When your gut is healthy and happy, the rest of your body usually is, too. That's largely because your gut and your microbiome act as essential gatekeepers for your body. They impact everything from your digestion to your brain health.
So, when your gut isn’t the healthiest, your body starts to send you signals. Keep reading for the tell-tale signs that your gut health has gone awry.
1. You Feel Bloated
When you eat, your body naturally produces a small amount of gas as part of the digestive process. Certain types of gut bacteria produce more gas than others.
So, if your gut health is out of balance, you may have too many of these gas-producing bacteria. These unwelcome bacteria can cause distention and discomfort in your belly, leaving you feeling blah and bloated.
2. You’re Going to the Restroom Too Much or Not Enough
Your gut plays a crucial role in keeping you regular. When your digestion and gut health are out of balance, your body has a more difficult time breaking down your food and eliminating waste out of your body. When this happens, you might experience symptoms like constipation or diarrhea.
3. You’re Constantly Tired
To help you sleep, your body produces a hormone called serotonin. And where is most of this hormone produced? You guessed it – your gut!
When your gut health is imbalanced, it can interfere with your ability to get a good night's sleep. This means you're getting interrupted sleep, or you're not sleeping at all. So, you wake up feeling exhausted. The less rested you are, the more tired you feel during the day. Talk about a vicious cycle!
How You Can Support Your Gut Health
It might seem like your gut and digestion can turn on you no matter what you do. Everything might be working fine for a few days, and then WHAM – your back to feeling miserable again. Fortunately, it is possible to provide pinpoint support for your microbiome to bring your body back into balance.
Clean Up What You Eat
To keep your gut in tip-top shape, let’s first look at what’s on your plate. One of the most important ways to support your gut health is to avoid sugary or processed foods. Include plenty of:
- High-fiber vegetables
- Quality proteins
- Healthy fats
- Prebiotic foods, such as artichokes and asparagus
And, of course, if you have suspected food sensitivities, eliminate those foods from your diet as soon as possible.
Get Moving & Keep Your Stress in Check
Another important consideration to keep your gut working well is your level of physical fitness. Studies show the more you move, the more diverse your gut microbiome will be.
If exercise hasn't been your thing, start small. Choose something you enjoy, make time to exercise a couple of days a week, and slowly work your way up. Or begin by walking a mile a day. Slow and steady is better than never.
Also, exercise is a powerful way to help reduce stress. Stress can also negatively impact your gut health, so exercise helps in multiple ways. Here are a few ideas that’ll get you fit and help keep your stress in check:
- Yoga
- Tai Chi
- Cycling
- Swimming
- Brisk walking
Try one of these to get you moving and help bring your stress levels down.
Improve Your Gut Health Today
When your gut health is off, it doesn’t take long before your body starts giving you clues. Luckily, you have tons of tools in your toolkit for rebalancing your gut health. Try one of the above tips to support your body, get your gut health back in balance, and reduce a little stress along the way.