Gut inflammation can be caused by internal or external factors. People can reduce it by employing strategies like eating an anti-inflammatory diet, taking probiotics, and reducing stress.
The symptoms of gut inflammation differ for each person, and early diagnosis is critical to prevent the risk of complications and disease progression.
It is also important to identify the root cause of gut inflammation, if possible, as it can help a person address the cause. For example, if a medication they are taking is causing inflammation, they can speak with a doctor about trying an alternative.
This article discusses how to reduce gut inflammation and its common causes.
Reducing the degree of inflammation is one of the best ways to improve a person’s gut health.
Here are some strategies to reduce gut inflammation.
Anti-inflammatory diet
The regular consumption of nutrient-dense foods
Many experts recommend a Mediterranean-style diet for gut health. This includes green leafy vegetables, nuts, and berries which contain polyphenols that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Also, healthy fats such as olive oil have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory effects.
In addition to eating these whole foods, reducing the intake of foods containing refined sugars and saturated fats is essential because of their pro-inflammatory capacities.
To optimize gut health, an individual can benefit from increasing anti-inflammatory foods and decreasing pro-inflammatory ones.
Probiotics
Probiotics can produce multiple beneficial effects in the gut, but there is no conclusive research evidence to explain how these effects occur. However, medical experts have proposed some theories.
Probiotics strengthen the gut lining barrier and help prevent intestinal leakage, which reduces microbial invasion that causes gut inflammation.
Stress reduction
Individuals exposed to stress are at
Stress can alter the gut bacteria balance and trigger the growth of unhealthy gut bacteria. These harmful gut bacteria can release toxins that stimulate gut inflammation.
Also, stress may contribute to unhealthy eating behaviors as a coping mechanism in some people. Some people may eat processed, pro-inflammatory foods that can worsen gut inflammation.
Therefore, it is crucial to decrease stress levels through regular practice of relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing.
The symptoms of gut inflammation typically vary for each person.
Additionally, the severity of the inflammation and the type of inflammatory gut disease can impact the symptoms. The following are
- abdominal pain
- bloody stools
- persistent diarrhea
- weight loss
- fatigue
Internal and external factors that alter the gut bacteria balance and the intestinal barrier can induce gut inflammation.
The following are some of the
- Infection: Infections of the gut wall can damage the intestinal barrier and stimulate the release of inflammatory cytokines that stimulate gut inflammation. Bacteria organisms that cause gastritis or enteritis can trigger gut inflammation.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Medical conditions such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis cause chronic gut inflammation.
- Medications: The intake of some medications can either eliminate healthy gut bacteria or induce local inflammation in the gut in some vulnerable people, especially elderly ones. For example, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) and prolonged use of antibiotics may increase the risk of gut inflammation.
- Damage to the intestinal barrier: The intake of refined foods and stressful conditions may damage the protective lining in the gut. As a result, pro-inflammatory substances or foreign bodies reach the bloodstream, where they trigger an inflammatory response that affects the gut.
To prevent the worsening of symptoms or disease progression, individuals with medical conditions or exposure to external factors that put them at risk of gut inflammation will benefit from contacting a doctor early.
Generally, abdominal symptoms that increase in severity and do not go away on their own require examination from a doctor. Individuals with symptoms such as severe abdominal pain or persistent vomiting may require further clinical evaluation for accurate diagnosis.
People with unexplained changes in bowel habits and abdominal symptoms that interfere with their daily routines should also contact a doctor.
Gut inflammation occurs due to multiple factors. Individuals who consume pro-inflammatory foods, such as refined foods, and exposure to stress are typically more vulnerable to gut inflammation.
The regular intake of fruits and vegetables containing polyphenols has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties. Also, consuming probiotics may help restore the gut bacteria balance and modulate the inflammatory response in the gut.
If gut inflammation symptoms persist or get worse, a person should contact a doctor.