Introduction
Having a healthy gut is essential for overall health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, many of us don’t pay enough attention to our gut health until something goes wrong. Knowing the signs that your gut is unhealthy can help you take steps to improve your gut health before it becomes a serious problem. In this article, we’ll discuss the signs that your gut is “harmful” according to physicians, as well as what you can do to improve your gut health. We’ll also provide some tips on what to eat and what to avoid to keep your gut healthy.
Signs Your Gut is “Harmful,” Say Physicians — Eat This Not That
Your gut health is essential for overall health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, many of us don’t pay enough attention to our gut health until it’s too late. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the signs that your gut may be in trouble. Here are some signs that your gut is “harmful,” according to physicians.
1. Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain is one of the most common signs that your gut is in trouble. This can range from mild discomfort to severe pain. If you experience abdominal pain, it’s important to see a doctor to determine the cause.
2. Bloating
Bloating is another common sign of a harmful gut. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including eating too much, eating certain foods, or having an imbalance of bacteria in the gut. If you experience bloating, it’s important to see a doctor to determine the cause.
3. Diarrhea
Diarrhea is another sign that your gut is in trouble. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including food poisoning, a virus, or an imbalance of bacteria in the gut. If you experience diarrhea, it’s important to see a doctor to determine the cause.
4. Constipation
Constipation is another sign that your gut is in trouble. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including eating too little fiber, not drinking enough water, or an imbalance of bacteria in the gut. If you experience constipation, it’s important to see a doctor to determine the cause.
5. Fatigue
Fatigue is another sign that your gut is in trouble. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including an imbalance of bacteria in the gut, not getting enough sleep, or not eating a balanced diet. If you experience fatigue, it’s important to see a doctor to determine the cause.
Eat This Not That
If you’re experiencing any of the signs that your gut is in trouble, it’s important to make changes to your diet. Eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help improve your gut health. Additionally, avoiding processed foods, sugary drinks, and alcohol can help keep your gut healthy.
If you have a happy gut, chances are you’re feeling great and there’s no health issues to be concerned about. But if you have an unhealthy gut, that can affect other areas of your general well-being and cause issues like absorbing essential nutrients, skin irritations, weight loss or weight gain and more. Plus it’s uncomfortable. Nobody wants to be bloated, have gas, constipation or diarrhea. Gut health is vital and Eat This, Not That! Health spoke with experts who share signs your gut is unwell and what to do about it. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
Jennifer Maeng, MS, RD, CDN, LD, CNSC, registered dietician, author and founder of Chelsea Nutrition explains, “Having a healthy gut means that your gut is able to break down foods you eat, absorb nutrients from them and get rid of anything that is no longer needed in your body. Additionally, your gut should also be producing appropriate hormones from the mucosa lining of the gut to put your body into working order. Your gut is very closely connected to your brain, and skin (known as gut-brain-axis and gut-brain-skin axis) so if your gut is unhealthy, it can take a toll on your body.”
Maeng says, “Your gut plays many different roles such as metabolizing and absorbing nutrients and removing toxins out of your body. Your gut lining is responsible for producing over 95% of serotonin which regulates your mood and sleep. Furthermore, an unhealthy gut can lead to poor immune function, depressed mood, weight gain, weight loss and poor sleep quality.”
According to Maeng, “There are many reasons why your gut is unhealthy. It could be from imbalance of gut bacteria. Each of us have about 300+ different kinds of gut bacteria in our gut that are responsible for maintaining our overall health. And one dose of antibiotics can lead to imbalance of gut bacteria, also known as dysbiosis. There are many other reasons why your gut may be unhealthy such as eating a lot of sugar in your diet, chronically high levels of stress, high alcohol consumption and high fat/protein, low fiber diet.”
Dr Bryan Curtin of Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, MD emphasizes, “The most concerning signs of an unhealthy gut that should prompt evaluation by a doctor include:
- Trouble swallowing
- Severe abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting that doesn’t stop
- Blood in the stool
- Unexpected weight loss of over 10 pounds
- These signs could indicate severe problems, including cancer and should be looked at by a doctor as soon as possible.”
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Maeng says, “When you are chronically constipated (< 3 bowel movements per week), or having diarrhea ( loose or watery stools > 3 times per day) it can be a sure sign of an unhealthy gut. These symptoms could be due to many different reasons such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), Candida, stress or even food sensitivities. If you are having any of these issues, work with a registered dietitian who can help you find the root cause of your GI discomfort and modify your diet.”
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Maeng emphasizes, “Eating too much sugar can lead to gut dysbiosis as sugar feeds and allows bad gut bacteria to flourish. Additionally, sugary diets can worsen yeast overgrowth (Candida) in your gut as the main source of fuel for yeast is sugar.”
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“One of the main reasons for chronic fatigue is an unhealthy gut,” Maeng reveals. “When your gut is unhealthy, your ability to produce serotonin is impacted. As serotonin is responsible for regulating your mood and sleep, the quality of your sleep and mood may be impacted. When it comes to gut health, diet and lifestyle changes should be your number one priority. If you still need help boosting your energy level during the day, check your vitamin D levels. Fatigue and low energy are common symptoms of vitamin D deficiency. But the good news is that you can easily correct it with supplementation.”