Do you suffer from gut health issues?
Something I often hear from clients is “oh yes, I get that, but its normal right?! Everyone gets that a little bit” and often my answer is, “well it’s common, but doesn’t mean it’s normal”.
Here are the 6 most common signs that you have underlying gut health issues:
1. Stomach Disturbances
Stomach symptoms like excess gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea, reflux and heartburn are signs of an unhealthy gut. A balanced gut will not have difficulty processing food and eliminating waste.
2. Unintentional Weight Changes
Gaining or losing weight without making changes to your diet or exercise routine, may be a sign of an unhealthy gut. An imbalanced gut can hinder your body's ability to absorb nutrients, regulate blood sugar, and store fat.
3. Poor Sleep and Fatigue
An unhealthy gut may contribute to poor sleep quality and quantity and therefore lead to chronic fatigue. The majority of the body's serotonin, a hormone that affects mood and sleep, is produced in the gut. So poor gut health can impair your ability to sleep well.
4. Skin Irritation
Skin conditions like eczema can be related to a damaged gut. Inflammation in the gut caused by a poor diet or food allergies may cause conditions such as eczema. There are also links between gut yeast overgrowth and skin conditions, like eczema and fungal skin infections.
5. Autoimmune Conditions
Researchers are finding new evidence about the impact an unhealthy gut can have on the immune system. It's thought that an unhealthy gut may increase systemic inflammation and alter the proper functioning of the immune system. This can lead to autoimmune diseases, where the body attacks itself rather than harmful invaders.
6. Food Intolerances
Food intolerances are the result of the body having difficulty digesting certain foods and are thought to be caused by the imbalance of gut bacteria. Not to be confused with food allergies, food intolerance can lead to difficulty in digesting the trigger foods and result in symptoms such as bloating, gas, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and nausea can occur.
So, if you suffer from any of these symptoms and are unsure if you may underlying gut health issues, then it's best to book in for a complementary consultation with Chantelle our dietitian, to see how we could help your gut health.
Chantelle-Rose Martino | Accredited Practising Dietitian