5 Signs Your Gut Needs Healing

Your gut is your gastrointestinal system which includes your stomach, intestines, and colon -

all the organs that play a role in digesting and absorbing nutrients from food, as well as

excreting waste. Your gut microbiome is the ecosystem of microbes that live in your intestines.

When your gut functions properly, these bacteria assist the gut in doing its important jobs.

As we know, gut function influences not only digestion, but can also have major impacts on

inflammation, immune function, detoxification, hormone balances, and brain health. Common

factors such as processed foods, alcohol, sugar, antibiotics, and stress can impair your gut’s

function. To “heal your gut” means to promote a healthier gut environment by supporting a

balanced microbiome, reducing inflammation, and improving digestion and overall function!

Here are 5 signs your gut may need healing

1. Frequent digestion issues

a. Consistent issues such as constipation, diarrhea, gas, or bloating are key

indicators of poor gut health. These symptoms are suggestive that the digestive

system is not working effectively. A healthy gut will utilize its bacteria to process

food, absorb nutrients, and eliminate waste, however if there is an imbalance of

good bacteria in the gut, these digestive functions are compromised, leading to

undesirable digestion issues!

2. Unexplained weight changes

a. Gut imbalances can affect how your body stores fat and metabolizes food,

potentially leading to unexplained weight gain. On the other hand, an unhealthy

gut may prevent your body from absorbing nutrients properly, leading to

unintentional weight loss

3. Fatigue and sleep disturbances

a. The gut is responsible for maintaining a balanced bacterial environment. When

the gut is compromised, a cascade of events leading to inflammation can be

triggered. Inflammation puts more stress on the body, resulting in lower energy

levels. Additionally, a poor gut microbiome can influence the production of

neurotransmitters and hormones that regulate sleep, like serotonin and

melatonin.

4. Poor mood

a. Poor gut health can significantly affect mood because the gut and brain are

intimately connected, this is referred to as the gut-brain axis. The gut

microbiome produces neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA,

which play crucial roles in regulating mood, stress, and anxiety. Poor gut health

may impact these important aspects of your gut-brain axis.

5. Skin irritation and allergies

a. The gut-skin axis is also an important process that exists in the body. A balanced

microbiome supports a healthy immune system, and controls inflammation, as

well as nutrient absorption. An overactive or imbalanced immune response in

the gut, or deficiencies in nutrients vital for skin health, may cause

hypersensitivity to environmental factors or even food, triggering skin allergies

or conditions.

Next time you are experiencing what feels like maybe random or unexplained symptoms such as

the ones we talked about above, give your gut some attention, it may be the culprit! Focusing on

a balanced diet with minimal processed foods and added sugars, managing stress, getting

quality sleep, and doing some regular exercise are great places to start your journey to heal your gut.