Signs your gut is not very healthy
Typical signs of an unhealthy gut include bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. While gastrointestinal symptoms are a common indicator of a gut in distress, there are some indirect signs that could also be linked to your gut. Improving your gut health can help to get rid of these troubling symptoms. Here are the signs to note.
Unintentional weight gain
Unintentional weight gain that happens without any medical condition or lifestyle changes, may be caused by your gut microbiome. According to research published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology in October 2020, certain gut bacteria can promote inflammation, which leads to insulin resistance and indirectly affects your weight.
Excessive sugar cravings
If your gut is unhealthy, you may experience excessive sugar cravings. These can manifest through craving sweets, bread, fruit, or dairy. This further creates a vicious cycle as too much sugar consumption contributes to growth of bad bacteria in the gut. This can create an inflammatory environment in your body.
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Moodiness, anxiety, and depression
There is a strong link between our gut and our brain. In fact, the gut is often referred to as the second brain.
According to a review published in May 2018 in Frontiers in Psychiatry, gut microbes communicate with the nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system, thereby influencing your mood and how you feel.
To fix this, a handful of studies suggest that supplementation of prebiotics may improve your symptoms. Further, a diet rich in whole, plant-based foods, such as the Mediterranean diet, can promote a healthy gut microbiome and improve your mental health and mood.
A review published in Advances in Nutrition in July 2020 found that this type of dietary pattern promotes gut microbial diversity and reduces gut inflammation, benefiting mental health.
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Food intolerances
Food intolerances means you have difficulty digesting a certain food or food component. Research suggests that many food intolerances may result from changes in your gut microbiome. This can lead to gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal cramping, bloating, and gas.
To fix this, start by identifying the offending food and then eliminate it from your diet for several weeks. Once your symptoms are gone, you may reintroduce the food in your diet through small quantities. This will allow your gut bacteria to become more adept at breaking down this food, which can help in increasing your tolerance.
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