Our gut flora affects several vital organs and functions in the body, and if the gut flora is out of balance, it can in turn affect the brain, heart, immune system, skin, weight, hormone balance, and the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. If things go really wrong, an imbalanced gut flora can even contribute to causing serious diseases. But how do you know if your gut flora is balanced? In this article, we provide tips on 10 questions that helps you understand your gut health. 

1. Is your stomach upset?

If your stomach is upset with symptoms like gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn. It may be a sign that your gut flora is out of balance. A healthy gut with the right balance of good bacteria and microorganisms doesn’t have the same difficulties digesting the food you eat and then getting rid of the waste it doesn’t need.

2. How much sugar do you consume?

A diet high in processed foods with added sugar can decrease the amount of good bacteria in the gut and create an imbalance in the gut flora. This imbalance can, in turn, lead to increased sugar cravings. Causing you to consume even more sugar, further damaging the gut flora. Large amounts of sugar can also lead to increased inflammation in the body and, in the worst case, cause diseases. Read more about sugar.

3. Are you experiencing weight fluctuations?

If you are gaining or losing weight without changing your diet or exercise habits, it may be a sign that your gut flora is not healthy. When the gut flora is out of balance, the body struggles to absorb nutrients, regulate blood sugar levels, and store fat. Weight loss may be due to an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. Conversely, if you are gaining weight, one cause may be that the body has developed insulin resistance, or you may experience increased appetite due to decreased nutrient absorption.

4. How is your sleep?

When the gut flora is imbalanced, it can lead to poor sleep (and vice versa!). The reason is that most of the body’s serotonin (the hormone that affects our sleep) is produced in the gut. Inadequate sleep, in turn, has a negative impact on digestive health. Putting you at risk of entering a negative spiral if you consistently sleep poorly over an extended period.

5. How is your skin?

Many skin problems such as acne, rosacea, and eczema can be linked to digestive health. Inflammations in the gut caused by diet or food allergies can affect the rest of the body and lead to inflammation of the skin as well. If your skin isn’t doing well, it could be an indication that the balance of your gut flora is disrupted.

6. Do you experience a lot of stress?

Chronically high stress levels are taxing on the entire body, and of course, the stomach too. Research shows strong connections between high stress levels and an imbalanced gut flora. Where sleep and exercise alone are not enough to counteract the negative consequences of too much stress. If you’re stressed, it can help to chew your food thoroughly and eat slowly, allowing the gut to digest food more easily and absorb all the essential nutrients. If you’re feeling very stressed for extended periods, it’s also helpful to meditate, take walks, spend time with family and friends, reduce caffeine intake, laugh a lot, practice yoga, and maybe treat yourself to a massage. It works wonders for both the stomach and well-being. Read more about how to manage your stress here.

7. Are you allergic or intolerant to any foods?

Intolerance means the body has difficulty breaking down certain foods, while allergy occurs when the immune system reacts when you eat something you’re not tolerant to. There are indications that intolerance can be caused by an imbalanced gut flora with too few good bacteria. Leading to difficulties in breaking down certain foods and causing unpleasant symptoms like bloating, gas, diarrhea, stomach pains, and nausea. There is also research suggesting that food allergies may be linked to digestive health.

8. What kind of food do you eat?

For your stomach to feel good, you should avoid processed foods, sugar, and fat. Eating too many animal products can negatively affect the gut flora. Especially if you’re not getting enough fiber. Eating too many refined carbohydrates and sugar contributes to a decrease in the diversity of good bacteria while increasing the amount of harmful bacteria. However, if you eat mostly a plant-based diet with plenty of fiber, fruits, vegetables, and fermented foods, it works wonders for your gut flora. Fiber nourishes the good bacteria and helps maintain the diversity of bacteria in the gut. Fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut provide the body with small amounts of good bacteria.

9. Have you recently taken antibiotics?

Antibiotics harm the gut flora as they not only attack harmful bacteria but also the good bacteria in the gut. Studies show that antibiotic treatment can reduce the number of good bacteria in the gut by a third. At the same time, it reduces the diversity of bacteria, creating an imbalance in the gut flora.

10. Are you getting enough pre- and probiotics?

Prebiotics nourish the good bacteria already present in the gut, and probiotics add more good bacteria to the body. It can be difficult to know if you’re getting enough pre- and probiotics every day. And in addition to a healthy diet with plenty of fiber, fruits, vegetables, and fermented foods, a synbiotic supplement (pre- and probiotics together) can be a good way to add extra fiber and lactic acid bacteria.