Most people don’t think about the health of their gut until something goes wrong, but this isn’t a sustainable strategy for maintaining your overall wellness. If you’ve experienced any major issues with your gastrointestinal system, there were likely signs warning you that trouble was on the horizon, and preventative measures could have been taken. That’s why the Fairfield County gut health experts at Dietitian For All recommend watching for these three signs that your body is trying to alert you to gastrointestinal problems.

Why is proper gut health so important?

According to our Fairfield County gut health professionals, the gastrointestinal system is one of the most important ones in your entire body. That’s because it’s responsible for breaking down all of the food you consume so that it can enter the bloodstream and provide the rest of your body with the nutrients it needs. It also communicates with your brain using nerves and hormones to bolster your overall health.

When you have a healthy gut, you’re more likely to have a robust immune system, healthy heart, and improved mood. When it’s healthy, it also contains beneficial bacteria that help ward off infections, but when these bacteria are affected, it will start to cause problems. This often happens when a person eats a diet high in processed foods, doesn’t get the right amount of sleep, or takes medications with chemicals that affect the gut.

Cautionary signs of poor gut health.

You struggle to find the energy you need each day.

Many people think that not being able to fall asleep is a mental problem. However, poor gut health has actually been linked to various sleep disorders such as insomnia and restless sleep, making it difficult to get a full night’s rest. That’s because it’s not capable of producing or regulating serotonin – the hormone that affects sleep – as well as a healthy one. Without the right amount of sleep, people with gastrointestinal problems experience chronic fatigue and reduced energy that makes it difficult to get through the day.

Your weight is continually fluctuating.

For most of us, we have to drastically change our daily habits to experience a change in weight. If you have an unhealthy gut, though, your weight can change unintentionally. When the bacteria in the system are out of balance, it affects your body’s ability to absorb nutrients, regulate blood sugar, and store fat. If you’re losing weight seemingly inexplicably, you might be suffering from SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), while unintentional weight gains are a sign of insulin resistance.

You’re experiencing excessive digestive issues.

When the balance between the good bacteria and the bad bacteria in your gut is affected, it’s common to have various digestive issues. Since your body can’t process the food you eat effectively and absorb the necessary nutrients, many people end up dealing with irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, or bloating. One instance of these symptoms doesn’t mean it’s definitively because of your gut health, but if they are ongoing and frequent, you should visit a doctor to have your gastrointestinal system examined.

Are you experiencing any symptoms of poor gut health?

If so, then visit Fairfield County’s gut health experts at Dietitian For All. We understand how crucial proper nutrition is to maintaining your overall wellness, and we have the experience and training needed to help you find a plan that works for you. That’s because we never use a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we work with you on an individual level to fully understand your body’s unique needs and address the root of the problems rather than the symptoms. Learn more about our approach to health, or message us online to schedule your initial consultation.