Poor gut health can be the cause of many symptoms, many of which don’t appear to have much to do with digestion. Look at the following list. If you have any of these symptoms, you may be suffering from a digestive system that is not working correctly.
- Bad breath even when you brush and floss daily
- Skin issues such as dry, yellow, or itchy skin, acne, or psoriasis
- Inability to gain or lose weight even when following good diet and exercise practices
- Fatigue after eating a meal
- Hungry after eating a meal
- Hair loss
- White spots or lines on your fingernails or teeth
- Headaches or migraines
- Pain in the abdomen (or spasm)
- Bowel movements containing undigested food
If you said yes to any of these issues, then you should read more about gut health and consider being evaluated.
Why? When it comes to resolving chronic health issues, we have found that fixing digestive issues is key. That’s because your digestive system is central to most functions in the body. Here are some key facts about your digestive system to help you understand its significance:
- If you laid out your entire digestive system, it would cover a tennis court
- Your brain has nothing on your digestive system when it comes to nerve endings. The brain has 100 billion nerve endings. The digestive system has even more!
- Did you know that the majority of your immune system is housed in your gut? It’s true! Up to 80% of your immune reactions begin in your digestive system.
- Your gut may be more responsible for your mood than your brain since your digestive system contains about 90% of all your dopamine and serotonin receptors.
- Your digestive system contains about 100 trillion bacteria, which weighs about three pounds.
The most important thing to understand about your gut is that all nutrients enter the body through the digestive system. So, if your digestive system is out of whack, then every other system in your body will be affected as well.
You’d think that with the gut playing such a huge part in the health and well-being of the body that it would be front and center when diagnosing illnesses. However, most traditional physicians don’t even discuss the digestive system unless it is a major problem, which it often does.
Upwards of 22 million people are hospitalized each year in the US with digestive issues. For those not sick enough to be hospitalized, nearly 12% of all outpatient procedures have to do with digestive health. The cost of these issues is $141.8 billion annually.
In addition to the signs above, here are more signs and symptoms suggesting that your digestive system is in need of some help:
- Gas and bloating
- Heartburn
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Anal itching
- Blood or mucus in the stool
- Light-colored stool
- Fatty stool
- Funny taste in your mouth
- Tongue feeling coated
- Acne
- Mood disorders such as depression or anxiety
- Eczema
There are many different causes of digestive issues. Some of these include:
- Diet
- Dehydration
- Medications such as antibiotics or birth control
- Stress
- Poor eating habits
- Too much yeast
- Low probiotic or prebiotic levels
- Food allergies or intolerances
- Gluten
- Food additives or preservatives
- Food coloring
- Low stomach acid
- Low pancreatic enzymes
- Poor gallbladder function, gallstones, or gallbladder removal
- Inflammation
- Autoimmune diseases
- Ulcers
- Parasites
If you are suffering with any of these symptoms, then let us help you uncover the root cause of your digestive issues. At the Unlimited Health Institute, we will look at the whole picture to discover what is making you feel poorly and help you determine what you can do to feel healthier and happier. Call today for a personal consultation.
