How to Improve Your Gut Health

You may find it a little strange to think about it, but an entire ecosystem including trillions of microorganisms like bacteria and yeast live inside your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. These organisms work to help you digest food and get rid of waste, keeping you healthy. 

Also known as the "gut," the GI tract is a system of organs that consists of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus. Maintaining a healthy gut environment is crucial for your physical health and prevention of endocrine disorders, autoimmune diseases, and more.

While some gut disorders require immediate medical attention and treatment, less severe conditions can be mitigated through healthy habits. Keep reading to understand the signs of an unhealthy gut and how you can combat these issues.

4 Signs of an Unhealthy Gut

Unfortunately, it's relatively common to experience poor gut health. Eating junk food, intaking a lot of sugar, not getting enough sleep, and feeling stressed can all contribute to gut pain or disorders. To determine whether your gut is the cause of your discomfort, consider the following signs of an unhealthy GI tract.

1. Upset Stomach

The microbiome present in the gut helps you digest food and eliminate waste. In an unhealthy gut, the microbiome is disturbed, resulting in an upset stomach. Some of the apparent signs of an upset stomach are bloating, diarrhea, gas, heartburn, acid reflux, and constipation.

2. Change in Weight

Are you observing changes in your weight even though you've kept your diet and exercise habits consistent? If so, it may indicate you have an unhealthy gut. When your gut health is compromised, your weight may start to fluctuate because the body is not able to digest, assimilate, absorb, and eliminate waste the way it should.

You may observe a gain in weight, which can be caused by overeating because of poor absorption of the nutrients in the gut. Similarly, you may notice a drop in weight, which may be due to a condition called small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

3. Food Intolerances

Food intolerance is a condition when you are not able to digest certain foods. Food intolerances often result from poor gut health. If you consume your "trigger" food, you may experience abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, gas, and diarrhea.

Keep in mind that food intolerance is not the same as food allergies, which result from immune system reactions to specific groups of food.

4. Autoimmune Conditions

The microbiome of the gut has a direct connection with your immune system. To keep your immune system healthy, you must take care of your gut health. When there is an imbalance in your GI tract, it may lead to autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune liver diseases, etc.

How Can I Improve My Gut Health?

If you're experiencing serious problems due to poor gut health, you should consult with your doctor as soon as possible. However, for general gut health and to alleviate symptoms, you may consider the following ways to improve your gut health:

Habits for General Wellness

Stress level may create an imbalance in your GI tract. To reduce the risk of developing such an imbalance, ensure you get good sleep. You can also keep your stress level in check by practicing yoga, participating in outdoor sports, taking a brisk walk regularly, or indulging in your favorite form of self-care.

Add MCT Oil to Your Health Regimen

MCT oil, a supplement made from concentrated medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), can be incorporated into your diet for better gut health. Increasing your MCT intake can help reduce the growth of unhealthy bacteria, yeast, and fungus within your gut. This results from the presence of certain fatty acids in MCT oil that can suppress the development of unwanted microorganisms.

In addition, MCT oil can help with digestion, boost your energy levels, and help you maintain a healthy weight. You can click here to learn about natural MCT oils.

Identify Your Food Intolerances and Make Dietary Changes

To keep your gut happy, you should first identify the trigger foods that cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, reflux, and nausea and eliminate them from your diet.

You can also improve your gut health by eating a more balanced diet. Reduce the amount of sugar and junk food you consume and increase your intake of collagen-rich foods or foods with a lot of fiber. Also, fermented foods are a source of probiotics that also improves gut health.

Apart from making dietary changes, ensure you drink enough water to keep your body hydrated at all times. For better absorption, be sure to chew your food slowly and entirely.

Go With Your Gut

When it comes to maintaining your overall health and wellness, you can’t ignore your GI tract. This essential system helps you absorb all the necessary nutrients and get rid of all toxic waste. By knowing the signs of an unhealthy gut, you can take precautions and hopefully avoid any serious complications.