According to recent research, Brits are becoming increasingly aware of their gut health, with searches for 'what is gut health' and 'how to improve gut health' increasing by 83% over the past months.
The gut plays an important role in not only our digestive system, but our overall physical and mental health, so it's important to take care of it.
However, often when we decide to reach out for help with our gut, it can be too late. This is why it's important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of poor gut health so you can get help early.
Abir Hamza-Goodacre, a Registered Nutritional Therapist at Benenden Hospital said: "It is definitely true that people are becoming much more aware of the role of the gut in their overall health."
The gastro expert continued: "However, we often see that Brits will wait until they experience unusual digestive symptoms, such as irregular stool, before seeking medical help or professional help about their gut.
"But the signs of an unhealthy gut are not always felt just in the digestive system. This means many people might not realise that they have a gut imbalance and need to change their lifestyle or diet."
Symptoms of poor gut health
Benenden Health has shared 10 signs of symptoms of poor gut health you should never ignore – and some of them aren't obviously associated with the gut. They are:
- Fatigue
- Brain fog
- High-stress levels
- Poor sleep quality
- Skin irritation
- Bloating
- Heartburn
- Loss of appetite and loss of weight
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
If you're experiencing these symptoms and you're worried, it's always best to speak to your GP.
However, the experts at Benenden Health have created a quiz designed for people to better understand their gut health, called Go With Your Gut.
The quiz allows users to check in with their current eating and lifestyle habits, which can also affect their gut health.
Llinos Connolly at Benenden Health said: "The Microbiome within the gut is key to many aspects of our health, so it’s important that people are conscious of what can affect that balance.
"For example, factors such as diet, stress levels, exposure to pollutants, and alcohol intake, can all impact your gut health – which can be quite overwhelming when you’re trying to keep track.
"That’s why we've created the Go With Your Gut quiz to bridge the gap between this new-found interest which many Brits now have, with tangible advice and actionable tips to support a healthy gut."
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