Generally the notion connected to “gut health” is how well your digestion works and issues around the digestive system. What you don't realize is that the gut is more than just your digestion and has numerous functions it fulfils for the rest of the body. It plays an important role in controlling overall health.
The gut contains trillions of bacteria which influence the digestion, hormones, immune system and ultimately the regulation of your overall health. Any ideal gut has a healthy amount of balanced bacteria which in turn is a sign of optimal health. When the bacteria get imbalanced, the body shows physical signs such as bloating, gas, indigestion, irritable bowel, and even unintentional weight fluctuations. These microorganisms together make up your gut microbiome.
What is a gut microbiome?
The term gut microbiome refers to the microorganisms that reside in your gut, mainly small and large intestines. It is home to 100 trillion microorganisms with thousands of species that make up the microbiome and these not only include the bacteria but also fungi, viruses, and parasites. The bugs are of two types, some of them are beneficial and some are potentially harmful but they coexist in a balanced way. A higher level of diversity in gut bacteria may be associated with better gut health and also overall health.
Some researches have touted it as a vital organ since it plays a role in a number of important functions of the body such as protecting against harmful bacteria, regulating metabolism, helps in digestion, absorbing nutrients, managing hormone levels and even eliminating toxins from the body
If they become imbalanced, the body starts to indicate a number of symptoms such as digestive issues, mood swings, trouble concentrating, malnutrition and even skin problems.
You may also find yourself more prone to infections because of the drop in immunity.
How does gut microbiome impact our health?
Signs of an unhealthy gut!
Digestive issues such as a. Bloating, gasm diarrhea, constipation - Digestive issues are one of the major signs of the gut issues and can show symptoms such as b. Bloating after certain foods or generally all the time. The feeling of fullness and heaviness despite eating a light meal, is one of the most common signs of a gut problem. c. Constipation - having irregular & infrequent bowels, hard stools which are difficult to pass and feeling of incomplete evacuation are also considered to be constipation issues. d. Diarrhea - Frequent trips to the toilet with loose stools are something that does not make us comfortable. e. Acidity or Acid reflux - the burning sensation in food pipe or backwash of the food or sour liquid in the throat. f. Abdominal pain - you get frequent abdominal cramps after a meal are just the sign of poor gut health
Sleep issues - Are struggling to sleep or sleeping too much? This again could be due to imbalanced gut microbiota. The gut produces the body's serotonin hormones which directly affect our emotions and sleep patterns i.e. gut bacteria can regulate sleep by affecting the natural biological clock. Similarly, sleep is important for maintaining a healthy gut microbiome. Regular sleep patterns can have a positive effect on your digestive health.
Fatigue & Tiredness - The main reason we eat food is for it to work as a fuel for your body. But for the food to actually give you the energy, it needs to be digested well, with appropriate nutrients absorbed and the toxins should be eliminated. While the gut is not functioning optimally, the food is not broken down properly and the nutrients are not distributed to the cells, naturally the body will not have the enough amount of good stuff to sustain, hence the fatigue. It may even lead to trouble concentrating, brain fog, memory loss.
Cravings especially sugar - Sugar cravings are a sign of too many bad bacteria and inflammation in the gut. To overcome these cravings you have to reduce the intake of sugar and processed food which stimulates the harmful bacteria. Eating more plant based food feeds the good bacteria and helps them thrive.
Skin irritations- The gut and skin connected through the gut-skin axis as the skin and digestive system interact with each other with the world around and the world inside of us. That simply means, the imbalance in microbiome causes inflammatory skin issues such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea etc.
Food intolerances - They are a result of difficulty digesting certain foods. Although, you may be able to consume them in smaller amounts without causing any issues.
Research suggests that these intolerances are due to the poor quality of bacteria in your gut. If you experience abdominal cramps, diarrhea, acid reflux or nausea, after eating certain food, then it may be your trigger foods.
Auto-immune conditions - Many studies have found the connections between the gut and the immune system. An unhealthy gut increases the systemic inflammation affecting the functioning of the immune system. This can lead to autoimmune diseases, where the body attacks itself rather than harmful invaders. These diseases include triggering autoimmune conditions such as thyroid issues, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis and type 1 diabetes.
Unintentional weight loss or gain - An unhealthy person may not be able to digest the food, absorb the nutrients, store fat and regulate blood sugar - this can cause undetermined weight gain or weight loss.
Anxiety, depression, mood swings - imbalanced emotional health - the gut is also called the second brain and has the ability to affect our cognition and emotional health. There is a very strong link between the gut and the brain through the gut brain axis through the vagus nerve. They also communicate biochemically with the help of neurotransmitters that are responsible for transferring signals back and forth between the gut and Central nervous system in the brain. For example, 95% of serotonin (happy hormone) is produced in the gut, so if you have stomach problems, it will impact you mood. Ever noticed when your mind is distressed due to any reason, you feel those butterflies or cramps or even upset stomach?! Vice versa, when you have constipation, acidity and even indigestion, it can lead to stress, mood swings and long term impact such as depression, brain fog.
Migraines - As per studies, people suffering from GI issues have migraines through the gut-brain connection. Although the reason how brain mechanisms interact with digestion is unclear, these headaches normally occur in people who may be suffering from IBS, Celiac disease or even H.Pylori infection. There may be other symptoms like nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting and dizziness due to underlying digestive issues.
How to improve gut health?
A human gut has many complexities and seems to have a huge impact on the overall health. Gut can have a huge impact on our overall health. A healthy gut contributes to a strong immune system, mental health, improved mood & sleep and effective digestion. When the gut health is compromised and neglected for an extended period of time, it can lead to a number of serious health ailments. Therefore, it is crucial to take control of your health by fixing your gut issues with a number of diet and lifestyle changes. These alterations will positively affect your gut health and your overall health as a result.
Comments