The gut microbiome plays an important role in our overall health. It’s responsible for keeping the immune system as strong as possible. It also affects our brains, mood, emotions and our mental health in general.

The composition of our microbiome also directly affects how well we digest food or whether nutrients are absorbed efficiently. The bacteria in our gut play quite an important role in keeping our bodies strong and healthy.

However, it’s sadly all too easy to upend the balance of our microbiome, especially nowadays, when we are often exposed to the enemies of our guts every day. The main enemies of our microbiome are:

• Antibiotics / Prescription Drugs – Even though they are often necessary to keep us safe, they can have a drastic negative effect on our gut bacteria.
• Alcohol – Too much alcohol in our diet is very bad for the gut flora.
• Stress – A stressful lifestyle has an impact on various parts of our bodies and the microbiome is no exception.
• Processed food – Processed food tends to have a lot of sugars, fat and synthetic ingredients such as artificial sweeteners. It’s also sometimes low in fiber, which plays an important role in our digestion.
• Infection / Inflammation – Any infection disturbs the entire body, microbiome included.
• Appendectomy – After decades of research, doctors have a theory that a wider range of bacteria good for our bodies are kept safe in the appendix. If you have undergone this procedure, there is a higher chance of having a gut flora imbalance.
• Chlorine – It is sometimes used for cleansing water; however, it has a devastating effect on the gut flora.

All of the above can create dysbacteriosis, an imbalance in the gut flora. Dysbacteriosis or dysbiosis is a problem that can lead to various health problems over time.

Symptoms of an Unhealthy Gut

• Periodic and unexplainable diarrhea
• Weak immune system, which might manifest in catching every cold or fly that comes along.
• Candida growth
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Bloating
• Acne or eczema
• Bad breath
• Gum problems
• Allergies
• Chronic food sensitivities
• Particularly acrid-smelling gas
• Stool mucus
• Slow digestion
• Acid Reflux
• Mental fog
• Joint pain
• Struggling with losing weight

If you are experiencing these symptoms on a regular basis, chances are good your microbiome is out of balance.

Conditions

The following conditions are linked with dysbiosis:

• BV – Bacterial Vaginosis
• Diabetes
• IBD – Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• IBS – Irritable Bowel Disease
• Obesity
• Leaky Gut
• MS – Multiple Sclerosis
• Autoimmune disease
• Gluten sensitivity
• SIBO – Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
• Sinusitis
• Yeast infections, especially recurring ones
• Thyroid disease

Suffering from any of these conditions is also another good indication that you’ve got some microbiome problems that need addressing.

The best way to rebalance your gut is through smart nutrition and supplementation – like our Great Gut prebiotic fiber blends!