The incredible complexity of our gut biome makes it difficult for even doctors to determine the cause of an upset stomach. Over the past few decades, studies have linked gut issues with mood, the immune system, mental health, endocrine disorders, cancer, and skin conditions.
There are many facets of modern life that cause stress, lead us not to get enough sleep, and cause us to eat processed food. However, these missteps are likely causing these issues. Even an itchy butthole can be a sign of poor gut health, so it’s best not to mess around!
Here are 7 common signs of an unhealthy gut and 7 ways to improve your stomach woes.
7 Clear Signs of an Unhealthy Gut
We already stressed how difficult it can be to find your unhealthy gut culprit, but we’ve narrowed it down to 7 common signs that are likely to make your gut feel like it’s tossing and turning.
1. High-Sugar Diet
Eating a lot of processed foods that have added sugars can remove good bacteria from your stomach. This imbalance will lead to sugar cravings. High fructose corn syrup exponentially increases inflammation in your body.
2. Upset Stomach
There are several reasons for an upset stomach. Heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and gas could all signal an unhealthy gut. A happy stomach won’t have much difficulty eliminating waste and processing food in your intestines.
3. Constant Fatigue
Sleep affects every aspect of our lives. When you don’t get enough of it, you’ll stop producing serotonin in your gut. Seriously! Gut damage can only start to repair with sleep, so you may need to consult your doctor if you have insomnia.
4. Weight Fluctuations
If your weight starts to fluctuate, even though you haven’t made changes to your diet or exercise habits, you may have an unhealthy gut. SIBO, insulin resistance, poor nutrient absorption, and high blood sugar could be other causes.
5. Autoimmune Disorders
An unhealthy gut causes several autoimmune disorders. It’s thought that a disturbed gut biome may increase systemic inflammation, which causes the immune system to go berserk. This could lead to the body attacking itself rather than invaders.
6. Skin Irritation
Eczema and similar skin conditions may be due to an inflamed gut. A poor gut can begin to leak specific proteins and nutrients throughout the body, which can irritate your skin. While more evidence needs to be done, eczema is likely worsened by an upset stomach.
7. Food Intolerance
Food intolerances occur when your stomach has difficulties digesting specific foods. It’s theorized that harmful bacteria in the gut can trigger unpleasant symptoms, like gas and bloating when foods are digested. This could be cleared up with a healthy gut.
7 Ways to Improve an Unhealthy Gut
You likely have one or more of the above symptoms if you’re currently keeled over in pain due to your stomach issues. If that’s the case, we recommend trying the following to improve your gut.
- Eat Slowly: Chewing your food slowly can help your body absorb nutrients.
- Sleep Longer: Try to sleep at least 7-8 hours a night to improve your overall health.
- Reduce Stress: Do something fun to lower your stress or get a message.
- Take a Pre/probiotic: A pre/probiotic supplement can rapidly repair gut health.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink over 8 glasses of water a day to improve your intestinal lining.
- Avoid Triggers: While recovering, avoid foods that upset your stomach.
- Switch Diets: Remove processed sugars from your diet and eat plant-based foods.
High-fiber foods like oats, peas, beans, berries, and legumes have been shown to positively impact gut health. Garlic, onions, fermented foods (miso), and collagen-boosting foods (mushrooms) are also great anti-cancer foods that help repair your stomach health.