Six Signs of an Unhealthy Gut and How to Fix These

Diet and gut health are linked to each other. To maintain a healthy microbiome, each individual must avoid high- fat and processed foods as they promote the growth of bad bacteria and destroys the good bacteria. Apart from food, too little sleep, high stress levels and taking antibiotics can also damage the gut microbiome which further affects the immune system, skin health, hormone levels and weight. There are a number of ways an unhealthy gut becomes noticeable, some of which are mentioned here:

First symptom is the upset stomach: Stomach conditions constipation, bloating, gas and heartburn and highly prevalent and are signs of an unhealthy gut. A well balanced gut will not have difficulty in processing food items and eliminating the waste.

High sugar diet: The diet containing high amounts of processed foods and sugar decreases the levels of good bacteria in the gut. This also leads to increased sugar cravings that damage the gut.

Unpredictable weight changes: Losing or gaining weight without any changes in the diet is a sign of an unhealthy gut. Problems in the gut can lead to regulating blood sugar, impair your body’s ability to absorb nutrients and store fat. Weight loss can be caused due to small intestine bacterial overgrowth and weight gain be caused by insulin resistance.

Sleep disturbances or fatigue: An unhealthy gut leads to sleep disturbances such as insomnia or poor sleep, and therefore lead to chronic fatigue. The majority of the body’s serotonin is produced in the gut. So the damage in gut can lead to sleep disturbances.

Skin problems: Some skin conditions like eczema can be linked to damaged gut. Poor diet or food allergies cause inflammation in the gut that increases the leakage of certain proteins which can irritate the skin.

Food intolerances: Food intolerances can be caused by poor quality of gut bacteria that can lead to difficulty in digesting the foods. This leads to bloating, gas and nausea.

Different ways to fix our gut health: There are a number of foods and ways that can actively promote the growth of beneficial bacteria that contributes to overall health. Some of them are mentioned here:

Lower the stress levels and adequate sleep: High levels of stress are bad for the body, including the gut. Rey meditation, walking or spending time with family and friends to reduce it. Along with that not enough sleep affects the gut health. Therefore, take proper amounts of sleep.

Eat slowly and stay hydrated: Eating the meals slowly and chewing food thoroughly promotes full digestion and absorption of nutrients. This helps to maintain a healthy gut. Staying hydrated has a beneficial effect on the mucosal lining of intestines that balances the good bacteria in gut.

Consume probiotics: Adding yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi or other probiotic and prebiotic supplements help to improve your gut health. Prebiotics promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, while probiotics are good live bacteria. Foods like bananas, garlic, ginger, brussel sprouts and peas can all be added in the diet as they are good for gut health.

Over to you: People should change their diet by reducing the amount of high- sugar, processed foods and include more prebiotics, high fiber foods and the ones that contribute to better gut health. Eating plenty of plant based foods and lean protein helps in gut health.