Gut bacteria is a connection of microbiomes that live in your digestive system whose complex functions go beyond digesting food.
What is gut health?
Most of our mental, physical, and emotional health depends on the health of our gut microbiome.
That's why it's vital to maintain your gut health. Read on to discover how.
What are the signs of harmful gut bacteria?
Listening to your body will help you gauge the state of your gut health. Pay attention to any bodily changes or any new symptoms that arise with specific foods.
Some of the common symptoms to watch include:
BAD BREATH
Any problematic bacteria living in your gut often makes its way up to the space between your gums and teeth. These microbes also live on the tongue and cause breath odors.
SLEEPING PROBLEMS
The hormone serotonin is primarily produced in the intestine and affects our moods and sleep. Your gut's inability to produce serotonin is often due to poor gut health, leading to insomnia and other chronic sleep disturbances that cause fatigue.
FOOD INTOLERANCE
This condition is described as difficulty in digesting certain foods. Food intolerances usually cause nausea, gas, bloating, and minor stomach discomfort.
SKIN BLEMISHES
The gut-skin axis is the connection between gut bacteria and its visible effect on the skin. The overgrowth of harmful gut bacteria can cause skin inflammation and irritation, like atopic dermatitis (eczema).
MOOD SWINGS
Poor gut health hinders the body's ability to absorb nutrients. It decreases our nutrient levels and the body's ability to create and use certain vitamins and hormones like dopamine, serotonin, and vitamin D.
The result is depression, mood shifts, anxiety, and other negative mental changes.
DISEASE
Certain bacteria penetrate the colon's mucous lining and cause type two diabetes. Others contribute to other health issues like colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and chronic kidney disease.
Foods to avoid
SUGAR AND ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS
A diet high in sugar (artificial sweeteners, refined sugar, or naturally occurring) is detrimental to your gut health because it reduces gut function and alters the composition of gut bacteria.
PROCESSED FOODS
Most processed foods contain additives that extend their shelf life, keep ingredients bonded, and create a smooth texture.
These additives damage gut bacteria, sometimes resulting in colitis and other ailments.
RED MEAT
Red meat can harm your health by promoting the growth of toxic strains of bacteria. Trimethylamine N-oxide (a compound used to digest nutrients in meat) may increase the chances of heart attack and stroke.
WHOLE MILK
Evidence suggests that whole milk changes the composition of gut microbes in some people. This change affects glucose metabolism and lipids.
GLUTEN
Scientific studies have proven that the adverse effects of gluten affect stomach bacteria and can induce bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, etc.
FOOD THAT CONTAINS ANTIBIOTICS
Food that's grown commercially in large quantities often contains antibiotics. These antibiotics cause a variety of gut and intestinal dysfunctions, including inflammation.
Foods and supplements promote positive gut health
KOMBUCHA
Kombucha tea contains probiotics that help restore healthy gut bacteria. It's also an antimicrobial food and can fight bacterial growth.
KEFIR
This yogurt contains multiple strains of live bacteria that aid in improving gut health.
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
ACV assists the body in creating hydrochloric acid that enhances the digestion of proteins, fats, and carbs. It can also help alleviate some symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
BONE BROTH
Stock created from slow-cooking chicken or beef bones and marrow contains L-glutamine, a nutrient that assists with improving the gut lining and health. Some symptoms of leaky gut and IBS improve after regularly consuming bone broth.
VITAMIN D3
Vitamin D3 supplements can create more diverse gut bacteria that reduce the number of harmful bacteria. It can also assist with glucose mobilization and relieving gut inflammation.
ALOE VERA
Aloe's antimicrobial properties assist with reinforcing the gut barrier, relieving inflammation, and constipation.
TURMERIC
Turmeric root supplements support the stomach in secreting mucus that shields against gastric acid. Turmeric also has anti-inflammatory properties, promoting good gut health.
Also, it contributes to relaxing the stomach and intestinal muscles, allowing food to pass easily through the digestive tract.
Signs of good gut health
MINIMAL STOMACH ISSUES
Having healthy gut bacteria gets rid of stomach discomfort and digestive troubles such as bloating, acid reflux, heartburn, gas, and constipation.
CLEARER SKIN
Dandruff, rashes, and acne disappear when your gut bacteria is healthy.
LESS FOOD SENSITIVITY
If certain foods caused you headaches, stomach pain, or mood issues, you'll no longer experience this when your gut health is tops.
NOTE: Consult a medical professional before reintroducing problem foods to your diet.
MORE ENERGY
When your gut bacteria is healthy, it enables the body systems to work together harmoniously. Increased energy, weight stabilization, mental calmness, and overall positive shift in mood are a few indicators of good gut health.
With love,
The Sole Toscana Beauty Team
