Many people are aware of the importance of taking care of your intestines since it’s one of our essential organs, but very few people actually recognize the significance of gut health, especially with regards to one’s lifestyle.
The intestinal tract is crucial to your overall well-being. Scientists and doctors have even begun referring to it as a human’s second “mind.”
Signs of an Unhealthy Gut
Before you can pinpoint the relationship between your gut health and lifestyle, you have to be aware of the indicators that your stomach is not functioning well.
That being said, here are the signs that you have an unhealthy gut:
1. Digestive Problems
An obvious problem that many people deal with when they have an unhealthy gut is the over-growth of bacteria in their gut, which can cause various problems such as diarrhea and intestinal irritability. If you notice any signs of problems with your digestive tract, you should have a doctor test you. A simple blood test or a stool sample can be taken to determine what type of problem you have and if there’s something you can do about it.
Signs of poor digestion may also be symptoms of other issues that may require medical attention. For example, digestive complaints such as constipation and bloating are often associated with more serious issues such as digestive blockage and/or colon cancer. This is why it’s important to get a proper diagnosis before things get any worse.
2. Skin Issues
Your gut health can also affect the condition of your skin. While not all skin problems are caused by a microbial imbalance in your stomach, an unhealthy gut can lead to eczema and other irritations.
One proposed explanation for this phenomenon is that an unhealthy gut can increase systemic inflammation and spread it to other susceptible parts of the body. Having a lot of bad bacteria in your stomach can also have adverse effects on your immune system.
Fortunately, there are specialized probiotics for acne on the market that you can take for this purpose. You can gain several other benefits from these products as well, so they’re definitely worth a try.
3. Poor Immune System
As mentioned, your gut health plays a role in the strength and efficacy of your immune system. Furthermore, it’s mentioned that your diet may have a significant impact on how well your body can fight off diseases.
Nonetheless, you should know that the battle against illnesses usually begins in the stomach. For instance, if you eat contaminated food, the first line of defense against harmful bacteria found in the meal is the bacteria in your gut. If you have a low number of good bacteria in your stomach, you can expect to succumb to sickness and get an upset stomach.
Poor gut health can also become a bottomless pit. Since your immune system isn’t equipped with sufficient good bacteria to combat disease-causing germs, you’ll become ill. With this, you might need to drink medicine, such as antibiotics, which can lead to more microbial imbalance in your gut.
This being said, it’s better to start taking care of your tummy and improve its health rather than reviving it after it’s already been damaged. Although, there are powerful herbs that you can consume to boost your gut health, especially when you recently took antibiotics.
4. Low Energy and Concentration
An unhealthy gut can affect your energy levels and ability to concentrate, too. The gut and brain are connected through the vagus nerve, which serves as a communication pathway. This direct link makes it easy for harmful bacteria, such as those responsible for inflammation, to reach the brain.
If your gut lining is unhealthy, its effects may be sluggishness and difficulty in focusing as well as having a poor memory.
Good bacteria also provide valuable help in breaking down the food that you consume. Microbial imbalance in your stomach can prevent your body from absorbing the necessary nutrients from food.
5. Frequent Mood Swings
Because the mind and gut are connected, you can also expect hormonal imbalance if bad bacteria outnumber the good ones in your stomach. With this, you may experience bouts of mood swings.
There’s also a study on how gut disturbances and inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS) may result in anxiety and depression.
The Gut and Lifestyle Connection
There are still a lot of mysteries about the intestine. In fact, most people don’t exactly know what a healthy digestive system is all about. Fortunately, today’s technology has allowed researchers to uncover more knowledge of gut health.
The important thing is that the connection between gut health and cognition, as well as an established physical fitness. Your lifestyle habits can significantly affect your overall health–from your stomach to your brain and other parts of your body.
It’s no secret that eating right can keep you physically healthy. This habit includes boosting the number of good bacteria in your gut, which plays a role in promoting mental well-being.
If you don’t take care of your gut and, by association, your body, you become vulnerable to physical and mental problems. Remember, it’s better to take care of your stomach and develop healthy habits rather than to reverse the damage that’s already been done to your body.
Conversely, when your body is optimally functioning, you can achieve your goals and complete your tasks effortlessly. You can face the world with confidence and a positive outlook because you feel good inside and out.
Conclusion
Digestive problems can affect your whole body–from bad breath to skin and hair problems. The best way to avoid this and prevent long-term damage to your body is to improve your digestive health. You can do this by eating the right foods, especially probiotics.
Exercising can also improve the balance between good and bad bacteria in your stomach. Whether you need help with a particular problem or you simply want to improve your overall health and well-being, it’s time to look into how you can make changes to your diet and lifestyle.
