Expanding Waistline Or Bacterial Imbalance?

Have you been putting in the hard yards at the gym but the numbers on the scale just aren’t reflecting your hard work? Or more importantly, in spite of the daily stomach crunches and sit-ups, that winter tire just won’t deflate. This could have far more to do with the bacteria in your gut than with the calories being burnt off.  When it comes to overall health, it all begins with a good balance of healthy bacteria in our gut. 

A study conducted in 2013 found that overweight women who worked on improving their gut health by eliminating refined sugar and processed foods from their diet, and adding probiotics to their daily routine were able to sustain their weight loss more than those who did not.  

Bloating is just one of the signs that you may be experiencing an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in your gut. For many women, waking up with a flat stomach and going to bed bloated is a common occurrence and one of the most visible signs of food sensitivities or a gut infection also known as SIBO. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth occurs when the balance of good and bad bacteria is thrown out.  

The overgrowth of bad bacteria can cause a host of problems. Certain types of bad bacteria feed off refined carbohydrates, breaking them down into short-chained, fatty acids, creating gas and causing bloating. Other strains of bad bacteria can break down bile salts needed to break down fats, causing malabsorption and in some cases IBS. Over time, bad bacteria can produce toxins, which damage and eat away the stomach’s lining.  

So what are some of the signs that you may be experiencing a bacterial imbalance? These include 

• Gas and Bloating are two of the most common signs of a bacterial imbalance
  
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal cramping and pain
• Constipation 
• IBS and Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• B12 Deficiency as well as other vitamin deficiency’s
• Food intolerances such as gluten and dairy
• Some common chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome have been linked to an imbalance in the gut 

Testing and treatment: If you believe that you may have an imbalance or bacterial infection it is best to consult your doctor for a test. If no major infection is present, gut health should still remain a priority. Cutting foods such as refined carbohydrates and refined sugar and introducing probiotic’s to your diet can bring back a healthy balance of good bacteria and ensure your waistline shrinks the right way.