A healthy gut is really all about balance, says Gardinier. It efficiently breaks down and absorbs nutrients, hosts a beneficial mix of microbe and maintains low levels of inflammation.
And what if your gut isn’t up to par? Symptoms of a weak gut include:
• Undigested food in your stool
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Bloating
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Heartburn
• Skin rashes
• Fatigue
Despite eating normally, you could still face micronutrient deficiencies and malnutrition—a clear signal that your gut isn’t absorbing nutrients as it should.
“It’s important to stay attuned to these symptoms, particularly when they seem to follow meals closely,” Dr. Lee explains. “These are all indicators that you might want to look at dietary changes to help your gut.”
Ahead, discover the signs of a healthy gut, according to digestive health experts.
Signs you have a healthy gut
1. Regular bowel habits
Gardinier stresses the importance of consistency in your bathroom routine. He notes, “One to two easy-to-pass formed bowel movements daily indicate that food is digesting properly.”
Maintaining regular bowel movements might even help protect you from Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Easy-to-pass stool
Did you know that about 25-50% of stool is actually made up of bacteria? According to Gardinier, a well-balanced gut microbiome helps keep stool soft and easy to pass.
3. Normal stool appearance
Besides being soft, smooth and well-formed, your poop should usually be brown in color. If you’re curious about where your stool fits on the spectrum, the Bristol Stool Chart is a useful tool. Aim for Types 3 and 4 on the chart—these are the ideal forms that suggest everything’s working just right in your digestive tract.
4. Limited GI symptoms
Gardinier emphasizes that while bloating, heartburn and gas can be normal reactions to certain foods, experiencing these symptoms often might indicate that something’s off. It’s important to monitor how frequently you’re feeling uncle
5. Normal hunger signaling
It’s important to pay attention to how your body signals hunger. “The gut is the largest endocrine organ in the body, and a healthy gut will secret hormones to regular hunger and satiety,” Gardinier explains. This means a healthy gut ensures you eat as much as you need.
6. A strong immune system
If you find that you’re not constantly catching every bug that goes around, this could be a sign that your gut is in great shape. Since 70-80% of the immune system is actually housed in the gut, the better your gut health, the more effectively your immune system can ward off infections and diseases.
7. Healthier skin
Could taking care of your gut mean clearer skin? Recent studies show a strong relationship between the gut, brain and skin. When things get out of whack in your gut, it can trigger inflammation that might worsen skin conditions like acne, eczema, hives, psoriasis and even vitiligo.
8. Positive mood and mental health
The brain and gut are always communicating with each other, and the health of your gut microbiome can really influence your mood. Researchers have found links between changes in the gut and mental health issues like anxiety and depression. In fact, a study from June 2024 discovered unique biological markers in the gut microbiomes of people who handle stress exceptionally well.
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