Gut Health 101: How Do I Know if I Have a Healthy Gut?

Written by Meaghan MacLean

Gut health is a hot topic these days, and for good reason! The health of our gut is directly related to the health of our body as a whole, our metabolism, our immune system, and our mental health. The gut, which is our digestive system, is directly responsible for how we break down and absorb nutrients. And this plays into and affects every single process in the body. Unfortunately, so many people these days are dealing with gut issues to the point where they believe these daily symptoms they experience are normal!

So how do you know if you have a healthy gut or if your gut needs support? Here are some common signs your gut needs support:

Bloating

This is probably the most common issue I see in my clients. And most of them have been dealing with it for so long they’ve come to believe it’s a normal part of life. Bloating can be caused by a few things, including your digestive system struggling to break down and absorb food properly, eating foods that are causing sensitivities, overeating processed foods, or an imbalance in the gut bacteria. 

Stubborn Weight Issues

If you’ve been struggling with stubborn weight loss or the inability to gain muscle no matter how hard you’re working in the gym, your gut health probably needs support. Because your gut health and balance of gut bacteria play a huge role in regulating your hormones, which can dictate how your metabolism runs, it’s not always as simple as calories in vs. calories out. 

Skin Problems

You may have heard of the gut-brain axis, but have you heard of the gut-skin axis? Everything truly is connected. Skin issues like acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, rashes, and dark circles under the eyes are directly related to the health of the gut. When there is inflammation in the gut, there is often a “leaky gut” present, where undigested food particles and toxins are traveling into the bloodstream from a compromised gut lining. 

Chronic Fatigue

This is another common symptom I see in my clients. They’ve been dealing with it for so long, they now believe it’s normal to have that 3 pm energy crash daily. When dealing with chronic gut inflammation, your body is not only working overtime to try and deal with the issue, it will also affect your blood sugar levels, leading to constant energy crashes. 

So what can you do?

For most people, it’s not as simple as just taking a probiotic. It’s important to know exactly what is going on in your gut before throwing bandaids at the issues.

This is where testing comes in! Test, don’t guess is my motto. I utilize the GI-MAP test from Diagnostic Solutions, an at-home stool test, that will show us exactly what’s going on in the gut – from bacteria balance, to how well you’re breaking down and absorbing your food, to the health of your gut’s immune system.

If you’ve been dealing with any of the issues listed above and are interested in getting to the bottom of them and truly understanding how to get your gut as healthy as possible, learn more and sign up for a free consultation here.