A healthy gut is vital for general health, but certain conditions can impair gut microorganisms. Eight surprising things can harm your gut microbiome:
1. Excessive Antibiotic Use
Antibiotics are very important for getting rid of infections, but using them too much or in the wrong way can throw off the balance of good bacteria in your gut.
2. High Sugar Diet
If you eat too much sugar, it can feed bad bugs in your gut, which can cause imbalances and possibly gut health problems.
3. Artificial Sweeteners
Aspartame and sucralose are two examples of artificial sweets that may hurt gut bacteria and make inflammation worse.
4. Chronic Stress
Long-term worry can hurt gut health by changing the balance of bacteria in the gut and making the barrier between the gut and the rest of the body weaker.
5. Lack of Fiber
If you don't eat enough fibre, good bacteria may not be able to get their favourite food, which can make your gut microbiome less complex and healthy.
6. Excessive Alcohol Consumption
Drinking a lot of alcohol can change the gut bacteria, which can lead to inflammation and digestive problems.
7. Lack of Sleep
Not getting enough or good quality sleep can mess up gut health and change the kinds of bugs that live there.
8. Environmental Toxins
Environmental poisons, such as pesticides, pollutants, and some chemicals, can hurt gut bacteria and make gut dysbiosis worse.