Understanding Your Digestive System: Signs, Causes & Support for Gut Health
Your gut does a lot more than just digest your lunch, it’s chatting constantly with your brain, shaping your mood, your energy levels, and even how well you sleep. If your digestion has been feeling “off” lately, you’re definitely not alone. So many clients tell me they’ve got used to bloating, sluggishness, or that post-meal fog… but none of these need to be your normal. Let’s talk about what might really be going on under the hood and how supporting your gut can help you feel like you again.
Studies suggest that fibre intake is about 40‑50% of what it should be in the UK, which has implications for gut flora, digestion and inflammation.
Common Symptoms
You might suspect a gut health imbalance if you notice:
Frequent bloating, gas or abdominal discomfort
Constipation or irregular bowels
Acid reflux or heartburn
Low energy or feeling sluggish after meals
Mood changes, brain‑fog or poor concentration
Feeling “off” after eating (rather than just full)
Trouble sleeping or sleep disrupted by digestive issues
Signs of low immunity or recurring minor infections
Often these symptoms are dismissed as “just how I am” or “that’s normal for me”, but they may reflect a digestive system under strain.
Possible Root Causes
Gut health challenges could be related to a variety of underlying factors, including:
Low fibre intake and poor diversity of plant foods — fibre fuels beneficial gut bacteria.
Imbalances in gut flora (microbiome) and changes in stomach acid, digestion speed or immunity within the gut.
Lifestyle factors: inadequate sleep, stress, low physical activity — all impact gut function and motility.
Inflammation, food sensitivities or low nutrient dense diet‑quality (low in whole foods) which may compromise gut barrier and flora.
The “brain‑gut connection” — mood, anxiety and gut health often influence each other.
By looking at all of these together, rather than treating a single symptom in isolation, you can address the root of gut health issues rather than just managing them.
What a GP Might Do
If you consult your GP about digestive symptoms, you might expect:
Investigations such as blood tests (for anaemia, inflammation, thyroid etc) and stool tests
Basic advice on diet and lifestyle (e.g., increase fibre, avoid known triggers like heavy fatty meals etc.)
Conventional treatments such as proton‑pump inhibitors for reflux, and laxatives for constipation.
Many of my clients after having followed this path: standard advice has helped somewhat, but they still feel there’s more to uncover, especially around diet, gut flora and lifestyle.
How I Support Clients with Gut Health & Digestion
Here’s the step‑by‑step approach I work through when supporting someone with gut health issues:
1. Initial Assessment: Review digestive history (symptoms, timing, triggers), diet intake, lifestyle (sleep, stress, exercise), medical history.
2. Identify What to Rule Out / Identify: Check for nutrient gaps (e.g., fibre, magnesium, B‑vitamins, vitamin D), signs of food sensitivities, gut motility issues, microbiome concerns.
3. Functional/Targeted Testing: Where appropriate, use stool or microbiome profiling, nutrient status blood tests, digestion/motility tests to help move beyond guesswork and tailor support.
4. Tailored Nutrition Plan: Increase fibre and plant‑food diversity, include fermented foods, reduce gut‑irritating foods, support healthy digestion through meal‑timing and food combinations.
5. Lifestyle Adjustments: Enhance sleep quality, manage stress (which may reduce gut symptoms), increase gentle physical activity (aids motility), encourage adequate hydration.
6. Ongoing Review & Adjustment: Monitor symptoms (digestive comfort, bowel regularity, energy, mood), adjust plan as gut flora and function improve, continue to embed sustainable habits.
Take the Next Step!
If you’re experiencing digestive discomfort, irregular bowel patterns, low energy or mood changes that may be tied to your gut health, you don’t have to navigate this alone. Book a discovery chat with me today, and we’ll explore a personalised gut‑health plan to support your digestion, energy, immunity and overall wellbeing. I see clients across the UK online or in person for those local to Guildford & Surrey.
