Causes of intestinal imbalance
indigestion
Constipation, bloating, gas, stomach cramps, acid reflux, or heartburn occur. However, they are symptoms of intestinal imbalance. A healthy digestive system will make it easier to process food and remove waste.
Unexpected changes in weight
Weight loss or gain without changing your diet or exercise habits may be a direct sign of an unhealthy gut. An imbalanced gut may have difficulty absorbing nutrients, regulating blood sugar, signaling fullness, and storing fat. A lack of diversity in the gut microbiome may be a precursor to obesity, which can lead to more serious health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.
persistent fatigue
Consistently feeling tired even before the day starts may be a sign that something is wrong with your gut. A lack of diversity in gut bacteria is directly linked to sleep disorders such as low energy, chronic fatigue, insomnia and restless sleep. Serotonin is a hormone that affects sleep and mood and is produced in the gut. An abnormally functioning gut can make it difficult to produce or regulate serotonin, which can affect your ability to get a good, restful night's sleep.
irritating skin conditions
Gut health affects everything, even your skin. Conditions like eczema and acne are linked to intestinal inflammation caused by food allergies, poor diet, and a lack of beneficial gut bacteria. When the gut is imbalanced, with more bad bacteria than good, it can cause serious damage to the skin.
food intolerance
When the term "food intolerance" is mentioned, many people think of food allergies. But just because a certain type of food (like dairy or wheat) makes your stomach upset, doesn't necessarily mean you're actually allergic, or even that you have an allergy. Intolerance. The reason certain foods cause an upset stomach is that your microbiome may be imbalanced. Your gut may simply lack enough good bacteria needed to break down certain foods effectively.
mood changes
The gut has been shown to have such a strong impact on the body's functioning that it is often referred to as the "second brain." Research has repeatedly shown that factors such as anxiety, depression, mood swings and emotional well-being are related to the state of the gut. The presence of good bacteria in the gut supports the production and regulation of important mood-enhancing chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin.
things you can do
change your eating habits
Diet has a huge impact on gut health and the balance of good and bad bacteria. Reducing the amount of processed foods, high-sugar, and high-fat foods can lead to a healthier gut. Aim for a balanced diet that includes plenty of plant foods, lean protein, and fiber.
Increase sleep
Getting enough sleep can help promote gut health. Lack of sleep can lead to a decrease in beneficial gut bacteria. In turn, a lack of good bacteria in your gut can lead to more sleep problems. This is a vicious cycle.
Avoid unnecessary medication
Adding more chemicals and medications to your gut will only exacerbate the problems you already have. While some medications are certainly necessary and have a role, such as life-saving antibiotics, limit them to what you really need and what your doctor recommends. For example, antibiotics can completely wipe out the good bacteria in your gut while fighting the bad ones. Other medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antacids, birth control pills, steroids, and hormone replacements can also damage the good bacteria in your gut.
Supplementing with prebiotics and probiotics
A great way to improve gut health is to add prebiotics and probiotics to your diet. Prebiotics can be easily added to your diet by eating foods like bananas, garlic, onions, and leafy green vegetables. Probiotics are found in yogurt and fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, unpasteurized pickles, and kefir. Both can be added as dietary supplements, but talk to your gastroenterologist to make sure you're taking a high-quality supplement that won't end up harming your gut biome further.
Drink more water
One of the easiest ways to promote good gut health is to drink more water. Increasing your water intake helps keep materials moving through your digestive tract and promotes a healthy balance of gut bacteria. Avoid replacing water with caffeinated or alcoholic beverages, which can further irritate the intestines.
avoid stress
It's easier said than done, but reducing stress can help balance your gut. Small changes as simple as a walk, massage, yoga, or a few laughs can reduce stress hormones and allow your gut to produce more serotonin and dopamine.
Signs of gut health
How often do you have a bowel movement
There are no hard and fast rules about how often you "should" have a bowel movement. Instead, watch for a "three and three" pattern: between three and three bowel movements per day for a week. Anything within that range is considered healthy.
You should also have bowel movements during the day. If you find yourself getting up in the middle of the night to poop, it could be a sign that something isn't quite right and you should see your doctor.
How long it takes food to move through the intestines (intestinal transit time)
Another important indicator of gut health is how long it takes for a meal to be digested and the food eaten to pass through the intestines - this is called intestinal transit time.
A healthy intestinal transit time is neither too short nor too long. Our research shows that travel times vary widely from person to person, with typical times around 28 hours.
perfect poop
The color, shape, and consistency of your stool can give you important clues about your gut health.
A healthy intestine produces primarily brown stool, which should be between medium to dark brown.
If your poop is a different color, such as green, black, red or yellow (and you haven't eaten darker foods like beetroot), your bowel may be behaving badly and you should get it checked out.
Signs of intestinal health include stool:
- Smooth texture;
- Form into a soft to firm sausage shape, delivered in single large pieces or several small pieces;
- The sink is in the toilet.
Signs of an unhealthy gut include stool:
- Hard, lumpy, or looking like small solid pieces, which may mean you are constipated;
- Very soft or liquid, such as when you have diarrhea;
- Floating, this may mean there is undigested fat in your stool.
Painless defecation
Being able to poop comfortably is a sign of a healthy gut. You should be able to have a bowel movement without pain or feeling like you have to strain to pass it.
If you do find that you have some pain or discomfort during a bowel movement, or are straining too much, this could be a sign of constipation, food intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, or other medical issues that need to be checked out.
Avoid too much bloating and gas
Gas is a natural byproduct of the trillions of gut bacteria chewing the food we eat. Healthy intestinal activity allows us to fart 10-20 times a day.
Remember - farting is a good thing. Try not to hold your breath as holding in your fart can have negative consequences.
Trapped gas can also make you feel bloated. While it's normal to feel a little bloated and gassy after a large meal, some people do experience this more than others, especially after eating certain foods. Check out our tips for relieving bloating and gas.
If you have persistent bloating or pain that cannot be explained by changes in diet or environment (such as increased stress), you should talk to your doctor.
