Many facets of modern life such as high stress levels, too little sleep, eating processed and high-sugar foods, and taking antibiotics can be potentially damaging to our gut microbiome. This in turn may affect other aspects of our health, such as the brain, heart, immune system, skin, weight, hormone levels, and ability to absorb nutrients. There are a number of ways an unhealthy gut might manifest itself. Here are some common signs:
1. Upset stomach
Stomach disturbances like gas, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea can all be signs of an unhealthy gut. A balanced gut will have less difficulty processing food and eliminating waste.
2. Unintentional weight lossGaining or losing weight without making changes to your diet or exercise habits may be a sign of an unhealthy gut. An imbalanced gut can impair your body’s ability to absorb nutrients, regulate blood sugar, and store fat. Weight loss may be caused by small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), while weight gain may be caused by the urge to overeat due to decreased nutrient absorption.
3. Sleep disturbances or constant fatigue
An unhealthy gut may contribute to sleep disturbances such as insomnia or poor sleep, and therefore lead to chronic fatigue. The majority of the body’s serotonin, a hormone that affects mood and sleep, is produced in the gut. So an unhealthy gut may impair your ability to sleep well.
4. Skin irritation
Skin conditions like eczema may be related to an unhealthy gut. Inflammation in the gut could be caused by a poor diet or food allergies may cause increased “leaking” of certain proteins out into the body, which can in turn irritate the skin and cause conditions such as eczema.
5. Immune system alteration
Medical researchers are continually finding new evidence of the impact of the gut on the immune system. It’s thought that an unhealthy gut may increase systemic inflammation and alter the proper functioning of the immune system.
6. Food intolerances
Food intolerances are the result of difficulty digesting certain foods (this is different than a food allergy, which is caused by an immune system reaction to certain foods). It’s thought that food intolerances may be caused by poor quality of bacteria in the gut. This can lead to difficulty digesting the trigger foods and unpleasant symptoms such as bloating, gas, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea. There is some evidence that food allergies may also be related to gut health.
Source:
https://www.healthline.com/health/gut-health#the-takeaway
Reference:
Alvaro et al. (2009). Composition and metabolism of the intestinal microbiota in consumers and non-consumers of yogurt. DOI: 10.1017/S0007114507243065.
Brown K, et al (2012). Diet-induced dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota and the effects on immunity and disease. DOI: 10.3390/nu4081095
Exploring the role of gut bacteria in digestion. (2010). .
phys.org/news/2010-08-exploring-role-gut-bacteria-digestion.html
Food problems: Is it an allergy or intolerance? (2015).
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10009-food-problems-is-it-an-allergy-or-intolerance
The iHMP Research Network Consortium. (2014). The integrative human microbiome project: Dynamic analysis of microbiome-host omics profiles during periods of human health and disease. DOI:
10.1016/j.chom.2014.08.014
Jameel F, et al. (2014). Acute effects of feeding fructose, glucose and sucrose on blood lipid levels and systemic inflammation. DOI:
10.1186/1476-511X-13-195
Lio PA, et al. (n.d.). Leaky gut and atopic dermatitis: Does the concept hold water or is it full of holes?
nationaleczema.org/leaky-gut/
Mayer EA. (2011). Gut feelings: the emerging biology of gut–brain communication. DOI:
10.1038/nrn3071
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Food allergy.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/food-allergy/symptoms-causes/syc-20355095
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Stress management. .
mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/basics/stress-relief/hlv-20049495
National Center for Biotechnology Information. (n.d.). Allicin.
pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Allicin#section=Pharmacology-and-Biochemistry
Parnell JA, et al. (2012). Prebiotic fibre modulation of the gut microbiota improves risk factors for obesity and the metabolic syndrome. DOI:
10.4161/gmic.19246
Pendyala S, et al. (2012). A high-fat diet is associated with endotoxemia that originates from the gut. DOI:
10.1053/j.gastro.2012.01.034
Poroyko VA, et al. (2016). Chronic sleep disruption alters gut microbiota, induces systemic and adipose tissue inflammation and insulin resistance in mice. DOI:
10.1038/srep35405
Pryde SE, et al. (2002). The microbiology of butyrate formation in the human colon.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12480096
Quigley EMM. (2013). Gut bacteria in health and disease. .
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3983973/
Rachid R, et al. (2016). The role of gut microbiota in food allergy. DOI:
10.1097/MOP.0000000000000427
Rethinking fibre and hydration can lead to better colon health. (2013).
health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/rethinking-fibre-and-hydration-can-lead-to-better-colon-health
Samadi N, et al. (2018). The role of gastrointestinal permeability in food allergy. DOI:
10.1016/j.anai.2018.05.010
Segain et al. (2000). Butyrate inhibits inflammatory responses through NFκB inhibition: implications for Crohn’s disease. DOI:
10.1136/gut.47.3.397
Stefka AT, et al. (2014). Commensal bacteria protect against food allergen sensitization. DOI:
10.1073/pnas.1412008111
Useros NR, et al. (2015). HYDRAGUT study: Influence of HYDRAtion status on the GUT microbiota and their impact on the immune system.
fasebj.org/doi/abs/10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.593.1
Yano JM, et al. (2015). Indigenous bacteria from the gut microbiota regulate host serotonin biosynthesis. DOI:
10.1016/j.cell.2015.02.047
Zhang et al. (2015). Impacts of gut bacteria on human health and diseases. DOI: .
10.3390/ijms16047493