We dedicated our last two posts to probiotics and the many ways they provide health perks to the human body. Let’s take it a step further and talk about the signs that can alert you that your gut health may be in danger.
Unintended weight fluctuations. If you haven’t been hitting the treadmill hard and monitoring every single calorie that goes into your mouth, then you may have a gut issue if you’ve noticed a sudden drop or gain in weight. When your gut is imbalanced, your body’s ability to absorb nutrients, store fat, and regulate blood sugar is defective. In turn, weight loss may stem from small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and added weight may be caused by overeating provoked by the lack of nutrient absorption.
Intolerance to certain foods. When we have a tough time digesting certain foods, unrelated to a food allergy, it could be the result of bad quality of gut bacteria, which will lead to diarrhea, abdominal pain, gas, bloating and nausea. Before you jump to the conclusion that you have an allergy, you may want to ask a doctor about how your bacteria balance is looking.
Skin trouble. In most cases, our skin paints the picture of our health. It is for this reason that we break out after indulging in a major chocolate binge or fail to drink water regularly. When our gut is inflamed, certain proteins leak out into the body, leading to skin conditions like eczema, which can cause major irritation.
Changes in sleep patterns. Sleep is often the first thing to go when we have a health issue. The disturbance in our physical body can wreak havoc on our shut-eye. Because the majority of the body’s serotonin, a hormone that contributes to mood and sleep, is made in the gut, this will definitely be an issue for your nightly slumber if you have any gut damage. To make matters worse, longtime sleep problems have been linked to a higher risk for fibromyalgia.
Autoimmune problems. There has been a lot of evidence involving the impact of gut health on the immune system, and medical researchers have reason to believe that a lack of gut health can contribute to systemic inflammation, interrupting the immune system’s many jobs. If it goes untreated, the body may end up attacking itself instead of fighting off the harmful invaders, which can lead to autoimmune diseases.
A diet high in sugar. If you enjoy some hardcore candy sessions, you may want to trade that processed sugar in for something better. Foods that have added sugars, are more likely to decrease the amount of good bacteria in your gut, and in turn, you end up having even more cravings for sugar. This is where inflammation comes in, which can ultimately lead to a variety of different diseases and cancers.
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