When it comes to maintaining your overall health, taking care of your gastrointestinal tract is essential. Your GI tract, also known as your gut, can have significant bearing on your mental health, mood, immune system, autoimmune system, skin condition, and more.
Because your gut impacts so many of the body’s systems and functions, it’s crucial to know the signs of an unhealthy gut and how to address it with natural remedies. Use peptides such as BPC 157 which is shown to protect and heal inflamed intestinal epithelium (leaky gut). However, be sure to know about BPC 157 effects before using one.
What is Gut Health?
The digestive system is a complex system within the human body. Once thought to be a relatively straight forward system, the gastrointestinal tract is a long line of intestines and the stomach where food is broken down and removed from the body.
GI health relies on an internal ecosystem of microorganisms. While the body contains about 30 trillion human cells, the gut plays host to nearly 40 trillion bacterial cells. Thousands of species live within the gut microbiome, with each species playing a different role.
While the term “bacteria” often has a negative connotation, the reality is your body needs bacteria to stay healthy. Within the gut, there’s “good” bacteria and “bad” bacteria, and the body needs to regulate this environment. To improve gut health, you need to do what you can to promote the growth of the healthy bacterial that builds and repairs your GI tract.
Indications of Poor Gut Health
When it comes to maintaining gut health, what you choose to eat makes a significant impact. Also, various lifestyle factors can play a role; for example, sleep patterns and stress levels.
The seven following symptoms are signs that your gut health may need attention. If you’re experiencing two or more of the following symptoms, it’s likely your issue stems from an imbalance in your stomach or intestines:
- 1. Unexplained Weight Change– Unintentionally losing or gaining weight may be a sign of an unhealthy gut. If you haven’t changed your exercise routine or diet but are experiencing weight fluctuation, your GI tract is likely the culprit. Gaining weight can result from overeating, a habit often formed if your gut doesn’t absorb enough nutrients. On the other hand, losing weight can be caused by bacterial overgrowth within the small intestine.
- 2. Food Sensitivities or Allergies– Food allergies have been linked to the gut’s inability to digest certain food groups. By increasing your gut’s “good” bacteria, you can combat some food sensitivities.
- 3. Digestive Problems like Gas and Bloating– If you frequently experience symptoms like gas, bloating, diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal pain, you may have issues with your GI tract.
- 4. Autoimmune Disorders– An unhealthy gut can increase inflammation within the body, leading to autoimmune diseases.
- 5. Skin Issues Like Acne, Eczema, and Rosacea– Skin irritation is another symptom of an unhealthy gut. When the gut can’t absorb all the nutrients it needs, certain proteins can release within the body, which leads to poor skin conditions.
- 6. Fatigue– Researches have also linked the GI tract to insomnia and insufficient sleep. Poor gut health can lead to chronic fatigue if not addressed.
- 7. Mood Swings– Serotonin, a hormone, affects your mood and your sleep. The majority of serotonin within the human body is made within the gut. An unhealthy gut has difficulty producing serotonin.
While these symptoms may indicate a slight imbalance in your gut’s ecosystem, some gut disorders can have serious consequences. Such conditions include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), small bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and leaky gut syndrome. If you suspect you may have any of these conditions, contact your doctor.
Common Gut Trouble Triggers
The first defense when trying to improve your gut health is to know the causes behind the symptoms. Eliminating these triggers from your diet or your lifestyle may help you identify the root cause of your gut’s internal imbalance. Some common trouble triggers include:
- Eating a lot of processed foods
- Drinking alcohol excessively
- Extreme stress
- Traveling overseas to new environments
Improve Your Gut Health Naturally
There are many ways to boost your body’s gut health naturally. By using these tips, you can build up a healthy gut environment.
- Add more fiber, probiotics, and collagen-rich foods to your diet. These foods have all been linked to better gut health.
- Target your food intolerances. Find out what foods trigger your symptoms and avoid eating them to help protect your gut.
- Reduce your sugar intake. Processed foods and sugar can harm your gut; by avoiding them, you can build a healthier intestinal environment.
- Supplement with MCT oil. MCT oil made naturally contains fatty acids that suppress the growth of unhealthy bacteria and fungi within the GI tract. MCT oil is a refined supplement that is very easy to digest, making it a great tool to boost your gut health.
A Healthy Gut For a Healthy Future
While the gut is a complicated internal ecosystem of its own, taking care of your gut health doesn’t have to be difficult. If you follow the tips listed above, you can protect your GI tract and ward off numerous gut disorders and their resulting toll on the rest of your body.