Signs Of Poor Gut Health That May Point To A Deeper Issue
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Curious how to fix bad gut health with functional medicine?
Simple changes to your nutritional intake and lifestyle habits can drastically improve your gut microbiome. Heal symptoms such as food intolerances, mood disorders, and skin irritation with easy adjustments like adding in prebiotic-rich foods and increasing exercise. A trained functional medicine professional will evaluate your health and design a routine tailored to your unique needs.
Not feeling quite like yourself lately? If you’re experiencing ongoing symptoms like digestive issues, bloating, mood swings, fatigue, stomach pain, or changes in your skin, you may be surprised to learn that they could be signs of poor gut health.
These uncomfortable symptoms may seem like they’re random, but in fact, they’re all connected. In this post you’ll learn to identify common signs of poor gut health including skin irritations, sleep disturbances, and mental health challenges. You’ll also learn how factors like stress levels and your diet can influence the balance of bacteria in your gut.
Keep reading to find out how you can improve gut health through practical tips supported by science.
Key Takeaways
Digestive issues can be the cause of poor gut health. You may experience symptoms like bloating, gas, diarrhea, or heartburn.
Around 80% of your immune cells are located in your gut. Because of this, poor gut health has the ability to affect anything from your mood to your energy levels, and even cause skin conditions like eczema or breakouts.
Drastic fluctuations in weight as well as chronic fatigue are usually the result of poor gut health. Additionally, around 50% of those who struggle with chronic fatigue also report symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome including pain and bloating.
Gut problems are also known to cause skin problems. For example, many rosacea patients also report dealing with Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).
Incorporating probiotic foods like yogurt, reducing sugar intake, getting enough sleep, lowering stress, as well as exercising daily for at least 30 minutes are easy ways you can begin to improve your gut health.
Common Signs of Poor Gut Health
Common signs of poor gut health can significantly affect your daily life. Persistent digestive issues, like bloating and gas, often indicate an imbalance in gut bacteria.
Persistent digestive issues
Digestive problems are a major problem that stem from a compromised gut. Here are some of the unique symptoms you may encounter:
When gut bacteria is disrupted, bloating occurs. Your abdomen may feel full and tense. Overeating or eating too quickly can cause bloating after meals.
If your body lacks enough good bacteria, it will have a hard time digesting certain foods. This may cause embarrassing gas after eating.
You may not be eating enough fiber-rich foods or liquids. This can lead to constipation or having fewer bowel movements than normal.
Regular issues with diarrhea might signal the presence of infection or a more concern-worthy condition like inflammatory bowel disease.
You may experience heartburn from stomach acid refluxing into the throat. Eating very spicy or rich foods can also create it.
Any one of these symptoms may signal a possible disruption in your digestive system, creating a ripple of other issues throughout your body and mood.
Unexplained weight changes and chronic fatigue
When you notice weight fluctuations that don’t seem to be related to diet or exercise, your gut may be the problem. Slight gut imbalances can alter the way your small intestine absorbs nutrients, and also how your large intestine handles waste. This can also effect your blood sugar levels, fat storage, and your energy levels.
When you eat a poor diet full of added sugars and processed foods, you’ll experience more frequent dips in daily energy. If you find yourself craving sugar, it could be a sign that you have an overgrowth of bad bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract. This also increases the amount of inflammation throughout your body.
Harmful bacteria can grow when your body is stressed or you’re taking an antibiotic. This can cause nutrient absorption to decrease, intensify food sensitivities, and may lead to unintentional weight changes.
Skin irritations such as eczema or acne
Skin issues including eczema and psoriasis are all signs you may have gut inflammation. When you have an unhealthy gut, you might notice recurring skin rashes or allergic reactions that don’t seem to respond to regular treatment.
Studies have shown that individuals with skin rosacea have higher rates of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. Gut dysbiosis increases inflammation levels, which can trigger skin health problems like chronic hives and breakouts.
Unhealthy gut bacteria can cause food intolerances that may appear on the skin in the form of a rash, bumps, or dry skin. By managing this bacterial overgrowth, you can begin to ease symptoms of eczema and acne too.
Mood disorders and sleep disturbances
Another symptom you might notice is frequent mood changes. Your gut is responsible for creating the majority of your body’s serotonin. It plays a big role in regulating both your mood and sleep quality. When your gut bacteria is compromised, it can cause you to feel anxious or depressed.
Your gut can also cause sleep disturbances. This can become a vicious cycle, because poor sleep makes digestive symptoms worse, and chronic stress triggers food cravings for junky foods that can upset your gut even further.
How Functional Medicine Can Help Reset Your Gut
Now that you understand the types of problems an unhealthy gut can cause, what are your options? Functional medicine is a great place to start because it prioritizes identifying the root of your health issues.This method also helps you learn more about your digestive system, especially how it relates to diet and stress levels.
Prebiotic-rich foods and fermented foods can begin to restore balance and a healthy gut microbiome. Switching out over processed foods for more whole foods with dietary fiber, drinking plenty of water, and getting regular exercise are also key to maintaining a healthier gastrointestinal system.
Talk to your primary care provider in Michigan or start your functional medicine journey today to better evaluate symptoms of poor gut health.
Improve Gut Health With Functional Medicine
Knowing how to identify signs of poor gut health is vital to your overall well-being. Digestive issues, mood changes, and skin conditions are all common reactions to an unhealthy gut microbiota. By incorporating probiotics into your diet, reducing stress, and mixing in regular exercise, you can drastically improve your gut function over time.
If you’re ready to boost your immune system and well-being through strategic lifestyle changes, you can start by seeking guidance from your primary healthcare provider and experts in functional medicine. Discover how functional medicine can make a difference in your health every day.
FAQs
Abdominal pain, bloating, and frequent digestive discomfort are all signs of an unhealthy gut. They may also link to other chronic diseases like Crohn's disease, autoimmune conditions, or more serious issues like colon cancer and ulcerative colitis.
Gut health affects many other areas beyond your gut. Poor digestion has been linked to Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease as well as raises the likelihood of developing other chronic health conditions.
Because your gut communicates with your nervous system through chemical signals, experts may refer to your gut as a "second brain." When your gut lining becomes disrupted, it may affect your mental health, mood, immunity, and more.
You can begin to cut back on foods that cause your symptoms to improve your immune function. If you make adjustments or add in new probiotic supplements or foods, make sure to watch for changes after eating. If problems persist, speak to your healthcare provider.
