Poor gut health is a sign of poor overall health. More correctly, if you have poor gut health, your overall health is suffering as a result. You have more bacteria cells in your gut than you have human cells in your entire body. If your gut is unhealthy, those bacteria are unhealthy, and you’re unhealthy by default.

Poor gut health isn’t only caused by unhealthy bacteria, but they are a major cause. Consider that many autoimmune issues and irritable bowel syndrome are linked to an imbalance of healthy and unhealthy bacteria.

Since your calories and nutrients pass through your gut before they become available to you, the health of your gut influences the health of every part of your body.

These issues are all related to poor gut health:

1. Addiction to simple carbohydrates. Sugar is so bad for your body. Eating simple sugars helps the bad bacteria in your gut to grow. And, what do those bacteria like to eat? That’s right, more sugar. If you have regular cravings for foods with a high sugar content, it might be a sign of poor gut health.

2. Difficulty concentrating. A reduced ability to concentrate is a common complaint among those with poor gut health. It’s believed that the inflammation caused by poor gut health affects the brain’s ability to focus and block out excess stimuli.

3. Gastrointestinal distress. Diarrhea, bloating, constipation, gas, heartburn, or other gastrointestinal discomfort can be a sign of poor gut health. A healthy gut is able to process and eliminate waste with minimal difficulties. Regular gastrointestinal distress can be a sign of a serious issue.

4. Fatigue. Fatigue is another common symptom found in those suffering from poor gut health. If you’re frequently tired without explanation, your gut may be to blame.

   1. • If you frequently suffer from fatigue, consider how much sleep you’ve been getting. If you’re getting plenty of sleep and you’re still tired, you might want to consider the possibility that your gut is to blame.

5. Unexplained changes in weight. It’s possible that poor gut health can lead to either weight gain or weight loss. If your diet and exercise are unchanged and your weight is changing significantly, you might have an issue in your gut. Gut issues can affect your body’s ability to digest and absorb nutrients.

6. Autoimmune disorders. There are numerous autoimmune disorders that can either be caused by, or exacerbated by, poor gut health. The bad bacteria in your gut are able to travel around the body and create inflammation in various tissues and organs.

   1. • This inflammation is a major cause of many diseases. Some medical experts believe this type of inflammation might possibly be responsible for nearly all diseases.

7. Skin ailments. Skin difficulties, such as psoriasis, acne, eczema, and rosacea can all be caused by gut-related issues. Enhancing your gut health can often eliminate these annoying conditions.

8. Poor sleep. Between the gastrointestinal distress, inflammation, skin issues, and autoimmune disorders, it’s no wonder that sleep quality can become an issue. It’s odd to think that an issue in your gut could be disrupting your sleep, but it happens.

Gut health is a serious issue — you can't be truly healthy if your gut is unhealthy. If you're consistently experiencing these signs, it's time to take action. Start by talking to your doctor, and consider supporting your gut with the supplements and lifestyle changes that have made a real difference for me personally.

I share my favorite trusted gut health supplements and resources right here at Gutastic Living — because your gut deserves the very best care.

Wait! What’s in that delicious muffin you’re eating? Maybe, a lot more than you thought! Chemical additives are used to affect flavors or preserve products, and they have other uses.

But these additives can also negatively affect your health, so it’s important to pay attention to them. You might be able to find a different tasty muffin without those additives.

Because you never know what might be in a food product these days, it’s important to read the ingredient list for each food item before you buy it.

These common food additives could be dangerous to your health:

1. Titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide is a common ingredient in sunscreens, but it’s also used as a food additive. You may find it in salad dressings, powdered sugars, baked goods and other items.

• The International Agency for Research on Cancer considers titanium dioxide a dangerous food additive and recommends that consumers avoid eating it. The agency labels it as a class 2 carcinogen based on several studies.

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labels it as a GRAS product. GRAS stands for “generally recognized as safe,” but titanium dioxide is a controversial ingredient.

2. Sodium benzoate. Sodium benzoate is used as a preservative in multiple food and drink products such as salad dressings, jams, sodas, and pickles.

• Sodium benzoate can cause allergic reactions in some people.

• One of the main concerns with sodium benzoate is the product that is formed if it’s mixed with ascorbic acid. Some food and drink items contain both sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid, so benzene can form. Benzene is linked to cancer in several studies.

3. Brominated vegetable oil. This additive is found in sodas and has been linked to several health issues.

• The Food and Drug Administration doesn’t consider brominated vegetable oil a GRAS (generally recognized as safe) product. In addition, discussions about banning this additive are an ongoing topic.

• Brominated vegetable oil is banned in Europe, and several companies in the U.S. no longer use it.

• This additive can allow bromine to accumulate in your body and reach unsafe levels. Bromine has been linked to thyroid issues, nerve damage, cancers, and other health concerns.

4. Potassium bromate. It may sound similar to brominated vegetable oil, but potassium bromate is actually a completely different food additive.

• Potassium bromate can be found in breads, flours, crackers and other baked goods. It’s banned in multiple countries, and health experts recommend that consumers avoid it because of the health issues.

• This food additive has been linked to cancer. 

5. Interesterified fat. This fat is used to help preserve food and help it last on store shelves. However, it’s a controversial additive that has been linked to different health issues.

• Interesterified fat can be found in baked goods, canned soups and other food items.

• Experts are concerned that Interesterified fat may be just as dangerous as trans-fat. The additive has been linked to heart disease, high cholesterol, 2 liver issues, blood sugar level issues, and other concerns.

6. BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole). You may have noticed this common food additive in your cereal, butter, beer, crackers, gum, or potato chips. BHA can also be found in baked goods and preserved meat. 

• This food additive is considered a carcinogen by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services.

• It’s a controversial item that continues to be the focus of multiple food safety debates. 

• BHA can negatively affect the body in several ways. It can disturb normal sleep patterns and affect your appetite. It can also hurt the kidneys and has been linked to cancer. BHA may cause hair loss and other issues.

By paying attention to ingredient lists, you can identify common chemical additives in your food — but even foods marketed as "healthy" can contain these harmful additives. Following Dr. Gundry's Plant Paradox protocol already puts you ahead of the game. When in doubt, stick to whole fresh foods and always read the label — your gut will thank you! 

For a complete reference of clean whole foods that support your gut health, visit my Lectin-Free Food Guide.