The microorganisms that live inside your gut are like "little pets living inside your intestinal tract," says Gail Cresci, a microbiome expert at the Cleveland Clinic. These microbes help your digestive system digest food, but also produce vitamins and hormones, regulate inflammation and support your body's immune system. Those are some little pets with a pretty big job.
Since your gut plays such a crucial role in your overall well-being, it's important to pay attention to signs that it might be unhealthy and in need of some TLC. Fortunately, Cresci says that there are simple lifestyle changes you can make to boost your gut health. We include both the unhealthy gut signs and potential remedies below.
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Signs of an unhealthy gut
"If you're bloated or you have lots of gas, you may have a disrupted composition and function of the gut microbiome," Cresci said, adding that the only way to know for sure is to have it measured.
Other signs of an unhealthy gut may include:
Fatigue
Food intolerance
Skin irritation or problems
Trouble sleeping
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