and depression.
Unexplained Weight Changes
Your gut helps the body to absorb nutrients, regulate blood sugar levels, and store fat. Microbial imbalances, however, impedes on these processes. If you've noticed a loss in weight without having made any changes to your diet or exercise routines, there could be a bacterial overgrowth in the small intestines. However, unintentional weight gain is likely due to insulin resistance or overeating caused by a decline in nutrient absorption.
Chronic Fatigue
Serotonin is a hormone present in the gut that impacts mood and sleep. When thrown out of whack, the stomach cannot produce this vital hormone resulting in sleep disturbances, insomnia, and, for some people, chronic fatigue.
Skin Problems
If your skincare products aren't effective in treating common skin problems like acne and eczema, your gut could be to blame. Unhealthy eating habits and food allergies cause the gut to leak proteins into the body resulting in breakouts, irritation, and inflammation.
Food Intolerances
Ever wonder why eating foods you've consumed all your life suddenly causes stomach issues like gas, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation? It's because there's a low amount of good bacteria in the gut, making it harder for your body to digest foods properly.
Creating Balance in the Gut
Now that you're aware of some of the signs of an unhealthy gut, here are a few suggestions on creating balance and improving your health.
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Colostrum Supplements - Colostrum is a milky fluid produced by mammalian mothers before the production of breast milk. It is high in crucial vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and proteins. Taking it in supplement or powder form daily can aid in digestion and gut health.
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Probiotics - Probiotics work to restore healthy bacteria in the gut. You can take them regularly in pill or supplement form. However, the best source always comes from food. You can incorporate foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, fermented foods, and kefir into your diet.
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Prebiotics - Restoring healthy gut bacteria cannot be done with prebiotics. Consuming more whole grains, asparagus, bananas, and garlic makes a big difference.
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Kick Poor Eating Habits - Though you've heard this advice several times before, eliminating poor eating habits from your diet is vital to your gut health. Reducing your consumption of sugar, artificial sweeteners, genetically modified, and processed foods is advised.
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Reduce Stress - Too much stress disturbs the microorganisms in the gut causing an imbalance. Stress management practices like meditation, massage therapy, and getting at least 7-9 hours of sleep are effective for keeping stress levels down.
Research on the gut's role in health and wellness is still underway, but there is a lot that has already been discovered. What is known is that when there's an imbalance between good and bad bacteria, it causes a number of physical and emotional problems. As such, it is crucial that you learn how to keep things in perfect harmony by using the advice provided above.
