Hello, beautiful soul! Let me ask you: have you been feeling a little off lately? Do you find yourself constantly bloated, tired, or struggling to get through the day? Perhaps you experience sudden mood changes that seem to come out of nowhere…
If any of this resonates, your body may be trying to tell you something important…..that your gut health may be out of alignment.
The great news is that it can be corrected!
The root of these issues often lies in your digestive system and gut health.
So, let’s take a deep dive into what might be happening and how we can help your body restore balance.
The gut is such a pivotal part of our body—it’s almost like the conductor of an orchestra, with everything else depending on it to function in harmony.
A growing body of research shows that much of our overall health originates from the gut. Your gut health doesn’t just affect digestion; it impacts how you feel physically and emotionally throughout your entire day.
Today, I’d love to share with you 8 signs that your digestive system might be inflamed or out of balance.
I frequently see these symptoms in my clients, so I’ve gathered them here to help you identify if your gut health could use some support.
1. Bloating, Burping, or Bad Breath
Do you find yourself needing to unbutton your pants after a meal because you’re so bloated? Or feeling embarrassed when a burp sneaks out unexpectedly? And what about bad breath when you wake up in the morning?
These are all signs that your digestive system might not be functioning correctly.
The symptoms can occur when food is fermenting in your gut instead of being broken down properly, either due to poor digestive enzymes or an imbalance in your gut flora.
2. Sugar Cravings
Have you ever found yourself craving sugar in the middle of the afternoon, reaching for a chocolate bar or sweet treat to get through the day?
And then, you might beat yourself up for thinking you lack willpower. But it’s not necessarily about willpower—it could be due to the microbiome in your gut.
When there’s an imbalance of gut microbes, called gut dysbiosis, those undesirable gut flora crave sugar, dictating what they want you to consume. This is a sign that your digestive system is out of balance.
3. Constipation, Diarrhoea, or Excessive Wind
Have you ever rushed to the toilet with diarrhoea after eating a meal? Or felt embarrassed when you needed to pass wind unexpectedly?
These symptoms, constipation, diarrhoea, or alternating between the two, are clear signs that your digestive system needs attention and support.
4. Food Intolerances or Sensitivities
Have you ever eaten a meal and then felt slightly “off” afterwards? Maybe you’ve noticed that you don’t feel so great after eating bread or dairy products.
You might wonder why this happens, especially if you’ve eaten those foods without issue. The reason could be due to leaky gut syndrome, where the gut lining becomes compromised, allowing food particles to pass through and trigger an immune response.
It’s a key sign that your digestive system is inflamed.
5. Mood Swings, Anxiety, or Irritability
Have you heard of the gut-brain axis? It’s a superhighway of communication between your digestive system and your brain.
Around 70-80% of your serotonin—the hormone that makes you feel good—is produced in your gut. So, if your digestive system is out of balance, it can affect your mood.
Anxiety, irritability, or even depression can be signs that your gut health is impacting your mental health.
6. Poor Immunity
Are you getting sick often or taking a long time to recover when you do? Maybe you’re constantly catching infections from your kids or colleagues, and as soon as you recover, you fall ill again.
Well, around 70% of your immune system is located in your gut.
If your gut flora is out of balance, your immune system struggles to function correctly, leaving you more susceptible to infections
7. Skin Issues (Eczema, Acne, Hives, and Rashes)
Do you suffer from eczema, acne, hives, or rashes?
Whenever clients come to me with skin conditions, I look at what’s going on in their gut.
The digestive system plays a crucial role in eliminating toxins and absorbing nutrients, and when it’s not functioning well, the toxins are eliminated through the skin, resulting in rashes, eczema, hives or acne!
8. Fatigue, Low Energy, or Poor Sleep
Are you constantly feeling tired, struggling with low energy, or having trouble sleeping?
These symptoms could be caused by your digestive system not absorbing the nutrients your body needs to produce energy. There are many times I see clients eating all the right types of foods, but the digestive system is not absorbing essential nutrients effectively, leaving you feeling run down.
Does any of this resonate with you?
If any of these 8 signs resonate with you, it might be time to look closely into your digestive health. As a Naturopath and Biochemist with over 30 years of experience, I’ve seen countless people suffer from digestive imbalances that manifest through these signs.
These symptoms are your body’s way of saying, “I need help,” and it’s crucial not to ignore them. You can restore your health and live your best life by taking proactive steps to rebalance your gut.
If you’d like more information on how to improve your digestive health, I’m offering a free one month membership to my Energise and Thrive Tribe community this month. Inside the community, you’ll find a wealth of resources, including videos on a range of health topics— including digestive health—and group session to ask questions about your health
If you’d like to join, simply message my support team.
Ready to kick start Gut Health? Book a Call!
This is how gut microbes can influence weight!
Probiotics can help you gain weight or lose weight by interacting with our genetics, food and metabolism.
And yes, I did say lose or gain weight……..
Firstly, let me explain that the trillions of microbes in the gut need to be varied, meaning that there should be a large variety of species. There are many different species (or breeds) of microbes, and they all have their place in aiding health — the more variety and balance, the better health results.
Back to the weight loss or weight gain issue….
Do you eat yogurt and berries for breakfast? Thinking that it’s helping you lose weight?
Well, Lactobacillus acidophilus (like the species found in yoghurt) has been connected to weight gain.
I am not saying throw your yoghurt and berries in the bin. Instead, I am suggesting looking at the overall picture. If Lactobacillus acidophilus is the predominant micro-organism of the gut, then weight gain can result.
It is about the variety of species of gut microbes. Imagine if we only have trained german shepherd guard dogs in the world. It may be a safe world, but I am sure that other breeds may be more suitable as a family pet.
While Lactobacillus acidophilus is associated with weight gain, other Lactobacillus species correlate with weight loss.
Species like Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus gasseri, and Bifidobacteria animalis have been found to support weight loss.
Want to lose weight?
Look at your gut flora to support your goal.
Tests can be performed to identify the predominant species of the gut, and specific species can be utilised to support weight changes.
Want more information about your gut health?
Or want to look at all the factors contributing to weight gain, I’d love to be able to help.
