Too many people have poor gut health and don’t realize it. You might even be one of them! It is said that good health begins in the gut. That’s why a healthy, well-balanced diet is so important to follow. If you’re not sure whether your gut health is in good or bad condition, here are some surprising symptoms to watch out for. These symptoms are often mistaken for other health conditions but are commonly caused by an unhealthy gut.
Abdominal Discomfort After Eating
If your stomach feels bloated and uncomfortable after eating, you might assume you have a food intolerance or allergy. While this is certainly a possibility, the problem could also be due to poor gut health. In fact, some food intolerances may be triggered by gut problems and gradually go away once those problems are resolved.
When you don’t have enough healthy bacteria in your gut to break down the foods you eat and absorb nutrients from those foods, you’re more likely to feel abdominal pain after a meal. It’s normal to feel some abdominal discomfort occasionally after eating, but if it’s a common occurrence, poor gut health may be to blame.
Constipation or Diarrhea
Do you struggle to have regular bowel movements or do your bowel movements come too frequently? Constipation and diarrhea are both common symptoms associated with an imbalanced gut microbiome. Any type of straining—whether it be from constipation or diarrhea—is not a good thing and is a sign of digestive stress.
Poor Skin Health
Acne, rosacea and other types of skin irritation may become worse when your gut bacteria are unbalanced. While more research needs to be done in this area, studies show a link between gut health and skin health. Eating foods such as sugary treats and meals high in saturated fats can lead to an unhealthy balance of gut bacteria that causes inflammation in the gut and in the skin.
Weight Gain
Do you feel like the pounds keep sneaking onto your body, even though you’re exercising regularly and trying to cut calories? The culprit may be your gut microbiome. The type and quality of bacteria in your gut can impact the number of calories and nutrients you can extract from your food. Interestingly, one study reveals that people with a lower diversity of gut bacteria tended to have a higher body mass index than people with very diverse gut bacteria.
The good news is that you can work to bring balance to your gut microbiome. Consume a healthy diet with plenty of raw fruits and vegetables, work out regularly and take a probiotic supplement as needed to restore the healthy balance of your gut microbiome.
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