7 Reasons To Listen To Your Gut

Your gut consists of an ecosystem of bacteria, fungi and other organisms that help keep your digestive system functioning smoothly. When it gets out of balance, it can cause a number of health problems.

Upset Stomach

Upset stomachs are a common, but not always treatable, condition. They are often caused by a number of factors, including food or drinks, medications, travel and stress. Symptoms include gas, bloating, indigestion, heartburn and diarrhea. If you have an upset stomach, try to ease the discomfort with foods that are easier for your stomach to digest like vegetables, nuts and whole grains. You should also try to avoid foods that make your stomach feel sour, like citrus fruits, spicy or fermented foods, and dairy products, especially milk and cheese. The most important thing is to listen to your gut. You’ll feel better in the long run. So take the time to slow down and give yourself space to listen to your inner voice.

High Sugar Diets

A high sugar diet can have a number of negative effects on your health. These include weight gain, diabetes and increased heart disease risk. You can tell if you have too much sugar in your diet by paying attention to how you feel after eating certain foods or drinks. If you feel irritable, it’s likely because your gut bacteria are struggling to digest sugar. Your gut contains specialized enzymes that break down larger molecules into simpler sugars such as glucose, fructose and galactose. These smaller sugars enter your bloodstream and get used up for energy. However, if you are consuming too many added sugars, these larger sugar molecules can become resistant to insulin and can cause inflammation, which is linked to weight gain, diabetes and heart disease. In addition, a high sugar diet can damage the lining of your gut and increase your chances of developing digestive problems. Specifically, it may lead to gastrointestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease and autoimmune conditions like Crohn’s disease.

Unintentional Weight Changes

Your weight is determined by many factors, including your activity level, age, and how well your body absorbs nutrients. It’s normal to gain and lose weight, but it’s important to get checked if you notice an unexplained loss of 10 pounds or more over six months or less. Unintentional weight loss may be a sign of stress, a serious illness, or malnutrition. It can also occur after a major life event like the death of a loved one, divorce, or job loss. Doctors will often ask about your symptoms and use tests to find out what’s causing the weight loss. They may take blood samples or perform imaging tests to rule out certain medical conditions, such as cancer, hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland), stomach infections, or inflammatory bowel disease.

Sleep Disturbances/Constant Fatigue

Your gut can give you signals that your body needs to slow down or change. It may feel like it’s churning, or even tight, when you’re rushing around and not focusing on communicating effectively with others. Sleep disturbances or constant fatigue can be a symptom of several underlying health conditions. You can find out if you have insomnia or other sleep issues by having a doctor order a lab or home sleep study to check how your body sleeps and wakes up. These tests can help a doctor diagnose sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a condition that causes extreme exhaustion for at least 6 months. This can be very disabling. It is especially common among cancer patients who may be battling serious medical conditions and are not getting enough restorative sleep. It is important to talk with your doctor about any sleep problems so they can identify the underlying problem and treat it.

Skin Irritation

Skin irritation can be caused by a number of factors, including medication, cancer treatments and dry skin. Your dermatologist can help you treat it with medications, diet changes and moisturizers. Itchy rashes can also be a sign of an allergy to a specific substance, such as a food or drug. A rash can appear on any part of the body and may include redness, itching, swelling and sometimes blisters. If you have a skin condition, such as eczema or psoriasis, it’s important to talk to your doctor about how it might be connected to gut health. Inflammation of the immune system can cause these conditions, so it’s important to keep your gut healthy and free from inflammation.

Autoimmune Conditions

Autoimmune conditions occur when your body’s immune system mistakes normal cells and tissues as foreign. They can affect a variety of organs and systems, ranging in severity from mild to disabling. A doctor can diagnose an autoimmune disease by analyzing the levels of antibodies in your blood. Sometimes autoantibodies are present for years before you have any symptoms. An autoimmune disease may cause inflammation of the body’s tissue, joints, skin, and digestive tract. The disease can also affect the lungs, liver, kidneys, and other parts of the body. Some autoimmune diseases are treatable, but many others are not. Treatment options include medications to suppress the immune system, such as steroids, immunosuppressant drugs, and monoclonal antibodies. Other lifestyle changes can help control symptoms, such as avoiding things that trigger the disease.

Food Intolerances

If you find that a food or drink makes you feel ill, there’s a good chance you have a food intolerance. These symptoms can be mild or severe, and can affect the digestive, skin and respiratory systems. They can be difficult to pinpoint, though. A food intolerance might be caused by a lack of certain enzymes or by sensitivity to certain chemicals that are found in foods. For example, lactose intolerance is when a person doesn’t have enough of the enzyme lactase to break down milk. This can cause stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhea and gas. Some additives can also have an allergic reaction in some people, so it’s important to speak to your GP about food intolerances. They can help you identify the source of the problem and give you advice on how to avoid it.