Our gut health is one of the major foundation stones of our health and well-being. The gut, has an important role in digestion, absorption, and overall health.
The digestion process starts at the mouth when the food enters our body through the esophagus and then gets further processed in the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. The gut is responsible for breaking food into nutrients that the body can absorb and utilise.
What is poor gut health?
The microbial balance in our body is vital for maintaining gut health and preventing diseases. The gut also communicates with our brain via the gut-brain axis, influencing our mood and mental health. Proper gut function is essential for overall well-being and disease prevention. An unhealthy gut can have a major impact on overall health and well-being. An unhealthy gut is when there is an imbalance in the gut microbiome, causing certain discomforting situations.
What are the signs of a poor gut health?
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Digestive issues: Frequent gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn can indicate an unhealthy gut. These issues indicate that our digestive system is struggling to process food and eliminate waste effectively.
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Sleep disturbances: An unhealthy gut may affect a person’s sleep patterns and lead to chronic fatigue and tiredness. The gut produces serotonin, a hormone that greatly influences mood and sleep. Therefore, disturbed sleep patterns should not be ignored.
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Bad breath: Persistent bad breath, despite good oral hygiene, can be a sign of gut dysbiosis (imbalance in gut bacteria). Issues in the digestive tract can cause foul-smelling breath.
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Mental health: Anxiety, stress, depression, and mood swings are often linked to gut health. The gut-brain relationship is a complex communication system, and imbalances in the gut microbiome can influence brain chemistry.
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Weight changes: Sudden, unexplained weight loss or gain can be linked to gut health. An imbalanced gut can affect our body’s ability to perform basic functions like absorbing nutrients, regulating blood sugar, and storing fat.
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Food intolerances: Difficulty in digesting certain foods, leading to symptoms such as feeling gastric, abdominal pain, bloating, and nausea, are symptoms of gut imbalance.
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Autoimmune conditions: An imbalanced gut can increase systemic inflammation and influence the normal functioning of the immune system, leading to a condition where the body attacks itself.
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Frequent infections: Poor gut health can compromise the immune system, making us more vulnerable to infections. Our gut has an important role in strengthening our immune system, and its imbalance can affect the immune responses to infections.
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Skin irritation: Skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and acne can be linked to gut health. Inflammation in the gut can trigger skin issues.
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Chronic inflammation: Chronic gut inflammation can spill over into systemic inflammation, causing chronic inflammatory conditions and may result in joint pain and muscle aches.
Improving gut health
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Hydration: One must drink plenty of water to support digestion and nutrient absorption and to avoid poor gut health.
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Balanced diet: Eating a diverse range of foods, especially high-fiber foods, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, can help to maintain good gut health.
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Regular exercise: Staying physically active can help promote a healthy digestive system, supporting gut health.
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Probiotics and prebiotics: One must incorporate fermented foods like yogurt, idli, and dosa and foods rich in prebiotic fibers like garlic, onions, and bananas. This helps maintain a healthy gut microbiome.
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Sleep: Ensure you get adequate and quality sleep to support overall health and gut health
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Stress management: One must practice stress-reducing techniques such as meditation, yoga, and deep breathing exercises.
By paying attention to the above ten signs and adopting certain lifestyle changes to support a healthy gut, one can improve not only their digestive health but also their overall well-being. One may also consult a specialist for expert guidance.
FAQ on gut health
How to fix bad gut health?
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Consume fiber to prevent constipation
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Stay hydrated
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Cut down on fat for a healthy gut
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Avoid spice to prevent tummy troubles
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Beware of gut symptom triggers
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Probiotics
What is the top habit destroying your gut health?
Consuming an improper diet with less fiber, high in fats, and sugary products, paired with other triggers, can cause gut health issues.
What destroys gut bacteria?
A diet the is high in fat and sugar; low in fibre and probiotics can destroy the the gut microbiome.
