HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE GOOD GUT HEALTH?

You know you have good gut health if you don’t regularly experience unpleasant digestive issues such as bloating, flatulence, irregularity, stomach pain, diarrhea and constipation. People in our society are beginning to think that “bloating” is normal. It’s not! If you have healthy gut flora you should only experience bloating once in a while or never at all!

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE BAD GUT HEALTH?

Often times people do not know they have bad gut health, or bacterial overgrowth. They accept their symptoms as “normal”, and something they have to live with. Most people think stomach bloating is normal. It is not normal. The problem is that so many people in our society have poor gut flora and bacterial overgrowth that many people think this is normal. My clients that have healthy gut flora very rarely experience these symptoms regardless of what and how much they eat. Many people can’t imagine what it’s like to go through life not constantly concerned about their stomach and bathroom habits.

WHAT CAN NEGATIVELY AFFECT GUT HEALTH?

Dr. Mark Pimentel is the doctor that first discovered SIBO and bacterial overgrowth as the cause for “IBS” or irritable bowel syndrome. He believes the main cause of SIBO is from a bout of food poisoning. Other causes can be from excessive use of antibiotics, scar tissue from a past surgery, and food sensitivity.

An unhealthy diet that’s high in processed carbohydrates, sugar alcohols, and corn syrup can negatively effect gut health. Other things that can cause poor digestion are abnormal sleep habits, inadequate sleep, frequent travel, inactivity, overeating, disordered eating, scar tissue in the abdominal area, overuse of antibiotics, stress, and eating to close to sleeping.

HOW TO KEEP THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM HEALTHY AND FUNCTIONING PROPERLY?

To maintain healthy digestion, be very careful with food safety to avoid food poisoning, only use antibiotics when they are truly necessary, exercise regularly, maintain healthy sleeping patterns, eat slowly and mindfully, and follow a well balanced diet that includes a variety of foods.