A nutritionist has explained why certain symptoms should not be ignored and the gut problems they could indicate
Understanding your gut health is sometimes easier said than done. From identifying your symptoms to working out the cause, there’s a lot of scope for confusion. But the good news is it’s not a challenge for you to take on alone.
Whenever you have any health concerns, your GP should be on hand to talk through any worries and possible symptoms. A nutritionist has also shared a list of gut symptoms ‘you should never ignore’.
While it’s a non-exhaustive list — be sure to seek advice for any symptoms you’re experiencing — it does helpfully break down a range of common symptoms and what could be behind them.
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The list was shared by Chloe Williams, a holistic nutritionist. Posting on TikTok as @eunoiawellness_, she said: “These are seven gut symptoms you should never ignore. These are all serious indicators of potential gut health problems.”
Stringy spit
Chloe said: “If you spit into a cup of water immediately upon waking up and you have strings hanging down in the water, this can be an indicator that you have something called Candida, which is a yeast overgrowth.”
She noted: “Some practitioners swear by this. Obviously, this is not rooted in science,” adding that the rest of her video would be based on science-backed advice.
Bloating after breakfast
“If you wake up, eat your breakfast and bloat immediately, this can be an indicator of SIBO, small intestinal bacteria overgrowth,” explained Chloe. “SIBO occurs when there is excess bacteria up in the small intestine that are fermenting your food. Just like a piece of fruit that is left rotting, this going to lead to excess gas and a lot of discomfort like bloat right after you eat.”
Excessive bloating
“On the other hand, if you wake up feeling great about yourself and then by the end of the day you feel like you look nine months pregnant, this is a really good indicator of low stomach acid,” the expert continued. She said this type of bloating is often experienced alongside frequent heartburn, which she listed as another symptom to watch out for.
Frequent heartburn
According to Chloe, frequent heartburn could be an indicator of low stomach acid. Unfortunately, people with heartburn often reach for an acid suppressor which could be contributing to the problem and making it worse in the long term, she added.
Sharing advice, the expert said: “I recommend taking two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar first thing in the morning within fifteen minutes of waking, mixed with some hot water. It will help to increase the amount of hydrochloric acid that you have in your body available to break down your food.”
Stomach pain after eating
“Another sign not to ignore is stomach pain after eating,” claimed Chloe.” If you were like me once upon a time and you feel like everything you are eating is giving you a stomach ache it’s probably because you have leaky gut and you are developing food sensitivities to the foods that you are eating,” she said, before breaking down the science behind the problem.
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White tongue
The expert said having a white coating on your tongue is a sign you likely have Candida overgrowth. “If you have this symptom I’m willing to bet you also have constipation, some kind of acne, food sensitivity, fatigue, and a whole lot of cravings for sugar. Also lots of joint pain and serious mood swings or anxiety.”
Type one or type two stool
“We’re all out here striving for number four on the Bristol stool chart. This is perfect, this tells you that you have optimal digestion and not too much to be worried about in terms of the bowel movement department,” said Chloe.
“If you are having type one or a type two here, these are telling me that there is probably some kind of dehydration going on. There is something going on in the gut for sure. Again, these can be related to an overgrowth of Candida. This could be related to low stomach acid.
“This is also a problem that needs to be addressed because if we don’t eliminate the toxins that are in our body then they are going to recirculate through our bloodstream.” She also suggested everyone should experience bowel movements ‘every single day’.
Always speak to a doctor before making any diet or lifestyle changes, and share any concerns with your GP to check for underlying medical conditions.
