Gut health 'red flags' everyone should know!

Talking about your gut might not be the most glamorous topic, but it has a pretty good way of letting you know when something isn’t quite right.

From persistent bloating and changes in your bowel habits, to unexplained weight loss and ongoing stomach pain, there are several signs of poor gut health that are worth paying attention to.

Most digestive symptoms have a range of possible causes, and many are temporary or harmless. However, if something is new, persistent, getting worse, or happening alongside other symptoms, it’s worth paying attention!

Here are six red flags you shouldn’t simply ignore…

1. Your tummy has become a permanent balloon

Everyone gets bloated from time to time. Perhaps you’ve eaten too quickly, it’s that time of the month, or your diet hasn’t been as clean as it normally is – but persistent or unexplained bloating, particularly when it’s new or comes with other symptoms, is always worth investigating.

Illness can temporarily disrupt your gut microbiome, whether it be food poisoning or sickness that leads to antibiotics.

Looking after your gut health is therefore an important part of supporting your overall wellbeing, and managing bloating.¹

2. Your bowel habits have suddenly gone rogue

Your usual bowel habits can change for all sorts of reasons, including changes to your diet, stress, medication, travel or illness.

Occasional diarrhoea or constipation isn’t necessarily a sign that something is wrong. However, if constipation, diarrhoea or another noticeable change in your stools persists, don’t simply assume that it’s your new normal.

Pay attention to changes in how often you go, the consistency of your stools, and whether you experience other symptoms at the same time.

If a significant change continues or you’re concerned, speak to your GP. Depending on your symptoms, a healthcare professional may recommend further investigation to establish what may be causing the change.²

3. You’re losing weight without trying

If you’ve noticed a significant change in your weight despite making no deliberate changes to your diet or exercise routine, it’s worth finding out why.

Unintentional weight loss can have many different causes. Some digestive conditions can affect appetite, digestion or the absorption of nutrients, potentially contributing to weight loss.

It doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a digestive issue, but unexplained weight loss is a symptom that shouldn’t be ignored.³

4. Your stomach pain keeps coming back

An occasional stomach ache or abdominal discomfort can happen for many reasons. You might have eaten something that didn’t agree with you, have trapped wind, indigestion or constipation.

However, persistent, severe or worsening abdominal pain needs attention, particularly if it’s affecting your everyday life or occurring alongside other symptoms.

Recurring abdominal discomfort can have many possible causes, including IBS, IBD, urinary tract infections (UTIs), indigestion, and other conditions.⁴

5. You’re exhausted for no obvious reason

Feeling tired after a late night is completely normal. Feeling persistently exhausted despite getting enough rest is a different story.

Some digestive conditions can contribute to nutritional deficiencies or affect how your body absorbs nutrients. In some circumstances, this can contribute to tiredness and low energy.

Of course, there are many possible reasons for ongoing fatigue, and it isn’t necessarily related to your gut. But if you’re experiencing persistent tiredness alongside digestive symptoms, it’s worth looking into!

Finding and addressing the underlying cause can make a real difference to your everyday wellbeing and energy levels.⁵

6. Your digestive symptoms are becoming your new normal

Sometimes the biggest warning sign is simply that your digestion doesn’t feel like it normally does.

You might notice more frequent bloating, changes in your bowel movements, recurring abdominal discomfort or other gut health symptoms.

That doesn’t automatically mean you have poor gut health or an underlying condition. Your digestion can change in response to diet, stress, medication, illness and many other factors.

The important thing is to notice what’s normal for you and pay attention when something changes and doesn’t settle.

What should you do?

There are plenty of possible explanations for digestive symptoms, and many are relatively minor and temporary.

The key is recognising when something is:

Persistent rather than occasional
Unusual for you
Getting worse over time
Affecting your everyday life
Happening alongside other symptoms, such as unexplained weight loss or ongoing pain

It can also be useful to keep track of your usual bowel habits, digestive symptoms and any changes you notice. Having this information available can make it easier to explain what’s happening to your healthcare professional.

Don’t ignore what your gut is telling you

Your gut doesn’t need to be perfect. Digestive symptoms are common, and having an occasional bout of bloating or a change in bowel habits doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a problem.

But when your digestion feels noticeably different from your normal, it’s worth paying attention.

And because gut symptoms are often linked with bowel movements, you might also want to read our 4 tips for healthy gut transit time to learn more about healthy bowel frequency.

Any questions? Contact one of our Nutritional Therapists via live chat, weekdays from 8 am to 8 pm.