Ten Possible Signs Of An Inbalanced Gut

Many of us are walking around feeling "just fine", and thinking we are healthy and well, meanwhile, something different may be brewing down below. Before you run for the hills, it is good to understand some known, but also lesser known signs that all may not be well in a very important area of your body, namely, your gut. Some symptoms are very obvious and are easier to pinpoint, some are more subtle, or not looked upon as gut-related due to their location. I hope by the end of this article, you have a better understanding and picture of what that may look like. So let's jump right in!

More Obvious Signs:

1)Regular/daily gas/bloating - A very common symptom in many, this is often a sign of low stomach acid, which can create fermentation and maldigestion of food(which bugs love to thrive on)! Low stomach acid is often a symptom of chronic stress, in which the body dials down digestive juices as a survival response, impacting the triggering of enzymes needed for digestion and absorption of carbohydrates and starches, and bile, which emulsifies and allows for the absorption of fats.

2)Acid reflux - Is acid reflux caused by too much stomach acid? Think again! Acid reflux is most often a sign of the opposite and can be a result of low stomach acid, leading to maldigested proteins which create fermentation, causing dysfunction in the esophageal sphincter (separates the esophagus from the stomach and keeps contents safely within the stomach contents. )

3)Pain in the upper or lower abdomen - Pain in the upper stomach area soon after eating, especially coupled with acid reflux, can be a sign of H Pylori overgrowth, a bug that can overgrow in the stomach and cause damage to the mucosal layer, limiting the stomach's ability to protect itself from the effects of HCL (stomach acid). Pain in the lower abdomen can be connected to the malabsorption of foods, creating painful gas and bloating. This is also rooted in low stomach acid as we need a low ph to stimulate digestive enzymes.

Not-So-Obvious Signs:

4)Auto-Immune Conditions- One common denominator we can see in all cases of autoimmune conditions is over-permeability of the gut lining, which allows particles that are not supposed to be in the bloodstream, to enter, which triggers a dysregulated immune response. Why is there an over-permeability of the gut lining? Check out some of my earlier blog posts where I go over this more extensively.

5)Chronic joint/muscle pain - Not something we often connect with gut issues, but chronic joint pain can have a major connection with gut permeability as mentioned above, additionally creating an immune response, promoting immune complexes to build in areas of low circulation, such as the joints. Addressing food sensitivities and repairing the gut lining is key in healing this condition.

6)Chronic sugar/carb cravings - This can possibly be a sign of Candida yeast overgrowth, which thrives on sugar to survive; check your tongue for a white coating which can also indicate a possible overgrowth

7)Constipation - Dysfunction/dysregulation of the vagus nerve, due to stress or trauma, can lead to poor motility and low amounts of beneficial bacteria in the large intestine, which help with good stool formation eg. bifidobacteria.

8)Headaches - Often connected to food sensitivities, which can be a result of poor intestinal lining integrity due to inflammation, bacteria overgrowth, maldigestion, or high histamine (which can also be connected to the same causes.)

9)Insomnia - Bacterial overgrowth in the intestines can create havoc in the microbiome and disrupt sleep, including parasite overgrowth, which can become more active at night around the time of the full moon, leading to symptoms such as agitation, itchiness, and restless legs at night. Restless legs can also be connected to low iron, which can be a result of maldigestion/malabsorption and/or poor intake of iron.

10)Mood imbalances and/or disorders - Beneficial gut bacteria rely on good digestion, good stomach acid, and good food, and in return, they can create a good balance of hormones, neurotransmitters, and absorption of nutrients, all of which are essential for good mental health. We need to be able to absorb and utilize nutrients in order to make neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and GABA. An imbalance in gut bacteria can interfere with this process.

This is by no means a complete list, there are so many symptoms, specific to each person, which can be an indicator of gut imbalances, but I hope this short review at least gives you an idea of what to watch out for, especially if you have 2 or more of the symptoms listed here. And as always, please seek the help of a qualified practitioner if you need assistance and support. Please share and post any questions you may have!

May you be well!

Silvia

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