Maintaining a happy, healthy gut is recognized as one of the cornerstones of optimal health. It is directly related to a person’s nutrient status, weight, mood, energy, hormone balance, and immune function. Poor gut health is related to inflammation, autoimmunity, and chronic disease.
So what are some common signs that your gut isn’t working well and needs support? Clues that you need to give your GI system some TLC include:
- Heartburn, reflux, or GERD
- Belching, gas, or bloating after meals
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Gallstones or gallbladder removed
- Excess weight
- Brain fog, poor moods, or anxiety
- Food sensitivities or allergies
- Autoimmune disease
- Arthritis, diabetes, or heart disease
- Acute or chronic stress
- Use of antibiotics, antacids, NSAIDs, or birth control pills
- Eating refined and packaged foods
Many of these signs and symptoms are things that people regularly live with and accept as ordinary. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be this way. The gut is highly resilient. With a handful of changes, you can heal your digestive system and rebalance your microbiome by starving out the “bad guys” and feeding the “good guys.”