7 Signs Your Gut Health Needs Attention
Lately, there’s been a lot of buzz about gut health, and for good reason. Your gut, often dubbed the “second brain,” is vital for overall health, impacting everything from digestion to your mental state. So how can you tell if your gut needs some rest? Here are seven symptoms to watch for:
If you’re regularly dealing with bloating, gas, constipation, or diarrhea, your gut might be struggling. While occasional discomfort is normal, regular issues can signal an imbalance in your gut microbiome—the community of microorganisms in your digestive tract.
Do you feel tired all the time, even after a full night’s sleep? Your gut health might be the reason. An unhealthy gut can hinder nutrient absorption, leading to deficiencies that drain your energy. Plus, since your gut produces most of your serotonin—a hormone that affects mood and energy—an imbalance can leave you feeling fatigued.
If certain foods like dairy or gluten give you trouble, it might be more than just a sensitivity. Food intolerances can result from poor-quality gut bacteria, which affect how well you digest certain foods and lead to discomfort.
Your skin often reflects your internal health. Problems like acne, eczema, and rosacea can be linked to gut issues. An unhealthy gut may cause inflammation, leading to skin irritation and flare-ups.
Research increasingly shows a link between gut health and autoimmune diseases, where your immune system attacks your own tissues. A leaky gut, or increased intestinal permeability, can trigger or worsen these conditions.
Sudden, unexplained weight loss or gain can indicate an unhealthy gut. An imbalanced gut can disrupt your body’s ability to manage blood sugar and fat storage and affect hunger and satiety signals, leading to overeating or undereating.
The gut-brain connection is real, and an unhealthy gut can significantly impact your mental health. Anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders can be exacerbated by gut imbalances. Since your gut produces neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, keeping it healthy is crucial for mood regulation.
