Your digestive system has a huge impact on your overall health. This can be a double edged sword. If your gut is healthy, you don't think much about how it impacts you. However, if your microbiome is out of balance, symptoms can appear in unexpected places. Here are seven problems that are linked to poor gut health - do any sound familiar to you?
Digestive Issues: One of the more obvious signs of an imbalanced gut, digestive issues occur when food is not being properly processed and eliminated. Symptoms like gas, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation can all find their start in an unbalanced microbiome. Other digestive conditions, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are also connected to poor gut health.
Mood Disorders: Some medical literature refers to the gut as the "second brain." The two systems are intricately connected. A poorly functioning gut microbiome can exacerbate symptoms of anxiety and depression. Fortunately, this also means that correcting an unbalanced biome may help ease mood disorder symptoms.
Skin Problems: Skin problems like eczema and rosacea can be a manifestation of a food intolerance. Poor digestion due to poor gut health may be to blame. Interestingly, people with inflammatory bowel conditions also have a higher risk of skin issues.
Acid Reflux: Acid reflux and Gastroesophageal reflux disease (or GERD) have been correlated with an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. If you suffer from reflux, addressing your gut health may help you address this problem as well.
Poor Immune System: Find yourself getting more colds than usual? An unhealthy gut may be to blame. Your immune system can be compromised by an overgrowth of opportunistic bacteria in your digestive system. Find balance there to support proper immune function.
Bad Breath: It sounds a little odd, but it's true - bad breath can be an indicator that your gut flora isn't as it should be. Halitosis comes from microbes between your teeth and gums. If the bacteria in your mouth are out of balance, bad breath will likely follow. An imbalance in your mouth may be a sign of an imbalance elsewhere, so bad breath and poor gut health often occur together.
Metabolic Syndrome: Your metabolism is affected by your gut bacteria. If the balance is off, your digestive system may end up creating too many fatty acids. These acids can lead to fat deposits in your liver, which may lead to metabolic syndrome. If left unchecked, metabolic syndrome can lead to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
Finding balance in your digestive microbiome can keep small problems from turning into big ones. Eat probiotic rich foods or supplement with a greens powder containing probiotics to support a healthy gut and improve your overall health.