Signs of Bad Gut Bacteria

Gut health is a hot topic right now as people discover how much of an impact your gut has on your overall health and wellness. Your gut is now being called your 2nd brain! Bad gut bacteria not only contributes to digestive issues, but this can then cause mental health problems like stress and anxiety, lead to poor focus and brain fog, and many other issues. If you have poor gut health, if effects your whole body health. Here are some signs that the bacteria in your gut is not balanced properly.

Gut or Stomach Discomfort

General discomfort of the stomach and digestive system can come from so many different conditions, that it often takes some time narrowing down the initial cause. The cause is important, because that is how you determine the proper treatment. If you are having discomfort like gas and bloating, stomach cramps, heartburn, diarrhea or constipation, looking into your gut bacteria is a good place to start.

Food Cravings

The next common sign to having bad gut bacteria is having specific food cravings. If you have an intense craving for foods that are sweet or for refined carbs, this could mean things are out of whack in your gut. Sweets and sugar tend to be a big sign of an imbalance of your gut health. Have you had antibiotics recently? It rids your gut of good bacteria so you might have an increase of sugar cravings due to the fact that bad bacteria feeds on sugar/ carbs!

Unexplained Weight Loss

Any time you start losing weight without making any changes to your diet or lifestyle, it is important to talk to your doctor.

There are many conditions that can cause this, including autoimmune diseases like thyroid issues, gluten allergies, and yes, bad gut bacteria. This is often referred to small intestine bacterial overgrowth, which is when you have an excessive amount of microbes that are affecting your ability to absorb different nutrients. In this case a functional medicine doctor can help diagnosis this condition. ! Mental Health Changes ! If you have an increase in mental health issues lately, that can also be a big sign of having improper gut bacteria balances. This might include a higher level of stress, worsening symptoms of anxiety and depression, and possible brain fog.

If you are ready to learn more and want to get started on figuring out your gut issues, contact me at [email protected]