Gut health isn’t just about digestion, it plays a key role in your immune system, mood, skin, energy levels, and overall wellbeing. But how do you know if something’s off? Let’s explore some of the common signs of poor gut health and what you can do to support it naturally.
What Is Gut Health and Why Does It Matter?
Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria, yeasts, and other microorganisms, known as your gut microbiome. When balanced, this complex community supports digestion, helps absorb nutrients, regulates your immune system, and even influences your brain and mood.
But things like illness, antibiotics, stress, or a poor diet can tip this balance, which is known as gut dysbiosis. This can lead to inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, and other symptoms that may show up throughout your body.
Signs Your Gut Might Be Out of Balance
Your gut often sends signals when things aren’t quite right. These signs might seem unrelated at first, but they’re often rooted in how your gut microbiome is functioning. Here are some of the most common indicators that your gut could need a little TLC:
Digestive issues
Bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhoea, or heartburn may all be signs your gut is struggling to function properly. If you often feel uncomfortable after meals or your digestion is unpredictable, it might be time to look at your gut health. These symptoms can suggest that the balance of microbes in your gut is off, affecting how food is broken down and nutrients are absorbed.
Food intolerances
If you’re suddenly reacting to foods you used to tolerate well, such as experiencing bloating, nausea, cramping, or changes in bowel movements, it could signal an imbalance in your gut microbiome. While true allergies are immune responses, intolerances often stem from a weakened digestive system that struggles to process certain foods. This may include lactose, gluten, or other common triggers.
Frequent illness
Roughly 70% of your immune system is located in your gut. If you find yourself catching every bug that goes around, or taking longer than usual to recover from illness, your immune system might not be functioning at its best. A healthy gut supports immune defence, while a compromised one can leave you more vulnerable to viruses, infections, and inflammation.
Skin flare-ups
There’s a close connection between your gut and your skin, known as the gut-skin axis. Conditions like acne, eczema, rosacea, or psoriasis may flare up when your gut is inflamed or unbalanced. This is because an unhappy gut can increase systemic inflammation, which often shows up on your skin.
Cravings for sugar
Your gut microbes don’t just digest food, they can influence your cravings too. When your gut is out of balance, you might find yourself reaching for more sugar and refined carbs. This creates a cycle: sugar feeds less beneficial bacteria and yeasts, making the imbalance worse over time.
Low mood or poor sleep
The gut is often called the “second brain” because of its role in producing neurotransmitters like serotonin, which regulate both mood and sleep. If your gut is unbalanced, you may notice signs like anxiety, low mood, irritability, or trouble falling and staying asleep. Improving your gut health can have a knock-on effect on emotional wellbeing and rest.
Unexplained weight changes
If you’re gaining or losing weight without making major changes to your diet or lifestyle, your gut could be a factor. An unbalanced microbiome may affect how your body processes calories, regulates blood sugar, and stores fat. It can also contribute to insulin resistance and metabolic issues over time.
Fatigue or brain fog
A sluggish gut can mean your body isn’t absorbing key nutrients efficiently, leaving you low on energy, mentally foggy, or even dizzy. If you’re getting enough sleep but still feel wiped out or can’t focus, your gut health could be impacting your brain function and daily performance.
What Can You Do About It?
The good news is that your gut responds quickly to positive changes. Here are a few ways to support it:
- Eat a diverse, wholefood diet: Include plenty of fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds to nourish beneficial gut microbes.
- Avoid ultra-processed foods: These can feed the wrong bacteria and harm the gut lining.
- Drink plenty of water: Hydration is important for digestion and maintaining a healthy gut lining.
- Reduce stress: High stress can impact digestion and microbial balance. Simple things like walking, deep breathing, or relaxing mealtimes can help.
- Include fermented foods: Traditional ferments like kefir contain live cultures that may help bring your gut back into balance.
- Prioritise good sleep: Getting 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep each night supports your gut and your overall health.
Where Kerry Kefir Fits In
Kerry Kefir is made with just two ingredients, fresh milk from Lee Strand’s Kerry farms and traditional live kefir grains. The fermentation continues in the bottle, producing a naturally fizzy, tangy drink full of live cultures that may help support your gut health, especially if you experience bloating, low energy, or food sensitivities.
Whether you’re new to kefir or already enjoy it daily, we’re proud to offer a real Irish-made option that supports wellbeing from the inside out.
Want to learn more about how your skin might reflect what’s happening in your gut? Read our skin health blog here.