Warning signs that indicate poor gut health

Gut health is extremely essential to maintain a healthy body and mind. However, due to erratic eating habits and sedentary lifestyles, it often gets compromised. But, most people fail to notice this, leading to digestive issues.

Your gut starts showing some early warning signs you must not ignore. In this article, Nutritionist Minacshi Pettukola, shares signs of poor gut health that you should not avoid.

Bloating and gas

When the gut is filled with proportions of bad bacteria higher or in excess, our foods are not broken down or digested as they should, leading to an increase in gas and acidity in your gut. “Besides eating nutritious foods, eating without distractions, chewing your food well and consciously help in the overall process of digestion,” Minacshi said.

Mood swings

Did you know there is a strong connection between low moods/depression and digestive health? Doesn’t this explain why we feel low, we either crave comfort food or even lose our appetite? (apart from the other feelings we have). She added, “This is the not so good bacteria in our tummies being active! Good sleep, fresh produce, movement and stress management help both the mind and the gut.”

Poor concentration

If your digestive wall is irritated, hyper-permeable or ‘leaky’ from the foods you eat, the stress you experience or an imbalanced lifestyle, undigested food passes beyond your digestive wall and into your body causing a whole host of problems, including slow brain function.

Skin concerns

Any issues with our gut like inflammation, a leaky gut or a digestive problem, the first place one can notice is the skin. The skin is the largest organ in our bodies that can quite quickly show unhappiness. Gut healthy foods and a healthy lifestyle can definitely result in healthy glowing skin.

Food Intolerance

Food intolerance are the result of difficulty digesting certain foods (this is different than a food allergy, which is caused by an immune system reaction to certain foods). It’s thought that food intolerance may be caused by poor quality of bacteria in the gut. This can lead to difficulty digesting the trigger foods and unpleasant symptoms such as bloating, gas, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea. There are some evidence that food allergies may also be related to gut health.

Takeaway

The human gut is more complex than previously thought and has a huge impact on whole-body health. A healthy gut contributes to a strong immune system, heart health, brain health, improved mood, healthy sleep, and effective digestion, and it may help prevent some cancers and autoimmune diseases. There are a number of lifestyle changes you can make to positively affect your gut health and your overall health as a result.