The reason that gut health has become such a major topic in healthcare is that it’s responsible for many different things in your body (but more on that later).
Ultimately though, a healthy gut is important because it allows you to receive vital nutrients from the foods you eat.2
The term ‘gut health’ can also refer to the balance of bacteria in your gut.1
What are the symptoms of poor gut health?
Harris Interactive questioned over 1,849 adults – 50% male and 50% female – across the UK for the Holland & Barrett Gut Health Survey (this study is also known as the Gut Health – Needs, Triggers and Barriers survey).3
One of the areas researchers focused on was gut symptoms.
Experiencing gut symptoms is very common and not necessarily something to worry about, however, if you have persistent symptoms, it may be a sign your gut needs some TLC. You may be able to make some changes to support your gut and improve your symptoms.
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Bloating or gas 30%
Bloating is where your belly feels tight, full and extended – and is usually a result of excess gas.
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Heartburn 29%
As the name suggests, heartburn is where you experience a burning sensation in your chest that is painful – and it usually happens after eating or when lying down.
It’s caused when acid travels up from the stomach towards the throat.
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Indigestion 27%
Another symptom that causes a burning pain in your body is indigestion. This is where the acid in your stomach irritates the lining of stomach or throat.4
Heartburn can be a symptom of indigestion.
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Diarrhoea 26%
You’ll probably know this one already, but another key sign that your gut isn’t at its best is if you’re frequently having loose or watery poos.
Handpicked content: Beautiful Stool Chart
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Constipation 25%
The opposite issue to diarrhoea, constipation is where you haven’t had a poo in over three days and they’re often hard, lumpy and take a lot of effort to get out.
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Stomach pain 25%
This can be a result of feeling gassy, bloated, constipated, experiencing diarrhoea or having acid reflux.
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Acid reflux 24%
Acid reflux is where the acid from your stomach travels up towards your throat – causing a burning sensation.5
If you ever get heartburn, it’s important to know that it can be a symptom of acid reflux.
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IBS 15%
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a very common digestive system issue which can affect your gut health.
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Fullness 13%
Feeling full to the point of discomfort was another common symptom of gut health issues according to our survey.
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Heaviness 11%
Similarly, 11% of survey participants said they experienced a heavy feeling due to poor gut health.
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Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) 7%
Like acid reflux, but a long-term condition that may lead to complications over time.6
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Gastritis 5%
Gastritis is what happens when the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed, usually after it’s been damaged in some way.7
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Regurgitation 4%
The main symptom of acid reflux or indigestion, regurgitation is where a combination of gastric juices and potentially undigested food comes back up the oesophagus and into the mouth.
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Ulcerative colitis 2%
This is a long-term health condition where the colon and rectum are inflamed – and as a result, little ulcers develop on the lining of the colon.
Common symptoms of this condition include recurrent diarrhoea, tummy pain and needing to go to the loo a lot.8 This condition would be diagnosed by your doctor.
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Crohn's disease 2%
A type of inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease is a lifelong condition that causes the digestive system to become inflamed. It often shows itself through diarrhoea, stomach ache, blood in your stools, fatigue and weight loss.9
This condition would be diagnosed by your doctor.
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Coeliac disease 2%
A disease caused by bad reactions to gluten, Coeliac disease is a condition where your immune system attacks itself when you eat something containing gluten.
Symptoms of this include diarrhoea, stomach ache, bloating, excess wind, indigestion and constipation.10
If you’re concerned you may have this condition, it’s important to get a diagnosis from your doctor.