8 symptoms of poor gut health

It's estimated that 50% of Australians experience gut health problems. For 1 in 7, these problems are so serious that their experience is distressing. In other words, many of us struggle with gut-related symptoms.

It probably doesn’t help that gut distress isn’t something we talk about freely. If you have a headache, there’s no shame in mentioning it, but if you suffer from flatulence it’s socially expected that you keep it as quiet as you can.

Want to know more? Read our comprehensive Gut Health guide!

The symptoms of poor gut health

Its no secret that poor gut health can directly impact your overall health. If you experience any of these symptoms regularly and over time, it’s worth seeing your GP to get it checked out. If the pains are severe, or you experience bleeding or vomiting in combination with these pains, you should go to the emergency department or the nearest hospital immediately.

Please note that these symptoms are only indications and not meant for diagnosis. If you are worried about intestinal issues, go see your GP.

Bloated stomach

Bloating is a build-up of gas in the stomach and intestines that can cause pain, discomfort or a feeling of being too full. Everybody feels bloated at some point but if it happens regularly, it may be a sign of poor gut health.

Heartburn

People who experience heartburn describe it as burning feeling behind the breastbone that rises towards the throat. It’s a very common digestive symptom and most people experience heartburn from time to time. If, however, it is bothering you often, it may also be a sign of poor gut health.

Abdominal pain

Stomach-ache or abdominal pain is discomfort that is felt in the area between the base of your ribs and the pelvis. It can be a sharp, dull, stabbing or cramp-like pain that is constant or comes and goes in waves.

Abdominal pains are notoriously difficult to pinpoint but if the pain spreads to shoulders, arms and neck, you should immediately go to the hospital, as it may be a sign of a more serious condition than poor gut health.

Excessive flatulence

It can be hard to gauge what is considered excessive when it comes to flatulence. It’s normal to pass wind but when the symptoms become bothersome, like passing wind often, or when passing wind is loud, very smelly, or cause discomfort, it may be a symptom of poor gut health.

Excessive burping

Just like flatulence, burping is both natural and common. Burping is your body’s way to get rid of excess air in the upper digestive tract. It is when the burping gets in the way of daily activities – or frankly causes you embarrassment – that it may be a sign of an unbalanced gut.

Growling stomach

A vocal stomach may just be a healthy sign that your tummy is telling you it’s time to eat. If it happens more often than that or the growling is accompanied by other symptoms on this list, it may be a reason to start looking after your gut.

Constipation or diarrhoea

Again, constipation and diarrhoea are symptoms that most people experience from time to time. It is when these symptoms are more or less regular than normal you should think about sorting out your gut health.

Constipation can be caused by more serious illnesses and events so if you feel constipated over time it’s best to see your GP.

Frequent nausea

Nausea can be caused by a wide range of conditions, such as motion sickness, early stages of pregnancy, food poisoning, overeating or something as simple as a reaction to a smell or odour. When it comes to gut health, nausea is more commonly experienced in combination with one or more of the other symptoms on this list.

What causes poor gut health?

Poor gut health can develop when there is too much bad bacteria and not enough good, or healthy bacteria in your system. Your diet and lifestyle are the two most important factors in maintaining positive gut health. A largely sedentary lifestyle combined with overconsumption of unhealthy foods and drink harm gut bacteria and create poor gut health. Losing weight can also help to contribute to improved gut health.

How long to restore gut health?

Improving gut health is not as easy as flipping a switch. It takes time to rebuild and restore a healthy microbiome that results in positive gut health. As a result, it can take up to 6 months in order to improve and restore gut health if you are practicing healthy habits. Once you have healthy gut health it needs to be maintained by keeping the healthy habits that helped to restore your gut health.