The gut is called the body’s second brain. It shows the importance of the gut and how its proper functioning is necessary for a healthy body. When you have an unhealthy gut, it manifests itself in form of various diseases. Firstly, let us understand how a properly functioning gut is supposed to operate.
How does the gut operate?
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract starts with your mouth and ends with the anus. The function of the GI tract is to take in food, digest it, absorb nutrients, and expel the remaining waste. But, how does one get to know if they have a healthy gut?
When a person has a healthy gut, they have a bowel movement that is well-formed and easy to pass once or twice daily. Secondly, a factor is that abdominal symptoms like gas, bloating, and abdominal pain do not happen. To get a detailed understanding of gut health, check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zgsTlelxoY
In today’s times, most people think that gas and bloating are normal. However, it is not true. According to nutritionists, these direct towards underlying digestive issues which manifests into bigger diseases. The reasons for digestive issues can b erratic eating habits and sedentary lifestyles.
Trust your ‘GUT’ Feeling
When you have an unhealthy gut, there are certain symptoms that show up. Sometimes, it can be poor concentration, or some days it can be mood swings. In modern life, there are many facets that exacerbate gut health:
- High-stress levels
- Too little sleep
- Eating processed and high-sugar foods
- Taking antibiotics
All these habits can damage our gut microbiome. In turn, it affects other aspects of our health, such as the immune system, skin, weight, hormonal balance, and even our ability to absorb nutrients. Therefore, it is important to look for some common symptoms at an early stage. Here is a list of symptoms that you should watch out for:
- Upset Stomach: If you have a frequently upset stomach, then you must start taking steps to better your gut health. The gut is filled with proportions of bad bacteria or good bacterias. When the amount of bad bacteria is higher, our foods are not broken down as they should. It leads to an increase in gas and acidity in your gut. Therefore, you should eat nutritious home-cooked food, drink lots of water, and exercise regularly.
- Food Intolerance: Food intolerance is the difficulty in digesting certain foods. The reason for this is the poor quality of bacteria in the gut.
- Disturbance in Sleeping Pattern: If you are not getting enough or sufficient quality of sleep, it can have serious impacts on your gut health. Further, it contributes to more sleep issues. Therefore, one should try to prioritize getting at least 7–8 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night.
- Mood Swings: The bacteria present inside the gut manufactures about 95 percent of the body’s total supply of serotonin. It influences the mood and other mental processes as well. You can also read the book The Mind-Gut Connection – https://www.amazon.in/Mind-Gut-Connection-Conversation-Impacts-Choices/dp/0062376551