So lets talk about this...Poor gut health is a sign of poor overall health. Okay... thats sounds pretty harsh, right?
More correctly, if you have poor gut health, your overall health is suffering as a result. You have more bacteria cells in your gut than you have human cells in your ENTIRE body. You have a lot of cells in your body - roughly 37.2 trillion! But you actually have far more bacteria: about 10 times as many. Crazy, right?
If your gut is unhealthy, those bacteria are unhealthy, and you’re unhealthy by default. So all the fitness, and 1 cup of kale per day (lol..just kidding I know its way more than that) is not as beneficial as it could be for you. Since your calories and nutrients pass through your gut before they become available to you, the health of your gut influences the health of every part of your body.
Poor gut health isn’t only caused by unhealthy bacteria, but they are a major cause. Consider that many autoimmune issues, irritable bowel syndrome, lifestyle habits are linked to an imbalance of healthy and unhealthy bacteria.
Here are 8 Signs you might be suffering from poor gut health. These issues are all related to poor gut health:
Addiction to simple carbohydrates. Sugar can be bad for your body when we OVER DO THEM. Eating simple sugars helps the bad bacteria in your gut to grow. And, what do those bacteria like to eat? That’s right, more sugar. If you have regular cravings for foods with a high sugar content, it might be a sign of poor gut health.
Difficulty concentrating. A reduced ability to concentrate is a common complaint among those with poor gut health. It’s believed that the inflammation caused by poor gut health affects the brain’s ability to focus and block out excess stimuli.
Gastrointestinal distress. Diarrhea, bloating, constipation, gas, heartburn, or other gastrointestinal discomfort can be a sign of poor gut health. A healthy gut is able to process and eliminate waste with minimal difficulties. Regular gastrointestinal distress can be a sign of a serious issue.
Fatigue. Fatigue is another common symptom found in those suffering from poor gut health. If you’re frequently tired without explanation, your gut may be to blame.
If you frequently suffer from fatigue, consider how much sleep you’ve been getting. If you’re getting plenty of sleep and you’re still tired, you might want to consider the possibility that your gut is to blame
Unexplained changes in weight. It’s possible that poor gut health can lead to either weight gain or weight loss. If your diet and exercise are unchanged and your weight is changing significantly, you might have an issue in your gut. Gut issues can affect your body’s ability to digest and absorb nutrients.
Autoimmune disorders. There are numerous autoimmune disorders that can either be caused by, or exacerbated by, poor gut health. The bad bacteria in your gut are able to travel around the body and create inflammation in various tissues and organs.
This inflammation is a major cause of many diseases. Some medical experts believe this type of inflammation might possibly be responsible for nearly all diseases.
Skin ailments. Skin difficulties, such as psoriasis, acne, eczema, and rosacea can all be caused by gut-related issues. Enhancing your gut health can often eliminate these annoying conditions.
Poor sleep. Between the gastrointestinal distress, inflammation, skin issues, and autoimmune disorders, it’s no wonder that sleep quality can become an issue. It’s odd to think that an issue in your gut could be disrupting your sleep, but it happens.
This is just the SHORT version of signs to look out for. Gut health is a serious issue. You can’t be fully "healthy" if your gut is unhealthy. If you consistently have symptoms of poor gut health, it’s time to see your doctor and RESET your lifestyle. When you ensure that your gut is healthy, you’re greatly increasing the odds that the rest of your body will be healthy, too. Treat your gut properly, and you’ll be well rewarded. Think of your gut as your SECOND brain. It's so powerful and controls how your body heals, thinks, respond to foods, and so much more.
So now that we know what signs to look for to assess our gut health, you are probably wondering HOW to correct them? Next week, we will be discussing several ways to help HEAL and restore your gut health in part two: The Gut Reset!
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