What You Can Do About the 5 Signs of an Unhealthy Gut

A healthy gut implies that you have one to two well-formed and easy-to-pass bowel movements every day. These bowel movements should be symptom-free, with no diarrhea, constipation, or loose stools. Additionally, a healthy gut may be characterised by the absence of rectal symptoms such as hemorrhoids and abdominal symptoms such as gas, bloating, and stomach discomfort.

When your digestive system is healthy and operating correctly, you are not reacting to foods or other influences such as stress or environmental conditions. Additionally, you have a lower risk of developing skin disorders, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory reactions, and other health problems. In other words, the stomach instinctively functions.

Common Signs of an Unhealthy Gut

1. Constipation

Your gut is called that for a reason – it is long and narrow, with a lower intestine that bends at the rectum (or the terminal part of the large intestine). When your gut is not healthy and well-functioning, it gets harder to pass stool, resulting in constipation.

What you should do:

• Eat a varied diet high in fibre (non-starchy veggies, legumes, nuts, and seeds), and get plenty of fluids.

• Increasing your consumption of water, hot water, and hot drinks is a good way of increasing your fibre intake and promoting healthy bowel movement.

• If you are on a fibre supplement, take it with plenty of water, preferably several large glasses of water.

2. Diarrhea

If you have many bowel movements per day (more than three), or if you experience loose, watery stool, you may have an ileus or inflammation of the ileum (the end part of the small intestine.

What you should do:

• If you have diarrhea, remember to drink plenty of fluids.

• Avoid carbonated drinks as they may worsen diarrhea.

3. Abdominal Bloating

Abdominal bloating is common in people with food allergies and lactose intolerance. It can also occur in people with carbohydrate malabsorption and unhealthy flora.

What you should do:

• Avoid or minimise the intake of foods high in sugar, carbohydrates and lactose.

• You can also do a simple test to determine whether you have lactose intolerance. Try to have cow’s milk for a few days and pay attention to your gastrointestinal tract. You are likely lactose intolerant if you have a severe reaction after ingesting milk.

4. Abdominal Pain

If your abdominal muscles are constantly tense frequently or quickly, it is another sign of an unhealthy gut. This can be due to muscle spasms accompanied by bad bowel habits.

What you should do:

• Avoid eating foods that cause reflux, such as fried or spicy food, citrus, alcohol and fatty and fried foods.

5. Abdominal Discomfort

If you feel bloated or gassy or have pressure or distension in your belly all the time, likely, the stomach is not fully digesting the food you eat. These symptoms may be due to an excess of bacteria (dysbiosis) for some people.

What you should do:

• When you feel pressure or your belly is distended, stop eating.

• You may have to wait for a few hours before you can eat again.

Conclusion

As you can see, having a healthy gut is not just a matter of “smooth sailing”. It involves several factors, starting with food and ending with your intestinal flora, as well as your attitude to life.

If you want to achieve a healthy gut and life, try eliminating foods that cause digestive discomfort. Instead, introduce foods that have a healing effect, such as probiotics, prebiotics, and natural enzymes.

If you experience these various symptoms, it’s best to get checked out by a doctor to determine if your symptoms are due to an unhealthy gut or other factors. From there, you may also want to visit a naturopathic doctor who specialises in gut health.

Unichem Greenhithe Pharmacy offers a range of treatments and options for you to have the best health solutions. From allergy management to stomach comfort supplements, we carry items that help you improve your quality of life. Contact us today to learn more about our products and services.