A healthy gut is essential for your whole body, but many issues start when the gut is unhealthy. Doctors often suggest eating foods with probiotics and prebiotics, exercising, drinking water, and eating more fiber to keep your body healthy. A specialist, Dr. Saurabh Sethi, MD, MPH, a gastroenterologist (a doctor who specializes in the digestive system) and liver expert, highlights five early signs that your gut might be in trouble. If you notice these signs, it's time to pay attention to your gut health. 5 Signs Of Unhealthy Gut According to Dr. Sethi, these are the signs that indicate your gut bacteria are out of balance or struggling: Gas and Bloating After Meals If you constantly feel gassy or bloated right after you finish eating, it is a key warning signal from your body. This discomfort usually means that the bacteria living in your gut are imbalanced and are having a difficult time properly breaking down the food you consume. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Saurabh Sethi MD MPH | Gastroenterologist (@doctor.sethi)]]>Irregular Bathroom Habits The consistency and frequency of your bowel movements are a direct sign of how healthy your gut is working. Dr. Sethi says that constant, long-term problems like severe constipation (not being able to go) or frequent diarrhoea, or loose stools, is your gut sending an alert that something is seriously wrong. Constant Tiredness or Unexplained FatigueIf you feel exhausted and tired all the time, even when you have gotten enough sleep, your gut might be the problem. Poor gut health can stop your body from absorbing the vital nutrients and energy it needs from your food, which is why you are left feeling drained. Food Sensitivities If certain foods often make you feel sick, crampy, or cause general discomfort, this is a warning sign you should notice. It suggests that the tiny good bacteria in your gut may be struggling to process those specific foods correctly, which indicates compromised gut health. Catching Colds Easily (Weakened Immunity) Most people do not know that about 70 per cent of your immune system actually lives inside your gut. Dr. Sethi points out that if you often catch colds, the flu, or other infections, it could mean your gut is weak and not able to fully support your body's defenses. How Can You Fix Your Gut Health According to The John Hopkins Medicine, a few things that can change your gut health are shifts in your stomach acid levels, how your gut immune system works, and your gastrointestinal flora. This "flora" is the complex community of good and bad bacteria that live in your digestive system. When this ecosystem is healthy, you are less likely to have harmful inflammation and problems with your immune system. Here are four surprising ways to protect your digestive system that involve more than just what you eat: Focus on the Right Foods (And Enough Fibre) Many Americans don't eat enough fibre—we only get about half of what we need. A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables provides the fibre essential for building good gut bacteria. Also, try fermented foods like kefir or sauerkraut to boost your gut health. Get More High-Quality Sleep Not getting enough sleep is strongly linked to being overweight or obese - which increases your risk for digestive problems. Getting adequate, quality sleep helps control your body weight, which in turn is an important step in keeping your gut working well. Keep Your Body Moving Just like with almost every other part of your health, exercise is one of the best tools you have. Moving more is the most effective way to maintain a healthy body weight over time. Keeping your weight in a good range helps you ward off or prevent many common digestive system problems. Learn to Manage Your Stress The connection between stress and digestion is very strong. Reducing stress is fundamental for cutting down on issues like heartburn. Try relaxation therapies like deep breathing or meditation, as diet alone can't fix a gut stressed by a busy mind.
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