There’s been a lot of focus recently on the importance of the gut microbiome in maintaining overall health and vitality.
The human digestive tract ordinarily contains over 1,000 species of bacteria, each with a role to play in optimizing our health. Everything you eat or drink affects your gut environment in some way and things like overprocessed food, low-fiber diets, and antibiotics wreak havoc with these tiny living organisms.
It’s easy to see how our modern-day habits could impact the overall functioning of our bodies, leading to ill health and discomfort.
So, what are the symptoms of an unhealthy gut and what can you do about it?
Bloating and Other Digestive Issues
It makes sense that your digestive system will be the first thing to feel the strain when you have gut issues. Bloating, constipation, stomach cramps, and diarrhea are all symptoms of an unhealthy colon.
If you leave these problems unchecked, you could end up with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or other serious health issues.
Mental Health Issues
Your gut’s responsible for creating the mood-controlling neurotransmitters called serotonin and dopamine. So any disturbances in this area could lead to mental issues like anxiety, depression, and mood swings.
Gut problems can also cause migraines and feelings of ongoing fatigue.
Chronic Illness and Discomfort
Autoimmune conditions like ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis are also linked to gut health.
Have you developed a sudden skin rash or food allergy? Your gut health could be faltering. Researchers have also established a link between acne outbreaks and gut health.
Food Cravings and Weight Gain
Unexplained weight gain’s related to what you eat in more ways than one.
Consuming too much sugar not only overloads your system with unnecessary energy but it also disrupts your gut health.
The yeast in your gut microbiome thrives on sugar, and when you keep it well-fed, you’ll end up with unhealthy levels of yeast and thus have a higher ‘need’ for sugar.
This leads to food cravings and inefficient digestion which both contribute to weight gain.
Solutions for an Unhealthy Gut Microbiome
According to the website, https://microbeformulas.com/, natural detox is a good way to reboot your gut health and relieve discomfort.
Once you’ve got that out of the way, these are some of the nutritional ‘cures’ you can try to keep your gut functioning at an optimum:
- Eat more probiotic-rich foods like yogurt
- Ingest plenty of prebiotics in the form of high fiber foods
- Cut down on sugar and simple carbohydrates
- Avoid taking antibiotics if possible
- Eat fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut
A naturopath or nutritional specialist can help you with dietary solutions to your gut problems too.
Getting Your Health and Fitness on Track
From the above, we can see that an unhealthy gut may be at the root of numerous common health conditions. Fortunately, keeping your microbiome healthy isn’t difficult, so it’s worth trying some of these solutions before opting for pharmaceutical interventions.
Keep browsing my blog for more helpful advice on how to stay fit and healthy.