A healthy gut can make your day, elevate your mood and help you stay more active for longer durations. All of these is a recipe for good overall health. On the other hand, an unhealthy gut can make you sick and lose health over time. If you have lately been feeling unwell and have an off-the-track digestive system, it is time to realise that both of them can be related. Digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, reflux and even gas can affect your health to a great extent than what you anticipated.
An unhealthy gut can lead to several health problems including allergies, arthritis, autoimmune disease, rashes, acne, chronic fatigue, mood disorders, autism, dementia, and even cancer. Digestive disorders are among the most common reasons for visiting the doctor. Moreover, there are hundreds of over-the-counter drugs available for such disorders.
The health of your gut has a direct say in the amount of nutrients that get absorbed and the amount of toxins, allergens and microbes that are removed from the body. Your gut is home for around 500 species of bacteria which help digest the food, regulate hormones, produce vitamins and excrete toxins out of the body. However, this army of good bacteria must stay in balance with the bad bacteria and bugs for overall well-being. If the good bacteria starts losing to the bad guys, it will affect your gut which will eventually affect your health.
What Throws Your Gut Off Balance
To maintain healthy digestion, you need to understand the common reasons that usually harm your gut. Eating low-fiber, processed, high-calorie diet and sugar rich food allows the bad bacteria and yeast to grow, throwing your gut off balance. Several medications can also damage your gut. 
Overdose of medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs, hormones, and antibiotics can affect the normal digestive function of your intestines. Health conditions such as infections, illnesses, gluten intolerance, celiac disease and food allergies can also do damage to your gut. Chronic stress and presence of toxic products such as mercury inside the intestines can also greatly affect your digestive system. As a result, you feel sick and unwell.
How To Heal Your Gut
Eat fresh and healthful foods that are rich in fiber such as vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds and whole grains. Fight food allergies and other infections on a timely manner i.e. never delay or miss an antibiotic course or the doctor's appointment.
Switch your diet to minimize the occurrence of food allergies and stomach infections. Make sure you maintain a proper balance between good bacteria and bad bacteria inside the gut. To ensure such a balance, replenish the digestive enzymes through broad spectrum digestive enzymes that are taken along with your diet. Also avoid too much of fat, oil and sugar in your food.
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