How do you know if you have poor gut health?Diondra Atoyebi, D.O., a Piedmont family medicine physician, shares the signs of poor gut health and how to get back on track.
Why is gut health important?
A healthy gut includes a good balance of bacteria, or microbes, in your gastrointestinal tract. These microbes help the body:
- Obtain energy from the food you eat
- Get rid of toxins
- Fight harmful viruses and bacteria
- Produce the mood-boosting brain chemical serotonin
Signs of poor gut health
When your body doesn’t have enough good bacteria, bad bacteria can thrive. The following can be signs of a gut bacteria imbalance:
- Autoimmune problems, such asthyroid issues,rheumatoid arthritisand type 1 diabetes
- Digestive issues, such asirritable bowel syndrome,constipation, diarrhea,heartburnor bloating
- Sleep issues
- Skin rashes and allergies
- Sugar cravings
- Unexplainedfatigue or sluggishness
- Unexplained mood disorders, such asdepressionoranxiety
- Unexplainedweight gainor weight loss
“When I hear people mention these symptoms, I’ll ask about their diet and the quality of the foods theyare eating,” Dr. Atoyebi says.“Ifthere isno other medical cause, their symptoms could be related to an unhealthy gut.”
Can poor gut health affect your mood?
Your gut health can strongly affect your mood and sense of well-being.
“It has been amazing to see the correlations between gut health and depression, anxiety, and fatigue,” she says. “When patients complain ofchronic fatigueordepression, I’ll investigate and often find they are eating a lot ofprocessed foods. Food affects how you feel, which manifests in your mood. While mood disorders are not solely regulated by gut health, it is definitely a factor.”
How to improve your gut health
To improve your gut health:
- Avoid takingunnecessary antibiotics.Antibiotics can reduce both good and bad bacteria in the body.
- Consumenatural sources of probiotics.Plain yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha and kimchi all contain helpful bacteria from the fermentation process.
- Cut back on processed foods.“If your great-grandparents wouldn’t recognize a food, reconsider eating it,” Dr. Atoyebi says. “Don’t fall for gimmicks that claimprocessed foodshave added vitamins or minerals. Instead, go back to eating what we’ve been eating for thousands of years – vegetables and fruits.”
- Eat prebiotics.Manyhigh-fiber vegetables, fruits and whole grainsare prebiotics that serve as “food” for good bacteria in the body. Unprocessed foods like apples, asparagus, bananas, corn, garlic, flaxseeds, leeks, onions, oats, lentils and walnuts can improve gut health.
- Stay hydrated.“I recommenddrinking plenty of water,” she says. “I discourage patients from consuming vitamin supplement drinks. If you want toadd flavor to your water, add some fresh fruit.”
- Shop the perimeter of the grocery store.The perimeter is where you can findfresh and frozen produce,lean proteins,whole grains, andlow-fat dairy.
When to see a doctor about your gut health
Talk to your doctor if you have any of the poor gut health symptoms mentioned above.Your annual physicalisa goodtime to check in with your provider about your gut health andbowel habitsto ensure everything works correctly.
“I ask about bowel and diet habits in each of my patient visits,” Dr. Atoyebi says. “Bring it up at each visit – don’t wait until you have a major concern. What may seem normal to you may not be healthy.”
Dr. Atoyebi practices at Piedmont Physicians of Monroe,located at2161 West Spring Street, Suite A, Monroe, GA 30655.Schedulean appointment with Dr. Atoyebi or one of our other primary care providers. Save time,book online.
