Sneaky signs your gut might be crying out for support (and what you can do about it!)

Have you ever felt sooooo bloated, even after a seemingly healthy salad, that you had to loosen your jeans, and seriously, you look like you’re six months pregnant? Or maybe you’re finding yourself cramping up and rushing to the loo every morning, wondering what on earth you could be intolerant to now, despite trialling cutting out all the usual suspects for months! If this sounds familiar, your gut might be trying to send you a very clear (and very uncomfortable) message.

But here’s the frustrating bit: despite all this, many people get told their tests are “normal” or slapped with a generic IBS diagnosis and sent on their way with some Buscopan and a shrug. Meanwhile, your gut (home to around 40 trillion bacteria and over 70% of your immune system) is screaming for some attention. Yep, it’s basically the command centre for your whole body, so when it’s out of whack, everything else feels it too.

Did you know? A healthy gut isn’t just about less bloating or more regular bowel movements (although those perks are great).

It’s also key to:

• Supporting your immune system

• Regulating hormones

• Managing inflammation

• Keeping your mood balanced

• Helping your body absorb key nutrients

• And yes, even supporting weight loss

Warning signs your gut might be out of balance

Some of the most common symptoms I see that could signal an unhappy gut include:

• Bloating, gas or urgency to use the toilet (especially after eating)

• Constipation or loose stools

• Cramping

• Reflux, indigestion or heartburn

• PMS, PCOS or other hormonal imbalances

• Acne, eczema, psoriasis or itchy skin

• Anxiety, low mood, poor sleep

• Sugar cravings and fatigue

• Recurring UTIs, thrush or sinus issues

• White coating on the tongue

These aren’t random or unrelated. Often, they’re your gut’s way of waving a little red flag, saying, “Hey, something’s not quite right in here!”

What’s making your gut miserable?

There are a few sneaky culprits I see again and again:

• A diet high in ultra-processed foods

• Chronic stress and not enough rest

• Antibiotics (especially if you’ve had to have more than 2 courses in 12 months – so easily done!) and even long-term use of the oral contraceptive pill – more on that below!

• Alcohol, sugar, additives and artificial sweeteners (think aspartame, sucralose and saccharin)

• Over-exercising or skipping meals

• Lack of plant diversity in the diet

• Poor sleep quality and burnout

Birth control and gut health

Did you know that even if you’re no longer on the pill, it might still be impacting your gut health? Research shows the pill can disrupt your gut bacteria, creating a playground for bad bacteria and yeast to thrive. Long-term use has been linked to digestive issues like bloating, gas, IBS symptoms, constipation, diarrhoea, and even chronic yeast infections. If you’ve been on the pill and still struggle with gut or hormonal problems, this could be one of the sneaky culprits. (Khalili et al, 2016)

It’s not about being “perfect”, it’s about knowing what’s actually going on inside your gut and working smarter, not harder.

A word on hormones and your gut

Your gut does way more than digest food - it’s a major player in balancing your hormones too. One big job? Breaking down and eliminating old oestrogen from your body. But if your gut is sluggish (think constipation) or overrun by unhelpful bacteria, your body might end up reabsorbing that oestrogen instead of flushing it out.

That can lead to:

👉 Heavy or painful periods

👉 Breast tenderness

👉 Stubborn weight gain

👉 Mood swings and acne

So, balancing hormones isn’t just about fancy things like seed cycling or cutting out caffeine. It starts with getting your gut back on track.

Let’s get practical: how to support your gut now

Start with these:

• Eat 30+ plant foods per week (rainbow = better microbial diversity)

• Ditch ultra-processed food when you can

• Include fermented foods (like natural yoghurt (always full-fat, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut)

• Chew your food (don’t inhale your lunch while scrolling or getting distracted while watching TV)

• Manage stress (your gut literally shuts down when stressed)

• Stay hydrated (water helps your bowels move!) – aim for 2-2.5 L per day.

But if you’ve already done all of this and still feel like nothing is working - it’s time to test, not guess.

Enter: The MetaXplore™ GI Plus Test 🧫

This isn’t your average stool test. MetaXplore™ GI Plus uses cutting-edge metagenomic sequencing (aka next-gen DNA testing) to take a deep dive into your gut microbiome.

It checks:

• Your full microbial profile (good & bad bacteria, fungi, parasites, viruses that impact digestion, metabolism, and immune function)

• Digestive function - whether your body is breaking down and absorbing nutrients properly and if you need extra digestive support

• Inflammation markers

• Gut lining health (hello, insights on “leaky gut”)

• Mucosal immunity (secretory IgA)

• Microbiome diversity - a big marker of resilience and overall wellbeing

It’s non-invasive, done at home, and delivers a goldmine of personalised data. No more guessing games - just clear insights so we can tailor a plan that actually works for you. You can read more about the test here.

Download the test brochure here.

Why this test matters than what you think

Standard NHS stool tests usually just check for infections or blood in your stool. That’s helpful if you have an acute infection, but it won’t tell you why you’re dealing with chronic digestive symptoms, fatigue, or hormone issues. MetaXplore™ GI Plus goes way deeper: analysing your gut bacteria, digestion, inflammation, and potential pathogens to give us the full picture. From there, we can create a personalised nutrition and lifestyle plan that tackles the root causes.

Ready to stop guessing and start feeling better?

This test has been a total game-changer in my clinic, helping women like you connect the dots between symptoms and what’s going on inside their gut.

👉 If you’re tired of trial-and-error, let’s talk. Book your free discovery call today - no pressure, no obligation just personalised advice tailored to your gut health journey.

Still Unsure?

Check out one of my recent client case studies over on my Instagram, where I share the journey of my client Caroline, who had struggled with IBS symptoms for over 30 years and had some incredible results after following a plan I created based on her MetaXplore results.