6 Signs That Your Gut Is Out of Balance

Many people nowadays suffer from various stomach and intestinal problems due to an unhealthy diet and lifestyle. However, what many people do not realize is that your gut largely determines your health, both mentally and physically. Unhealthy guts are often the root cause of many common complaints.

Below, we provide 6 signals that indicate that your gut is likely out of balance and what you can do about it.

1. Do you often have stomach or intestinal problems?

Symptoms such as abdominal pain, stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation are the clearest indications that your gut is not functioning properly and puts pressure on your immune system.

An imbalanced gut flora can also be the result of, for example, food poisoning or the use of medications.

2. Are you often sick?

Your gut determines your immune system for the most part (about 80%).

Namely, millions of "good bacteria" are present in your gut that protect your body from intruders and ensure that "bad bacteria" and other pathogens do not stand a chance.

If you are regularly sick or not feeling well, your gut may need some extra "good bacteria," also known as probiotics.

3. Do you have joint pain?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease in which joint inflammation can occur.

Although the actual cause of this disease is still unknown, recent research shows that people with RA often have a less diverse "microbiome" (gut flora).

This leads to reduced immunity and an increased risk of inflammation.

RA is also often associated with other autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease (gluten intolerance) and inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease.

4. Do you easily gain weight?

There is a suspicion that people who are overweight absorb more calories from their food and store them more easily as fat than healthy people.

There is also a direct link between our brains and our intestines when it comes to feelings of hunger and satiety.

Although it's easy to say that your intestines are to blame for your weight gain, there is indeed a difference in the gut flora of slim people and people with overweight.

People who adjust their diet and exercise more can reduce their risk of overweight and improve their gut flora and health.

5. Are you often nervous, restless, or even depressed?

Your intestines are also called the "second brain".

There is strong evidence that your intestines and your brain communicate with each other and a change in serotonin activity (serotonin is a hormone involved in the signaling between your intestines and your brain) can cause disorders in both your intestines and your brain.

Research shows that people who suffer from anxiety, depression, or other mental disorders often have altered gut flora, explaining the link between mental problems and gut problems.

6. Are you sensitive to certain foods?

An intolerance or (over)sensitivity to certain products can disrupt your intestines and cause various problems. Think of lactose intolerance or certain allergies.

It is sometimes difficult to determine whether it is your intestines or whether you actually cannot tolerate something. However, taking in "good gut bacteria" and (temporarily) avoiding certain products can help you find out what you are sensitive to and significantly reduce your symptoms.

Tips for healthy(er) intestines

Here are 8 helpful tips for strengthening your gut health:

1. Eat less sugar and processed foods

Processed (meat) products, soft drinks, sugary foods, and artificial sweeteners can be very stressful for your gut flora. It's best to avoid these products as much as possible.

2. Eat less dairy (-products)

Many people lose the ability to digest dairy (lactose) well as they age. By limiting your dairy intake, you can significantly reduce problems such as stomach pain, bloating, and other unpleasant digestive problems.

For example, replace your quark/yogurt or whey with a plant-based alternative or a plant-based protein shake.

3. Try probiotics

A probiotic supplement helps keep your gut flora healthy. An imbalanced gut flora is caused by too many bad bacteria in the gut. By taking probiotics (good bacteria), you can restore the balance of your gut flora.

Conclusion

Stomach and gut problems are a common problem and don't always have a clear cause.

However, by paying attention to your body's signals and taking good care of your gut, you can ensure that your gut is better balanced.

A healthy gut flora is essential for optimal health. With the right nutrition or probiotic supplements and by avoiding certain products, you can reduce or even prevent many physical and mental complaints and significantly improve your gut health.