If you ask the average person how they think an unhealthy gut would affect them, I bet most people would mention things like gas, bloating, constipation and diarrhea.

Very true, but that’s just the tip of the intestinal iceberg.

Over the last 30+ years, studies of the gut microbiome have continued to expand and have shown that these tiny microorganisms that call you home play a MAJOR role in every aspect of your body’s functioning!

Here’s what I mean.

The mighty microbiome

When you consider that your gut microbiome houses 80 percent of your immune system, is predominantly responsible for your body’s nourishment and waste elimination, and interacts with every other system in your body, it’s no mystery that the result of an unhealthy microbiome won’t be pretty.

Here are just some of the ways your gut affects your health:

Digestive woes and then some

Your gut microbiome breaks down starches and fibers that you eat, so without their help, you are more prone to gas, bloating and anything-but-normal bowel movements. 

Erratic BMs (especially constipation) can impact your blood sugar level (a concern for diabetics), make weight loss difficult, and increase your risk of diverticulosis and diverticulitis.

In addition, poor bowel habits trigger inflammation, and when you consider that inflammation is a leading factor behind most diseases (including cancer and heart disease), you can appreciate the wide-range impact of infrequent calls from Nature.

Lastly, your body eliminates old, worn-out hormones and heavy metals through the GI tract, so if your BMs are not up to par, these substances may instead be reabsorbed into circulation, increasing your risk of hormone-dependent cancers (like breast cancer) and toxicity to your brain from metals like mercury or aluminum.

Far beyond colds and flu

As I mentioned above, most of your immune system is in your gut.

In addition to fighting infections and viruses like colds and flu, your immune system also protects you against diseases like cancer. 

This might be an unsettling thought, but right now, you may have pre-cancerous cells flowing through you, and without your immune system’s efforts to hunt down and destroy those cells, that increases your cancer risk too!

Plus, when your immune system is triggered and hypersensitive, you are far more likely to suffer from allergies, food and environmental sensitivities, asthma, and autoimmune conditions.

Nutritional deficiencies

Having a healthy population of intestinal bacteria helps to enhance your absorption of nutrients from your foods and supplements.

When you have nutrient deficiencies, you are practically rolling out the red carpet for disease and early death. Most diseases have their roots in one or more nutrient deficiencies, including heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis.

Your gut also helps produce vitamins for you! It is directly involved in the production of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, D and K.

Deficiencies in vitamins B12 and D are among the most common nutritional concerns and considering the state of many people’s guts these days, I don’t find that a coincidence. 

Ulcer risk

Studies have shown that the beneficial bacteria strains L. acidophilus, L. salivarius and L. casei can slow and even help kill H. pylori (the bacteria that causes most ulcers). So without the protection of these intestinal good guys, you are more prone to ulcers. 

Cholesterol woes

Unlike dangerous statins that shut down your liver’s production of cholesterol, your friendly gut bacteria can naturally help reduce blood cholesterol by creating acids that counter excess cholesterol production.

In addition, irregular BMs can impact your body’s ability to eliminate old, worn-out cholesterol from the intestinal tract. So, you instead risk reabsorption of the old cholesterol into your bloodstream, which also creates elevations.

Inflammation signaling

Your gut is the starting point for inflammation throughout your body—it’s the “gatekeeper” for your inflammatory responses. While some inflammatory responses are helpful (such as when you get stung by a bee or fall and skin your knee), many of us are in harmful inflammation OVERDRIVE.

The unhealthier your microbiome is, the more inflammation can spiral out of control.

As I mentioned above, inflammation is an underlying factor behind most diseases, especially heart disease and cancer, as well as allergic responses.

Mental health

Research has shown that problems in your gut can directly impact your mental health (a connection called the gut-brain axis), and this can eventually make you depressed and anxious. 

The reverse is also true—mental health problems can trigger gut issues.

Are you talkin’ to me?

At this point, you may be wondering how things are going “down there” for you.

Well, here is a simple quiz you can take to see if gut imbalances may be affecting you:

The Gut Quiz

Answer yes or no to each question. Do you:

1) Wake up tired and feel fatigued throughout the day?

2) Frequently suffer from constipation or diarrhea?

3) For women: Get vaginal yeast infections? 

4) Suffer from allergies, asthma, skin rashes, eczema or psoriasis?

5) Often have bloating and gas?

6) Get urinary tract infections (UTIs)?

7) Have frequent headaches or migraines?

8) Experience memory problems, anxiety or depression?

9) Get frequent colds, flu, sinus infections or bronchitis?

10) Have high cholesterol?

11) Find yourself unable to lose weight?

12) Get cold sores? 

13) Have chronic halitosis (bad breath)?

14) Get aches and pains that can't otherwise be explained?

15) Experience IBS symptoms (gas, bloating, abdominal pain, constipation and/or diarrhea)?

16) Have an autoimmune condition?

Your total number of Yes responses: ________

Every one of the complaints listed above is associated with an imbalance of your gut microbiome.

So, the more Yes answers you had, the more likely it is that your bacteria balance is out of order.

4 steps to a healthier gut

It's essential to recognize the role your gut plays in your overall health and take measures to attain a healthy flora balance.

When you do, you'll be amazed when you realize how you just got used to feeling "bad" and even more, how great it is to feel GOOD!

Here is your 4-step plan to better gut health:

Step 1- Eat gut-loving foods 

Foods that curb inflammation and encourage a strong gut environment include fresh vegetables; whole fruits (avoid juices due to sugar content), herbs and spices, fermented foods like sauerkraut, healthy fats like butter, coconut oil and nuts, and wild-caught fish.

On the flip side, avoid sugars, soda and refined carbs, vegetable oils (like canola, corn and soybean oils), and all processed foods.

Step 2- Combat stress

Stress has a significant negative impact on your gut environment as well as your digestion. 

Do whatever you need to do to keep stress at a minimum and get professional help if you need it.

Plus, keep in mind that regular exercise is one of the best stress reducers there is! So, if your sneakers have been collecting dust, get your doctor’s nod of approval and get moving. 

Pro tip: Specifically, Here are 5 Tips to Help Stress

Step 3- Supplement with a full-spectrum probiotic

One of the best ways to ensure your army of intestinal good guys is strong is to repopulate them with a full spectrum probiotic supplement like Super Shield multi-strain probiotic formula.

Most people don’t realize this, but your beneficial intestinal bacteria are not “permanent residents”—they only “vacation” inside of you for about 12 days.

So, it’s smart to help keep their numbers high with probiotic supplementation.

Step 4- Talk to your doctor about alternatives to medication 

Many medications can severely impact or downright destroy your microbiome balance, especially antibiotics, antidepressants, birth control pills, acid reducers and steroids.

If you are on any of these medications, I strongly encourage you to talk to your doctor about alternatives.

To your health,

Sherry Brescia