Listen to Your Gut: What You Need to Know About Gut Health
It’s no secret that the way we eat is vital to our well-being. The problem is when we become obsessed with losing weight and counting calories to look good. By having this mentality, we forget about what’s really important: eating to feel good.
Adopting healthy eating habits starts in the gut. It’s the gateway to your overall health, working hard behind the scenes to keep your body functioning properly. Along with breaking down food, your gut absorbs nutrients that affect your energy, hormone levels, emotions and more.
Studies show a balanced digestive system lowers inflammation, which is the leading cause of many diseases and chronic health conditions.
The Gut Microbiome
Your body is full of trillions of microorganisms - bacteria, viruses and fungi – all of which make up your microbiome. Most of these microbes live inside your intestines, known as the gut microbiome.
How can you tell if someone’s gut microbiome is in good shape? It depends on the balance of “bad bacteria” versus “good bacteria.”
While there’s bacteria associated with disease, there’s also bacteria that’s good for your immune system and gut health. The goal is to make sure your ratio of good bacteria to bad bacteria is higher.
Signs Your Gut is Unhealthy
1. Chronic fatigue
Your gut produces serotonin, the hormone that affects sleep. Damage in the gut can lead to sleep problems and in severe cases, chronic fatigue.
2. Upset stomach
Stomach issues such as bloating, diarrhea constipation, and heartburn are indicators that your gut is unhealthy. When your gut is balanced, processing food and getting rid of waste is easier.
3. Food intolerances
Being sensitive to certain foods is the result of issues in the digestive system. When the gut contains too much bad bacteria, digestion becomes difficult.
Food intolerances and digestive issues can cause Leaky Gut Syndrome (LGS). We have an intestinal lining in our stomachs, which acts as a barrier that controls what enters the bloodstream. Food sensitivities can break down this barrier, causing holes in the gut lining. When this happens, bacteria and toxins can be absorbed in the bloodstream. This can lead to major health problems down the line.
Your diet plays a major role in the development of LGS. “There is emerging evidence that the standard American diet, which is low in fiber and high in sugar and saturated fats, may initiate this process,” Harvard Health reports.
4. Inflammation
Research shows an unhealthy gut affects the immune system (70% of our immune system lives in the gut!) It also increases inflammation - the body’s defense mechanism against foreign invaders. While this is a healthy response, it can become problematic if the inflammation continues for an extended period of time. This can lead to various health issues including anxiety and depression.
5. Stress
Feeling weighed down by stress? What you’re eating might be to blame. Your gut and brain are in constant communication. The vagus nerve connects them, sending signals in both directions.
They are also connected through neurotransmitters - chemicals in the brain that influence your mental and emotional state. Serotonin is one of the main neurotransmitters that’s linked to mood, so when your serotonin levels are out of balance, you may feel stressed or anxious as a result.
If your stress is the result of poor gut health, meditation is scientifically-proven to alleviate symptoms of gut disorders.
What You Can Do
Along with eating a gut-friendly diet (yogurt, kefir, kimchi, olive oil, and more), make sure you are getting enough sleep, exercising regularly and managing stress.
If you want to take back control of your health, start listening to your gut!