By Previnex®
Your gut does far more than digest food. It plays a major role in immunity, energy, metabolism, and even mood.
So when your gut is out of balance, it can show up in ways that go well beyond stomach issues.
Knowing the signs of poor gut health can empower you to restore balance through nutrition, gut health supplements, and lifestyle changes.
How Do You Know Your Gut Health Is Bad?
Common symptoms of an unhealthy gut may include:
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Digestive discomfort: bloating, constipation, diarrhea, or stomach upset
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Fatigue and low energy: feeling tired even when you’ve had enough rest
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Skin issues: acne, eczema, psoriasis, or other inflammatory conditions
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Food sensitivities: increased reactivity to certain foods
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Sleep and mood issues: difficulty concentrating, poor sleep, or irritability
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Frequent illness: getting sick often or taking longer to recover
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Unexplained weight changes: unintentional weight loss or gain
How does an unhealthy gut cause such wide-ranging issues? It all starts with the gut microbiome, a diverse population of bacteria and microbes in your digestive tract that helps regulate digestion, immunity, and inflammation. When it’s disrupted, your whole system can feel the effects.
Digestive Issues
Digestive symptoms like frequent bloating, constipation, and diarrhea are the clearest signal of gut imbalance. A healthy microbiome helps break down food, extract nutrients, and support regularity. When it’s out of balance, you may notice digestive issues like bloating, gas, constipation, or diarrhea.
Frequent Illness and Fatigue
Around 70% of your immune system is located in the gut. If your gut barrier is weakened, you may be susceptible to infection and illness. Poor gut health has also been linked to low energy and chronic fatigue.
Skin Irritation and Allergies
The gut and skin are closely linked through what researchers call the “gut-skin axis.” Studies have found that gut microbiome imbalances are often present in people with conditions such as atopic dermatitis, acne vulgaris, urticaria, and psoriasis. In particular, levels of the beneficial bacterium Bifidobacterium often decrease, while E. coli and Proteobacteria tend to increase.
How Do You Check Your Gut Health?
If you’re experiencing symptoms, the best way to measure your gut health is to work with a healthcare professional. They may recommend testing, such as:
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Stool tests to check for bacteria balance and digestive markers
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Blood tests to identify inflammation, infection, or immune imbalances
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Breath tests, which can detect gases linked to bacterial overgrowth
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At-home microbiome kits to provide insights into gut bacteria diversity
Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about any health issues, including frequent illness, digestive issues, skin irritations, and food sensitivities. The information you provide will help them determine the root cause of your issues. They may recommend supplements (like a probiotic and/or greens powder) to support your overall gut health.
How Do You Fix an Unhealthy Gut?
Supporting your gut health usually means addressing the basics first:
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Diet: Prioritize whole, nutrient-rich foods and high-quality supplements, and cut back on processed sugar and alcohol.
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Probiotics & prebiotics: Probiotics add beneficial bacteria to your gut, while prebiotics (fibers your body can’t digest) feed those bacteria so they thrive.
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Lifestyle: Stress management, exercise, and good sleep all influence your microbiome.
Certain foods and supplements can offer additional support. For example, chlorella provides antioxidants and fiber that aid your immune system, support respiratory health, and promote beneficial bacteria growth. It can help detox your gut, promote the growth of beneficial bacteria, lower blood glucose levels, lower cholesterol levels, and decrease inflammation in the intestines.
Other clinically-studied ingredients like the multi-function fiber Solnul® and plant extracts such as ultra effective natural bioactive GutGard® have been shown to reduce inflammation, strengthen the gut lining, and balance the microbiome. Solnul® feeds bifidobacterium, helping to repair the gut lining, support digestion, and promote optimal function in your gastrointestinal health. GutGard® supports daily digestive health, reduces inflammatory markers, and balances the gut microbiome all together.
Previnex cares deeply about quality and efficacy, and that’s why we bring together so many clinically-studied ingredients in our Gut & Green Superfoods.
What Are the Worst Foods for Gut Health?
Some foods and drinks can disrupt gut balance, especially when consumed often:
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Refined sugars and ultra-processed foods: promote harmful bacteria and inflammation
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Artificial sweeteners: may negatively affect microbiome diversity
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Alcohol: irritates the gut lining, increases inflammation, and drives imbalance
Studies on the long-term effects of artificial sweeteners suggest a link to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. High-sugar diets can contribute to gut microbiome disruption, inflammation, leaky gut, and more. Increased sugar intake is associated with multiple tissue and organ dysfunctions, disrupting the intestinal barrier and increasing the permeability of your gut.
Alcohol can alter the composition and balance of your gut microbiome, leading to an overall imbalance of the bacteria in your gut. It can also increase inflammation, since alcohol can directly irritate the lining of your stomach and intestines. Alcohol-induced intestinal inflammation can be the root cause of other organ dysfunctions and chronic disorders such as liver disease, neurological disease, GI cancers, and IBS. Studies show that alcohol consumption promotes dysbiosis (an imbalance of the gut microbiome) and bacteria overgrowth, which leads to an increase in endotoxin release. Endotoxins activate proteins and immune cells that cause inflammation.
The Bottom Line on Gut Health
Your gut influences everything from digestion to immunity to mood and mental health. If you’re noticing frequent illness, digestive upset, skin irritation, or fatigue, it may be worth taking a closer look at your gut health. Building a gut-friendly routine with balanced nutrition and supplementation, probiotics and prebiotics, exercise, and stress management can make a significant difference.
What can you do to improve your gut health, right now? Choose whole foods, organic if you can, and eat a healthy, balanced diet of plants, protein, fat, and carbs, with a supplement like Gut & Green Superfoods to ensure your gut functions optimally. Gut & Green Superfoods provides an extra boost of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients and contains a wide array of high-quality, clinically studied ingredients designed to support your gut health, now and for the long term.
