#1 – You Struggle to wake Up and Stay Alert thru the day

Serotonin is key to quality sleep, and if the gut isn’t creating enough, you may experience an exhausting sleep/wake cycle. Additionally, slow digestion takes energy from your body that could be used to crawl out of bed — or conquer that to do list.

#2- Frequent Heartburn

Sure, you might get heartburn after eating too many acidic foods like tomatoes and chocolate (even though chocolate is worth it). This may not be cause for concern, but frequent bouts could be a sign that more is going on in your gut. If you experience this heartburn more than once a week, it’s time to look deeper into your gut health.

#3 – Food Intolerances or Sensitivities

If our gut wall begins to break down, it causes a condition called a leaky gut. This is where large particles of food can then enter the bloodstream and wreak havoc on our immune system.

When leaky gut becomes an issue, foods you’ve enjoyed plenty in the past — especially those that increase inflammation, like gluten, dairy or sugar — may cause digestive distress. If you find that caffeine increases these symptoms this can be a clear sign also.

#4- Brain Fog

Frequent forgetfulness and bouts of brain fog can be linked to your gut. Not only are your gut and brain connected through neurological pathways, but your gut is in charge of sending nutrients and healthy fats to your brain. Without sufficient nutrients, you may find yourself struggling to remember words or keep your thoughts straight.

#5- Frequent Breakouts

If you suffer from unexplained acne that refuses to calm down no matter what expensive cream or treatment you try, it might be time to look at your gut.
Acne has been associated with a gut disorder called small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)or certain food intolerances (especially dairy). Leaky gut may also allow bacteria to travel outside of your gut, causing widespread inflammation and eventually seeking your skin as an exit point.

#6- Hormone Imbalance

For women who suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), Hashimoto’s, and menopause, hormone imbalance is nothing new. Usually, hormone imbalances are diagnosed through blood tests or dry urine analysis ordered by your doctor or health coach.

If you struggle with any of these diseases, you know that maintaining healthy estrogen levels plays an important role in your overall wellness. But did you know the gut is responsible for some estrogen production? 

Taking care of your gut and nourishing your microbiome may help to ease symptoms of estrogen dominance.

#7 – Extreme Weight Fluctuation

Rapid unexplained weight gain or loss can be caused by a lot of different things. Your gut influences how your body stores nutrients, it has a lot of influence over your weight. 

#8 – Inflammation

Inflammation is a hot-button topic in the holistic health world. Inflammation-driven gut diseases like Crohn’s disease, lyme’s disease, and ulcerative colitis, to name a few, are on the rise. If you experience inflammatory symptoms like regular headaches, fatigue, and decreased appetite without a direct cause, it could be linked to leaky gut.

#9 – Chronic Constipation

Do you poop once a day?To maintain healthy digestion, you should be going at least once a day. If less frequent, your body could quickly become overloaded with toxins. Healthy BM’s are a sign of a healthy you — so make sure you’re eating plenty of fiber and drinking plenty of water  to help your motility stay consistent.

#10- Unexplained onset of slight Depression or Anxiety 

Although we associate most “happy chemicals,” like serotonin and dopamine with the brain, they are produced in the gut as well. In fact, the gut produces  95% of our serotonin! 

Neurotransmitters in the brain and gut regularly communicate with each other — connecting the two in what’s called the gut-brain axis. When the gut is in chronic distress, the brain is almost always affected. 

This is why we see cases of slight depression and anxiety so often in people with gut issues.