5 Commonly Mistakable Signs Of An Unhealthy Gut (+How To Fix It)

There’s a funny video going around the internet that says all hot girls have gut issues. Well, consider me the ex-hottest girl on the block, because I have been through the wringer dealing with a previously unhealthy gut! Only I had no idea at the time. I honestly thought I was just getting old, but there are some clear signs of an unhealthy gut that I was completely missing. This led me to keep running the hamster wheel of wrecking my gut, and not knowing what it was I needed to change in my diet and life. So, my goal for today’s blog is to help you pinpoint if you’re dealing with all the same symptoms I was, and help you get on track to healing your gut issues.

As you’re reading through these signs of an unhealthy gut, start tallying up how many you experience on a daily or weekly basis. If you find yourself nodding and feeling seen after each one, you just might be a hot girl, too!

Joking aside, I hope this blog is as enlightening for you as it was for me to piece together. Once you’ve identified that you’re likely dealing with gut issues, I have three key remedies that helped me heal my unhealthy gut for good. As I always like to mention, each of our bodies is different. What worked for me may work extremely well for you, or it may not. Before making drastic changes to your routine, it may be best to consult your doctor or physician.

1. Headaches, brain fog, or memory loss

If you feel like you’re losing your mind, but are otherwise totally with it, this could be a sign of an unhealthy gut. Mild headaches, feeling somewhat disoriented or like you can’t remember things clearly are all signs that you have some gut issues to address. The mind-body connection is real, and what most people don’t know is that our brain and our gut are besties. They tell each other EVERYTHING. Did you eat an entire pizza last night? Yup, the brain knows. Were you telling yourself you look like garbage all day? Yup, your gut knows! This is made possible by our vagus nerve. [1] When one is disrupted, so is the other. This is why when gut issues arise, we may be feeling it in the brain.

2. Chronic diarrhea, constipation, gas, or bloating

These are symptoms that may seem more straightforward. As we know, everything that goes into our body, comes out in one way or another. So when we notice things, well, aren’t coming out so smoothly, that’s one of the major signs of an unhealthy gut. If you experience chronic diarrhea, constipation, gas, and bloating on a regular basis, it may be time to address the possibility of gut issues. [2]

3. Excessive fatigue

If you work a high-stress job, are a mom, or a primary caretaker, you may think fatigue is just something you have to deal with. However, it may be deeper than that. Excessive fatigue is a red flag in the world of unhealthy gut signs. Especially if you experience this tiredness early in the day, or even first thing when you wake up. Remember, the gut-brain connection is strong and any time the gut is stressed, it signals to the rest of the body it needs some help. In this case, the body is trying to rest when it’s not time to. [3]

4. Unexplained depression/anxiety

Our gut is super sensitive to our emotions. [4] So if the gut is out of balance, any emotion we may feel can get blown out of proportion. Especially when it comes to anxiety and depression. [5] If you find yourself making a bigger deal out of things than you should (and you know it or recognize it, even later on), you guessed it—it could be a sign of gut issues. If you’re struggling with severe depression or anxiety, please seek help from a doctor. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, and as we’re learning, it may be triggered by something entirely out of your control or line of vision.

5. Weaker immune system

If you find yourself getting sick often, or sicker than those around you, this may be a sign of a weakened immune system, which is also a sign of an unhealthy gut. [3] If and when we experience inflammation in our gut, our body works hard to fight it off. However, if our body is fighting inflammation more than usual (due to an unhealthy gut) this can lead to a weakened immune system. [6]

How To Heal An Unhealthy Gut

Now that we’ve outlined some telltale signs of an unhealthy gut, I want to reassure you that there are a few simple ways to help heal the gut as well.

1. Eat different kinds of fruits and vegetables

Our microbiome is made up of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Some are what we call “good” and some are called “bad”, but they are equally important and help keep our gut balanced. Our gut thrives on a diverse microbiome, so it’s argued that eating a diverse variety of fruits and vegetables (not necessarily more of them!), is a great way to keep the gut healthy. [7] So, the more kinds of fruits and vegetables we can consume, the more bacteria, fungi, and viruses we can provide our bodies with to create a beautifully balanced microbiome. [8]

2. Take a collagen supplement

Collagen is one of my favorite ways to heal gut issues because it’s so simple. Especially if you find a good collagen brand like Super Youth. Collagen can help regulate stomach acid secretion and repair the lining of the gut that has been damaged from years of wear and tear. [9, 10] I add one scoop of Super Youth collagen to my matcha, coffee, or smoothie every morning. Sometimes I even add the Unflavored one to whatever I’m cooking for dinner, too. It easily dissolves into warm sauces and liquids.

3. Get enough pre- and probiotics

Just like fruits and vegetables help support a healthy microbiome, so do pre and probiotics. These types of bacteria help regulate our digestive system, and have also been linked to reducing stress. [11] Eating pre and probiotic-rich foods like yogurt and fermented foods can get tiring, though, so supplements are a great way to incorporate more pre and probiotics. Skinny Greens juice powder includes a gut healing probiotic blend that tastes just like green apples. It’s so good, you’ll never get tired of healing an unhealthy gut with your new favorite morning routine.