Signs of Bad Gut Bacteria

Gut health is a hot topic right now as people discover how much of an impact your gut 
has on your overall health and wellness. Bad gut bacteria not only contributes to 
digestive issues, but this can then cause mental health problems like stress and anxiety, 
lead to poor focus and brain fog, and many other issues. Here are some signs that the 
bacteria in your gut is not balanced properly.

Gut or Stomach Discomfort

General discomfort of the stomach and digestive system can come from so many 
different conditions, that it often takes some time narrowing down the initial cause. The 
cause is important, because that is how you determine the proper treatment. If you are 
having discomfort like gas and bloating, stomach cramps, heartburn, diarrhea or 
constipation, looking into your gut bacteria is a good place to start.

Food Cravings

The next common sign to having bad gut bacteria is having specific food cravings. 
While these can also be from other conditions, you should talk to your doctor about your 
gut health if you have an intense craving for foods that are sweet. Sweets and sugar 
tend to be a big sign of an imbalance of your gut health and gut bacteria. Have you had 
antibiotics recently? It rids your gut of both bad and good bacteria, so you might have 
an increase of sugar cravings due to the good bacteria being out of balance in your gut.

Unexplained Weight Loss

Any time you start losing weight without making any changes to your diet or lifestyle, it 
is important to talk to your doctor. There are many conditions that can cause this, 
including autoimmune diseases like thyroid issues, gluten allergies, and yes, bad gut 
bacteria. This is often referred to small intestine bacterial overgrowth, which is when you 
have an excessive amount of microbes that are affecting your ability to absorb different 
nutrients. If you are having weight loss that you can’t explain, it is a good idea to talk to 
your doctor and find out if it is from gut bacteria or other digestive issues. 

Mental Health Changes

If you have an increase in mental health issues lately, that can also be a big sign of 
having improper gut bacteria balances. This might include a higher level of stress, 
worsening symptoms of anxiety and depression, and possible brain fog.

When you have any of these unusual symptoms, it is recommended that you speak to a 
doctor.

