A healthy diet and lifestyle can lead to many health benefits. But it is also possible that even after following healthy habits religiously, you may still not be seeing results. One of the most common- yet fairly unknown- reasons you might not be enjoying all the benefits of your healthy diet is having an unhealthy gut. Gut or digestive issues can prevent nutrients from being fully absorbed by the body.
Your gut health influences everything from your digestion to your brain and your immune system. Having an unhealthy gut can take a toll on your entire body and makes you more susceptible to conditions such as skin disorders, autoimmune conditions, inflammatory responses, and other health concerns.
Below are signs of poor gut health and the ways it can manifest.
Signs of an Unhealthy Gut
The purpose of good digestion is to turn the food you eat into fuel for your body’s cells. The gut is responsible for that. Your gut home to trillions of bacteria along with yeast and viruses that live among this bacteria. The gut microbiome refers specifically to these microorganisms living in your intestines.
A person has about 300 to 500 different species of bacteria in their digestive tract. While some microorganisms are harmful to our health, many are beneficial and even necessary to a healthy body. A balanced gut or having a wide variety of good bacteria in your gut helps with overall health benefits. On the flip side, imbalance of your gut microbiome can negatively impact your body.
Stomach Discomfort
An upset stomach with symptoms like gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea are all common signs of an unhealthy gut. All of these can be signs of irritable bowel syndrome, a common condition that affects the large intestines. Imbalances in the gut bacteria, called dysbiosis, can play a role in the development of IBS for some people.
Constant Fatigue
A study published in April 2017 in the journal Microbiome found that people with chronic fatigue syndrome have abnormal levels of certain types of gut bacteria. Studies have suggested that the microbiome directly influences neurotransmitters in the brain, impacting the way that we think and feel.
Another study, after understanding the link between gut health and chronic fatigue, estimates that 80 percent of people with chronic fatigue could be diagnosed just by examining their gut bacteria.
Unintentional Weight Changes
Another warning sign of an unhealthy gut is gaining or losing weight without making drastic changes to your diet or exercise. An imbalanced gut can impair your body’s ability to properly absorb nutrients, regulate blood sugar, and store fat.
Overweight or obese people have been observed to have reduced bacterial diversity- or fewer types of bacteria in their gut.
Getting Sick Often or Easily
When your gut is healthy, the rest of your body hums along happily. A healthy gut enhances your immune system function, along with numerous other benefits.
A huge proportion (around 70-80%) of the immune system is in the gastrointestinal tract, and certain cells in your gut excrete huge amounts of illness-fighting antibodies into the body. In other words, if you find yourself getting sick more often, your gut could be to blame.
Mood Changes
Your gut microbiome plays an important role when it comes to your mental health. There is ample evidence showing the link between the gut and the brain, and the influence of the gut may also extend to your mood. Certain hormones that are made in the gut—collectively called gut peptides—control the signalling between your gut and brain (and vice versa).
A review published in September 2017 in the journal Clinics and Practice found that gut disturbances and inflammation in the central nervous system may be potential causes of anxiety and depression and that probiotics may help treat these conditions.
Skin Irritation or Issues
You may not know this, but your gut is in direct communication with your skin through what’s called the gut-skin axis. The gut microbiome influences the skin through complex immune mechanisms and an imbalanced gut can result in skin issues like acne, eczema, psoriasis and other inflammatory skin problems.
Food Cravings
If you find yourself craving certain types of food, including sugary items, this could be a sign of an imbalanced gut. Eating too much sugar can lead to an abundance of “bad” bacteria in the gut and dysbiosis.
Things You Can Do for a Better Gut Health
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, checking in with your doctor could be beneficial to determine if your symptoms are due to an unhealthy gut or other factors.
The very first step in healing the gut is to be able to identify and remove the offending foods. If you stop eating the food that is affecting the lining of the intestines, this can give your gastrointestinal relief and give it a chance to heal. Cleaning up your diet can be a major breakthrough for a balanced gut. Including ingredients such as probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes, glutamine, fish oil, and more can help repair your gut.
Other ways you can adopt and practice for a healthy gut is making lifestyle changes like including regular exercise in your day-to-day routine, managing your stress levels, staying hydrated and getting quality sleep.
