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Signs of an Unhealthy Gut: What You Need to Look out For
Margo Gladding on
Your gut and its microbiome play an essential role in maintaining overall health and well-being. A healthy gut is crucial for nutrient absorption, immune system balance, digestive function, mental health, cognitive function, as well as disease prevention. In addition, a healthy gut supports energy levels, promotes vitality, sleep quality, skin health, and the body's ability to handle stress. So, when something is off in your gut, it can lead to a wide variety of health issues.
But how do you know if your gut is unhealthy? Check out our latest Humanized podcast “Signs You Have an Underlying Gut Issue” with our special guest Julie Davey, RN, MSN, ANP-C, ACNP-C, to learn a lot more about this important topic. Julie is a nurse practitioner who is passionate about helping individuals get to the root cause of their gut issues and empowering them with the necessary tools to live a healthy and vibrant life. She recently joined Village Green’s team of nutrition experts and is available for consultation.
In this blog, we'll look at some of the signs of an unhealthy gut and what you can do to fix it.
6 Signs of An Unhealthy Gut
1. Digestive Issues
One of the most common signs of an unhealthy gut is digestive issues. If you experience symptoms such as bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, or heartburn, these are important clues that your gut needs attention. Diet and lifestyle habits may be the driver of your digestive complaints. Or an imbalance in gut bacteria, overgrowth of yeast, or a deficiency of digestive enzymes – all examples of underlying causes of uncomfortable digestive symptoms.
2. Unintentional Weight Changes
Changes in weight that occur due to your gut health can often be unintentional. When your gut is inflamed or has an imbalanced microbiome (dysbiosis), it can impact your body’s ability to properly digest and absorb food, and lead to nutrient deficiencies. If you notice that you've been losing or gaining weight without any identifiable cause, the health of your GI system may be a root cause.
3. Skin Conditions
An unhealthy gut can also manifest in your skin. If you have sensitive skin or conditions like eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, or acne that persist despite therapies, it might be a signal of an underlying gut issue. The gut-skin connection has gained increasing attention, with research showing that a healthy gut microbiome plays a significant role in skin health.
4. Mood Disorders
Your gut communicates directly with your brain by sending signals via the nervous system, hormones, and immune system. It's why it's often referred to as your second brain. Research shows that inflammation and alterations in the gut microbiome are linked to a variety of mental health disorders, including autism, depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety.
5. Fatigue
Persistent fatigue can be a sign of an unhealthy gut. When undigested food is sitting in the gut for too long, it can release toxins that can negatively affect your body's functions. In addition, gut dysbiosis, intestinal inflammation, and leaky gut is associated with tiredness and chronic fatigue.
6. Joint Pain
Joint pain, swelling, and stiffness can result from gut inflammation and dysbiosis. Leaky gut (due to stress, food sensitivities, inflammation, etc.) can allow bacteria, toxins, and undigested food particles to enter the blood stream and activate the immune system and contribute to autoimmune diseases, such as arthritis.
How to Fix an Unhealthy Gut
An unhealthy gut can have far-reaching negative effects on the rest of the body, from mental health to skin conditions and immune issues. Correcting imbalances and/or dysfunctions is one of the most important things you can do for your health.
If you are not sure where to begin, consider starting with lab testing, such as a comprehensive stool analysis. Village Green has recently expanded our lab offerings to now include the GI-MAP. This lab test analyzes the DNA of microorganisms in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to provide a detailed analysis of the gut microbiome and detects pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. It also assesses digestive function and measures GI inflammation.
Working with one of our nutrition professionals, such as GI specialist Julie Davey, is an excellent way to help you interpret your test results, understand the root cause(s) of your symptoms, and receive personalized recommendations to optimize your gut and overall health.
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Learn about personalized health from top experts! Check out our fascinating new shows every week, available as videos, podcasts and transcripts.:
Our Bloggers
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Paula Gallagher
Paula is a highly qualified and experienced nutrition counselor on the staff at Village Green.
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Margo Gladding
Margo's impressive knowledge base is the result of a unique blend of educational and professional experience.
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Dr. Neal Barnard
Dr. Barnard leads programs advocating for preventive medicine, good nutrition, and higher ethical standards in research.
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Dr. Joseph Pizzorno
Dr. Joseph Pizzorno, ND is a pioneer of integrative medicine and a leading authority on science-based natural medicine.
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Debi Silber
Debi is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition, a personal trainer, and whole health coach.
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