No one enjoys an upset stomach, but when does it become serious enough to know that your digestive system needs repair?

For those who experience constant digestive pains such as bloating, constipation, gas, and more, the answer might be obvious. But what other signs might you be looking for? Because the truth is that your digestive system doesn’t stop with your stomach — an upset gut can affect your whole body.

So, here are seven surprising signs that your digestive system might need some help to get back to normal:

1. New Food Sensitivities

When something changes, it’s important to understand why. Many of us know which foods might cause a stomachache down the line, but what happens when one of our favorite dishes suddenly brings an unexpected discomfort?

Unfortunately, our guts are not a steal trap. In fact, they are very much permeable, which allows the nutrients from our food to move into our bloodstream as they digest. But when the lining of our cell walls becomes too loose, that can lead to a condition known as “leaky gut.”

This can cause food particles to leak out into the bloodstream, sparking inflammation and causing your immune system to react negatively to foods that were previously okay.

2. Mood Swings

Our digestive systems impact a lot more than just our gut. The health of our stomach is directly linked to almost every other part of our body, including our brains. Poor digestion can cause added stress to one’s mental health, leading to anxiety, depression, and more.

In fact, your gut contains over 500 million neurons (the nerve cells responsible for sending signals out through your body), which means that when your stomach is upset, the rest of your body knows. These distress signals can lead to unnecessary levels of anxiety.

3. Fatigue

Wondering how you can still feel so tired even after a good night’s rest? If you find yourself constantly fatigued, there’s a good chance your gut is to blame.

Imbalances within your gut’s microbiome have been linked with chronic fatigue syndrome. And when your digestion isn’t working properly, there’s a good chance that you’re not absorbing all the nutrients you need in a healthy diet, leading to deficiencies that can also disrupt energy levels.

Other symptoms might include brain fog, difficulty concentrating, and trouble remembering.  

4. Skin Irritation

One of the more common symptoms of poor digestion can actually be found in plain sight. As with food sensitivities, inflammation in your gut can express itself as inflammation on your skin. Conditions such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema have all been linked to poor digestive health.

Strengthening your gut’s microbiome can go a long way to easing skin irritation. Studies have found that a healthy diet of pre- and probiotics can go a long way to fighting off this inflammation and improving the health of your skin.

5. Unexpected Weight Change

Small weight fluctuations here and there are totally normal, but if you start noticing more severe changes to your weight that you weren’t expecting, there’s a chance that you gut might be to blame.

As with other symptoms, if your digestive system isn’t successfully absorbing the nutrients your body needs to function properly, any number of issues may arise, including obesity. Your gut might begin sending signals to your brain to overeat in order to make up for the lost nutrients or it may impair its ability to store fat correctly.

Conversely, certain bacterial overgrowth has the ability to cause weight loss.

6. Bad Breath

Your mouth is the first step of the digestive process, so it should come as no surprise that it holds some secrets of your gut’s health.

Bad breath (halitosis) is often a direct indicator of a problem within your digestive system. An imbalance of bacteria in your gut can cause a buildup of toxins that work their way up to your mouth while you’re sleeping, impacting not just your breath but your oral health in general.

7. Migraines

As discussed before, there is a strong link between your gut and your brain. While this can cause fatigue and mood swings, studies have also found that poor digestion can increase the risk and frequencies of migraines.

Want to Improve Your Gut Health?

It should go without saying that a well-balanced diet is crucial to the health of your gut. And knowing what you should eat is just as important as knowing what you should not eat.

If you’d like to take a deeper look at the health of your digestive system, consider reaching out for a free 20-minute consultation where we can discuss a proper holistic nutrition plan for you.

In my six-week Introductory Nutrition Program, I will analyze your current diet with the help of a basic sensitivity test and food log. Or you might consider my three-month Digestive Repair Program, which goes in-depth to improve your gut health through education, mentoring, and changes to your diet and lifestyle.