Do you have intestinal problems? Gut health is extremely important to maintain a carefree life, since as long as your intestinal flora is healthy, everything will work without difficulties.
However, when you have diseases that promote the production of microbes in your gut, you may experience some peculiar disadvantages. Your problems may come from your diet or they are simply genetic; whatever the case, it is a delicate matter.
The ecosystem of your gut microbiome is complex and you should have at least a little knowledge about it to be prepared for the consequences. Therefore, we show you 5 unusual effects derived from poor intestinal health .
5 side effects of poor gut health
1. Self-fermentation syndrome
One of the strangest things your gut can do is ferment alcoholic beverages like beer on its own. In fact, a study in this regard has found a patient diagnosed with self-fermentation syndrome , which means that this individual got drunk from his own intestinal juices (Malik, Wickremesinghe & Saverimuttu, 2019).
In truth, this syndrome is caused by the endogenous intestinal microbiome that ferments carbohydrates into ethanol , this causes individuals who possess it to become inebriated without the need to drink alcohol. Experts believe that the patient's gut microbiome was modified by the intake of antibiotics that allowed fungal yeast to form in his gut.
Treatment for this condition consists of a short-term diet without carbohydrates and probiotics.
2. Bad breath
Bad breath in most cases is caused by a specific type of food; like onions or garlic; or poor dental health.
Just as the bacteria on your tongue can be the cause of bad breath, your gut can also have different types of threatening microbes that cause unpleasant odors. A specific case could be the bacterium helicobacter pylori . According to a study, this bacterium that infects the human gastric epithelium is linked to chronic halitosis (Fattahi, Hesari, Zojaji and Sarlati, 2015).
Other symptoms of this infection may be pain or burning sensation in the abdomen, frequent belching , and unintended weight loss.
3. Sugar cravings
Do you want something sweet all day? Intestinal problems may be to blame.
When your gut flora is out of balance, your body may be accumulating too many harmful microbes. These microbes need sugar and therefore stimulate your cravings for sweet foods. According to a study, these microbes can make you think that certain foods are more palatable than others to get what they want (Alcock, Maley & Aktipis, 2014).
4. A suppressed immune system
Everything works fine as long as the healthy bacteria in your gut are working to defend your body from unknown invaders. However, when an imbalance occurs in your microbiome, your body is more prone to disease.
Doctors specializing in the subject assure that the intestinal microbiome plays an important role when it comes to the development of the immune system . In addition, they also claim that the presence of certain intestinal bacteria can help prevent heart disease and some types of cancer.
5. Skin problems
The key to having the perfect complexion is maintaining a healthy body from the inside, especially when the first to suffer the consequences of an imbalanced gut is your skin.
According to one study, the microbiome of your gut communicates in different ways with the skin (Salem, Ramser, Isham & Ghannoum, 2018). An example is when the imbalance of the intestinal microbiome has the ability to activate the inflammatory response of your body, which can lead to psoriasis, eczema and acne.
Experts agree that much research is needed on these complex relationships, but they cannot deny that preliminary findings suggest that probiotics and prebiotics can improve skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis and eczema, because these substances increase the diversity in the intestinal flora (Vaughn, Notay, Clark and Sivamani, 2017).
How to prevent intestinal problems
- Avoid taking unnecessary antibiotics – these can reduce healthy bacteria in your gut. In case you really need them, try supplementing them with a probiotic supplement.
- Have a varied and healthy diet: this will make your intestinal ecosystem have diversity, in addition to the fiber in fruits and vegetables can help the production of healthy intestinal bacteria .
- Incorporate fermented foods into your diet – these naturally contain probiotics. Some examples are: yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut, among others.
conclusion
Whenever you have questions about an upset stomach or unusual problems, it is best to consult a doctor for a professional opinion. However, remember that many of these conditions derived from poor intestinal health can be avoided by following a healthier life and adopting beneficial habits for your health.
References
- Alcock, J., Maley, CC and Aktipis, CA (2014). Is eating behavior manipulated by the gastrointestinal microbiota? Evolutionary pressures and potential mechanisms. BioEssays. doi: 10.1002 / bies.201400071
- Fattahi, FH, Hesari, M., Zojaji, H. and Sarlati, F. (2015). Relationship of Halitosis with Gastric Helicobacter Pylori Infection. Journal of Dentistry of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 12 (3), 200-205.
- Malik, F., Wickremesinghe, P. and Saverimuttu, J. (2019). Case report and literature review of auto-brewery syndrome: probably an underdiagnosed medical condition. BMJ Open Gastroenterology. doi: 10.1136 / bmjgast-2019-000325
- Salem, I., Ramser, A., Ishman, N. and Ghannoum, MA (2018). The Gut Microbiome as a Major Regulator of the Gut-Skin Axis. Frontiers in Microbiology . doi: 10.3389 / fmicb.2018.01459
- Vaughn, AR, Notay, M., Clark, AK and Sivamani, RK (2017). Skin-gut axis: The relationship between intestinal bacteria and skin health . World Journal of Dermatology . doi: 10.5314 / wjd.v6.i4.52
