You may know some of the signs of heart disease or diabetes, but most people don’t know the signs of an unhealthy gut.
And an unhealthy gut can impact your health and immune system in so many ways.
If your gut is unhealthy, you may even experience the symptoms of chronic disease that we know so well. But first, there are a few signs that indicate it’s time to start working on your gut health.
1. Gastrointestinal upset
If gas and bloating are a regular occurrence in your life, your gut is probably not on the right track. This is one of the most obvious signs of poor gut health because it appears as a direct connection. When your gut is bloated, you know that your gut is a problem.
This is one of the only symptoms that is going to be so obviously linked to gut health, so if you’re experiencing this, pay attention.
It’s also important to note that you could have an unhealthy gut without bloating, gas, or other gastrointestinal upset. So although it is a sign, don’t make the mistake of using it as a gauge for your gut health.
2. Unintentional weight changes
If you don’t change anything about your diet or lifestyle, yet you begin gaining or losing weight, you may have gut health problems. Studies have shown that your gut microbiome can have a significant impact on your weight, and unintentional fluctuations can be a red flag.
Don’t take it for granted that it’s harder to lose weight because you’re older now. Fix your gut, and you may be able to fix your weight issues.
3. Sleep troubles
If you’re having trouble sleeping, it may be thanks to the bad bacteria in your gut. Because most of the body’s serotonin is stored in the gut, the way you sleep can be a strong indicator of your gut health. So if you’re having trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep, you may want to consider switching up your diet and taking some probiotics like 1MD Complete Probiotics Platinum. Probiotics can help shift the balance of positive and negative bugs in your gut.
4. Skin rashes
If you’re breaking out and you don’t know why, there’s a chance it has to do with your gut health. Skin conditions like eczema and acne have been linked to an overgrowth of Candida Albicans in the gut. And if you’re experiencing these symptoms, especially along with any others on this list, you may have an unhealthy gut.
5. Autoimmune conditions
If you’ve been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, there’s a good chance you’ve got an unhealthy gut. The gut microbiome is closely linked to overall immune health, and when the immune system goes haywire, the gut is the best place to begin healing.
If you’ve identified with any or all of these signs, understand that healing the gut isn’t a short or simple process. It involves lifestyle changes instead of quick fixes.
Adopt a whole foods diet free of any potential allergens, exercise daily, and take a probiotic to help shift your gut microbiome. You may not notice changes immediately, but you should start to see these symptoms subside over a period of months to years.
Again, these are lifestyle changes that can have a positive impact on your health, quality of life, and potentially your longevity.