The complexity of our gut and its importance to our overall health in Vacaville is getting more notice in the medical community. There have been several studies that demonstrated the link between gut health and mood, cancer, autoimmune diseases, endocrine disorders, immune system, and mental health.

There was a time when our immune system was considered a "simple" body system, where its only purpose is to let food pass through, absorbed, and excreted.

The word "gut microbiome" refers to the microorganisms that live in your intestines. There are about 300 to 500 different species of bacteria that are living inside a person's digestive tract. Some of these microorganisms are harmful to health, but a lot of them are beneficial and even necessary for a healthy body.

Having several of these good bacteria in your gut can improve your immune system function, help fight obesity, improve depression symptoms, and many other benefits.

Signs of an unhealthy gut in Vacaville

The modern lifestyle causes every person to have high-stress levels, insufficient sleep, eat unhealthy foods, and taking antibiotics, which can all cause damage to the gut microbiome. This will have an effect on several aspects of our health such as the brain, heart, skin, weight, hormone levels, immune system, ability to absorb nutrients, and even the development of cancer.

Here the common signs that you have an unhealthy gut:

1. Upset stomach - If you are experiencing stomach disturbances like bloating, constipation, diarrhea, gas, and heartburn, then it's a sign that you have an unhealthy gut. Having a balanced gut can make it easy for food to be processed and get rid of waste.
2. Unintentional weight changes - Unintentionally gaining or losing weight even without dietary changes could be a sign of an unhealthy gut. Having an imbalanced gut can affect your body's ability to absorb nutrients, store fat, and regular blood sugar. Your weight loss could be caused by a small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), while your weight gain could be due to insulin resistance.
3. Skin irritation - Skin conditions such as eczema could have a link to an unhealthy gut. Gut inflammation due to a poor diet or food allergies can cause certain proteins to leak out into the body. This will cause skin irritation and other conditions such as eczema.
4. Sleep disturbances - An unhealthy gut can cause sleep disturbances like insomnia or poor sleep, which will eventually lead to chronic fatigue. The body's serotonin, the hormone that affects mood and sleep, is made in the gut. This means that gut damage can impair your body's ability to sleep properly. Some sleep disturbances can also put a person at risk for fibromyalgia.
5. A high sugar diet - If your diet mostly consists of processed foods and added sugars, then the amount of good bacteria in your gut will be reduced. This imbalance will make you crave for sugar, which could further damage your gut. High amounts of refined sugars have a connection to increased inflammation in the body. Inflammation is known as a precursor to several diseases and even cancer.

With that in mind, it is important to start investing in your gut's health today. You can start by engaging in a healthy diet and you are sure to see improvements along the way.