*Grumble* This is the third time you’ve felt your stomach growl while you tried to focus on your morning duties.
The pain has been constant for most of the week and you find yourself having a difficult time going to the bathroom.
You’ve been trying to ignore it, however the pain has only increased as the week goes on.
What is wrong with you?
Well it could be possible that you are having some digestive issues or your body is trying to tell you that you have an unhealthy gut.
But, what is an unhealthy gut?
An unhealthy gut can be defined by multiple factors. Sometimes you might see some changes in your weight, you may experience migraines, constipation, diarrhea or constant food cravings.
Everyone’s system reacts differently depending on the core issue.
Before you discover the root cause of the events going on within your gastrointestinal region, it might be important to understand what signs to look out for to know if you have an unhealthy gut in the first place.
If you want to know if you’re suffering from gut issues, pay attention to these common signs:
1. You Have A Reoccurring Upset Stomach
Is there pain in your abdomen?
If so, how often are you feeling pain?
One of the first signs of an unhealthy gut is a reoccurring upset stomach.
This normally means that something within your digestive system is causing irritation or is not being correctly processed and broken down like normal.
An upset stomach can usually cause other symptoms such as bloating, flatulence, burping, nausea, cramps, and chronic pain.
Sometimes, a constant upset stomach could be a sign of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which is a common gastrointestinal condition.
2. You Always Need To Use The Restroom
How many times do you use the restroom during the day?
Dr. Minkoff recommends that everyone should have a normal bowel movement at least once a day.
Therefore, if you find yourself spending much of your time within a bathroom stall during the day due to diarrhea or constipation, this is a huge red flag that you might have developed an unhealthy gut.
Diarrhea and constipation are symptoms of Crohn’s Disease, IBS, and Ulcerative Colitis, all of which are chronic inflammatory conditions within the intestines.
If you have diarrhea, constipation or any other gut issues, it’s time to schedule an appointment for a GI Test.
3. You Have a High Carb/Sugar Intake
Much of what happens within our digestive system is a result of what we consume.
When someone has a high carbohydrate diet or consumes too much unnatural sugars, it can decrease the amount of good bacteria within the gut and the imbalance will cause an increased sugar craving.
When the individual gives in to their cravings, the intestine can become inflamed.
Inflammation within the gastrointestinal region can result in various chronic diseases or cancers within the colon.
At LifeWorks, we suggest the Ketogenic Diet to encourage low carbohydrates and low sugar foods to keep cancers and other gut issues at bay.
4. You’re Sensitive to Certain Foods
Being born with a food allergy is one thing, however if you wake up one day to find that you are suddenly sensitive to foods that, once upon a time didn’t bother you, this could be a sign of an unhealthy gut.
Food intolerances are different than having food allergies.
A food intolerance is normally developed due to poor quality of good bacteria in the gut which can lead to difficulty in digesting certain foods¹.
Foods that trigger symptoms such as gas and bloating possibly contain ingredients that your digestive system may be sensitive to due to an infection.
5. Your Weight Is Not Consistent
Does your weight fluctuate up or down for no obvious reason?
For example you’ve lost weight but you haven’t changed your diet or done any additional exercising.
What is going on?
Unintentional weight changes can be a huge signal of developed gut issues.
If your gut is suffering with an infection, it will cause an imbalance to attempt to impair the body’s ability to absorb the nutrients, store fat and regulate blood sugar.
Depending on what your condition is, weight loss or weight gain can both be a symptom.
Weight loss can happen if the individual has a small bacterial overgrowth within the intestine.
On the other hand, weight gain can also happen due to insulin resistance or overeating because of decreased nutrition absorption.
Other symptoms of an unhealthy gut can be autoimmune conditions, skin irritations, fatigue, sleep disturbances, migraines, mood swings, and poor concentration.
There are many conditions that can happen within the gastrointestinal region and the symptoms that you experience can vary depending on what that condition is.
If you have experienced any of the following symptoms, LifeWorks offers specialized GI Testing and can provide guidance, treatments and supplements to help heal the gut.
If you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our practitioners, please call 727-466-6789.
