9 Warning Signs Your Gut Health Is Off

1. You're constipated.

Constipation is a common sign of gut health problems, often caused by an imbalance of gut bacteria. As gut bacteria are essential for proper bowel motility and the rate at which food is digested, the absence of these bacteria or the presence of bad bacteria can lead to constipation.

Another reason for constipation can be a lack of fiber. As fiber passes intact through the gastrointestinal tract, it plays a crucial role in maintaining the gut microbiome, which has a positive impact on metabolic health.

2. You're having diarrhea.

Diarrhea is another digestive symptom that may indicate poor gut health. Diarrhea is caused by various kinds of disruption to the normal metabolic processes in your gut.

For example, if something prevents intestinal water absorption, the speed at which food moves increases, causing too much fluid to be secreted into the gut.

3. You're having heartburn.

Acid reflux is the backflow of stomach contents into the esophagus, while heartburn is the feeling of acid reflux. If you frequently experience a mild burning sensation in the mid-chest, there might be something wrong with your gut health.

In fact, acid reflux is commonly caused by gut dysbiosis. When your gut doesn’t have enough good bacteria, bad bacteria produce toxins and lead to bacterial imbalance. As a result, your body has trouble digesting foods that are acidic or high in fat.

4. You've developed food sensitivities or intolerances.

If you notice that you’ve recently developed food sensitivities, allergies, or intolerances, your gut health might be off. Food intolerances arise as a result of particular changes in your body.

For example, you may become sensitive to specific foods when your digestive system doesn’t make enough of a particular enzyme to break down certain ingredients.

5. You're fatigued.

Poor gut health can lead to a variety of sleep-related problems, including insomnia, which leads to fatigue and tiredness. In fact, most of your body’s serotonin is produced in the gut.

When there are bad bacteria or inflammation in the gut, the production of serotonin may be reduced. And without enough serotonin, you may experience mood swings, depression, anxiety, and other symptoms that make you feel fatigued and extremely exhausted.

6. You're having stomach pain.

Stomach pain is a form of gastrointestinal upset, usually after eating. Unpleasant feelings in your stomach are linked to your digestive system having trouble processing or breaking down food.

Keep in mind that stomach pains are a normal response to hunger, as your body signals a need for food. If you experience stomach pain when being hungry, it most likely has nothing to do with gut health. In most cases, stomach pains caused by hunger don’t require any medical attention.

7. You're gaining weight.

Your gut health is responsible for digesting foods and producing chemicals that make you feel full.

When there’s something wrong with your gut bacteria, you may feel hungry all the time or your body may have trouble breaking down certain products.

Additionally, gut bacteria that produce lipopolysaccharides (LPS) can cause inflammation and contribute to weight gain.

8. You're bloated.

Poor gut health can lead to increased fermentation and water retention, producing feelings of bloating.

When your gut health can’t digest food properly, fats and refined carbohydrates spend more time in the gut, producing more gases and causing bloating.

While bloating is often triggered by large meals or gas-producing ingredients, gut sensitivity and metabolic disorders are common culprits.

9. You're sleeping badly.

If you have trouble falling and staying asleep due to stomach pains, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, or acid reflux, your gut is surely off.

Unfortunately, poor sleep and gut-related health problems often create a cycle that seems to be never-ending. While your sleeping habits alter the gut microbiome diversity, poor gut health causes sleep deprivation, and vice versa.

As people who sleep well tend to have better gut health, creating an optimal bedtime routine is essential for improving digestion.