Amelia Grant

Our digestive tract has a significant impact on our overall health. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, its most important role is to "split nutrients into small components for your body to absorb and use for energy, growth, and cell repair." We will face not only discomfort but potentially serious health concerns if our gastrointestinal system is not healthy.

Digestive diseases affect 62 million Americans every year. Most digestive illnesses occur in older adults. Hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel disease, and chronic liver disease are further exceptions, which are more common in young and middle-aged persons. Let’s look at some signs of an unhealthy gut to keep an eye out for.

1. Poor sleep 

Having poor sleep is not just a common issue that affects almost everyone, chronic sleep issues might be an indication of gut problems. Low levels of serotonin in your blood can also affect your sleep cycle and make sleep less restful. 

Gut microbiomes also produce and respond to the same neurochemicals, like GABA, serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, acetylcholine, and melatonin, that your brain needs to adjust your mood, cognition, and sleep.

2. Tiredness 

We've all had extreme tiredness at some point, but if your fatigue is long-term it might be an indication of an underlying problem. Your gut helps your body in vitamin and nutrient absorption from your food. When your gut is not functioning properly, you can have malabsorption of key vitamins, contributing to overall long-term fatigue.

3. Migraines

Having constant migraines might be linked to poor gut health. Nearly 37 million people in the United States have migraines. CGRP (Calcitonin gene-related peptide) is a vasodilator that is implicated in migraines and can also be impacted by poor gut health. Migraines often occur in patients with IBS or irritable bowel syndrome. That’s why there seems to be a bidirectional relationship in people with stomach problems and migraine headaches. So, to treat migraines, you need to address your current gut issues. 

4. Skin, nail, and hair problems 

Vitamin deficiencies caused by malabsorption can also show up as poor skin/hair and nail health since these are rapidly reproducing cells which require these nutrients to replicate and grow.

5. Heartburn 

The integrity of the immune system, which surrounds the gut 70% of the time, is determined by gastrointestinal health. The gut is the source of the majority of chronic health issues. Beginning with the upper GI tract, gastrointestinal reflux (heartburn) are symptoms that the gut is sick — or that specific meals are causing the stomach to operate poorly.

Bloating, distension and stomach discomfort are classic indicators of a dysfunctional small intestine as we go along the GI system. Changes in bowel motions, such as constipation and diarrhea, are common signs of a diseased large intestine. Food sensitivities, particularly multiple food sensitivities, can also signal a weakened gut.

6. Bloating 

Bloating isn't just annoying; it could also be a sign that something is wrong with our gastrointestinal tract.

Bloating can occur as a result of excessive sugar consumption, as the "bad bacteria" Candida lives in your gut and feeds on sugar, causing bloating and explaining why so many people have huge waistlines. Candida, which feeds on sugar, may be to blame for sugar cravings.

7. Irritability 

Because the majority of your body's serotonin is produced in your gut, which can affect both mood and sleep, poor gut health can lead to poor serotonin production. This can make you irritable and affect your mood. It can also cause anxiety, gloomy moods, and extreme exhaustion.

8. Susceptibility to infections 

Your gut microbiome has a significant impact on your immune system. A substantial part of your immune system is located in your gut, according to some GI doctors. There are many patients with weakened immune systems who also have stomach issues. As a result, persons with poor gut health are more susceptible to infections and, in certain cases, autoimmune diseases.