Your gut plays a pivotal role in maintaining your overall health. When it's in good shape, it helps digest food, absorb nutrients, and even supports your immune system. However, an unhealthy gut can lead to a variety of problems.
Today we’re sharing 10 signs of an unhealthy gut and providing some effective solutions and tips on how to fix it naturally.
Common Signs of an Unhealthy Gut
Your gut impacts your entire body and plays a major role in overall wellness. Let’s look at some key unhealthy gut symptoms to be aware of.
1. Digestive issues
Imbalances in the gut's microbiome have been linked to ongoing gastrointestinal issues and symptoms such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or heartburn.
2. Chronic fatigue
Feeling tired all the time, even when you've had enough rest, can be a symptom of an unhealthy gut. Gut microbiome composition has been linked to sleep physiology and a diverse microbiome was “positively correlated with sleep efficiency, and total sleep time.”
3. Food sensitivities
Unexplained food intolerances or allergies, such as gluten intolerances and lactose intolerances, may be connected to an unhealthy gut. Research has shown “unique microbial differences in patients with food allergies compared to healthy patients.”
4. Weight changes
Sudden weight gain or loss can be indicative of gut issues. Ongoing research suggests a correlation between gut health, obesity, and undernutrition. Plus, food sensitivities or gastrointestinal issues can make getting proper nutrition difficult.
5. Skin problems
Skin conditions like acne, eczema, rosacea, or psoriasis can be influenced by gut health, often called the gut-skin connection.
6. Mood disturbances
Mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, have been linked to gut health. The two-way relationship between your brain and gut, known as the gut-brain connection, is powerful and can impact your mental well-being and overall health.
7. Chronic health and autoimmune conditions
Some chronic health issues and autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, have been associated with imbalances in the gut microbiome and gut dysfunction. An unhealthy gut can trigger an immune response.
8. Bad breath
Chronic bad breath can be a sign of an imbalanced gut microbiome. Excessive bad bacteria in your gut can cause belching and unpleasant odor in your mouth, according to The Centre for Gastrointestinal Health. There’s also been research into using probiotics (often considered “good” bacteria) to successfully treat oral health issues like halitosis.
9. Weak immune system
A weakened immune system is often a result of an unhealthy gut. Research shows that about 70% of your immune system is located in your gut. If you find yourself getting sick frequently, it may be due to your gut's inability to fight off pathogens and recover.
10. Inflammation
Inflammation is a common denominator in many health problems. An unhealthy gut can lead to systemic inflammation, which is linked to a wide range of diseases.
Solutions and Tips to Fix an Unhealthy Gut
If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms or issues, improving your gut health can be a great place to start. Let’s explore a few of the ways to improve gut health naturally and take a holistic approach to wellness.
Make Dietary Changes
It’s probably no surprise that diet plays a major role in gut health and overall wellness. Research has shown over and over again that what you consume impacts the balance of bacteria in your gut, which in turn impacts overall wellness.
Fill up on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi. These healthy foods will help beneficial bacteria thrive in your gut.
Don’t forget to drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated. Research shows that where we get our water and how much we drink has a direct impact on the variety of bacteria in our microbiome. In general, water also helps improve overall gut function.
At the same time, focus on reducing your intake of sugar, processed foods, and artificial sweeteners. Excess sugar and artificial sweeteners can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria and have a negative impact on your gut health.
Limit Antibiotic Use
Antibiotics are a major disruptor of the gut microbiome and frequent, widespread use is “a major cause for concern.” Antibiotics can seemingly throw your whole body off balance.
If at all possible, limit your intake. You might also want to consider taking a probiotic or gut health supplement and boosting your intake of fermented foods before and after treatment.
Manage Stress & Mental Health
The two-way street between your brain and your gut means that chronic stress can negatively affect your gut and vice versa. Issues such as anxiety and depression have been linked to gut health, so it’s important to keep stress in check. In fact, we consider this radical self care.
If you find yourself frequently getting overwhelmed at work or home, set aside a dedicated time to practice relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing. Dedicated time to pursue creative endeavors and activities you enjoy — such as painting, dancing, singing, cooking, etc. — can also be therapeutic.
If you’re struggling with your stress and mental health, you may want to consider seeing a professional. More and more, mental health professionals are understanding the connection between gut health and mental health.
Improve Sleep
Sleep plays a role in your gut health in various ways. It’s best to aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to support gut health and overall well-being.
The body repairs itself in numerous ways when we’re asleep, so it’s important we allow adequate time for this restorative process.
Plus, if we’re constantly overtired and run down, it takes a toll on our diet and mental health.
When we’re tired, we may feel more frazzled and have less energy to do things we enjoy that relieve stress. Plus, it’s not uncommon to make negative dietary decisions, such as frequent fast food runs or midnight snacks, when overtired.
Try a Probiotic Supplement like Somaya Life
Probiotic supplements can help increase the amount of good bacteria in your system. Along with other lifestyle changes, supplements can give you a much needed boost.
With 10 Smart StrainsTM of good bacteria, Somaya Life works harder than a typical probiotic to help regulate your body and improve overall wellness. That’s why we call it an “anthrobiotic.”
Our strains fall into four important categories — enhancers, managers, inhibitors, and communicators. They all work together to help improve your body’s efficiency and protect you against unwanted pathogens and environmental triggers.
Remember that consistency and patience are key when it comes to probiotic supplements like Somaya Life.
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