According to health experts, the saying “You are what you eat” is more accurate than we think. In fact, continuous research has shown that the food we eat has a significant impact on what is known as the gut microbiome. If you want to maintain total wellness, it’s recommended that you bear your gut in mind when you’re planning your meals. So let’s take a look at what you need to know.
What’s The Gut Microbiome And How Does It Affect Your Health?
While the name might sound complicated, the gut microbiome really just refers to the combination of bacteria that naturally live in the digestive system. There are good and bad bacteria so the idea is to encourage the growth of the good ones while keeping the bad ones to a minimum.
When the good bacteria flourish, you benefit from better sleep, a clearer mind, a more efficient digestive system, a more effective immune system, among other things.
In the opposite scenario, people with poor gut health are more prone to chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease as well as degenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. They may also have more episodes of depression.
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Five Signs Of An Unhealthy Gut
1. Unexplained Weight Loss
If your gut microbiome is unhealthy, it can affect how well your body absorbs the nutrients it needs. The result is that you might lose weight without meaning to. Of course, there are other illnesses that can affect weight loss but you should always be concerned about this issue.
2. Chronic Fatigue
Interestingly, fatigue caused by sleep disturbances has been linked to the gut as well. Serotonin, the hormone that controls mood and sleep, is produced in the gut so an unhealthy gut microbiome can affect this as well.
If you’re not sleeping well, it’s definitely worth changing your diet to see if it helps. Bear in mind that sleep disorders tend to be more prevalent than you think so get your doctor involved if nothing changes.
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3. Skin Issues
An unhealthy gut can cause inflammation in the body and affect the immune system. In some cases, this results in skin irritation and disorders such as eczema and psoriasis. If you already have these disorders, poor gut health can cause flares.
