In Blog 1, we explored why gut health is the foundation for feeling better—especially for women over 35. Now let’s look at what might be silently damaging your gut without you even realizing it.
These common habits and hidden triggers could be the things that hurt your gut, such as bloating, fatigue, stubborn weight gain, or brain fog.
Too Much Sugar and Processed Food
Refined sugar feeds the “bad” bacteria and yeast in your gut, tipping your microbiome out of balance. Processed foods full of additives, artificial sweeteners, and low-fiber ingredients only make things worse.
Try this: Start by cutting back on sugary drinks, packaged snacks, and low-fiber carbs. Replace them with whole foods like berries, leafy greens, and legumes.
Chronic Stress
Stress doesn’t just live in your head—it hits your gut hard. Stress hormones slow digestion, weaken your gut lining, and disrupt healthy bacteria. All things that hurt your gut.
Try this: Practice deep breathing, light movement, or just five minutes of quiet daily. Your gut will thank you.
Lack of Sleep
When you’re not getting enough quality sleep, your gut bacteria suffer. Poor sleep also raises cortisol, increases cravings, and disrupts digestion.
Try this: Aim for 7–9 hours of sleep in a cool, dark room. Create a calming bedtime routine and power down electronics at least an hour before bed.
Overuse of Medications
Antibiotics, NSAIDs (like ibuprofen), acid blockers, and even some birth control pills are things that hurt your gut. They can harm your gut lining and kill off good bacteria.
Try this: Only take medications when truly needed, and talk to your healthcare provider about gut-friendly alternatives. Consider gut-healing nutrients if you’ve taken antibiotics recently.
Environmental Toxins
Toxins in your skincare, cleaning products, and even water can sneak into your system and throw off your gut health.
Try this: Switch to natural or organic skincare and cleaning brands when possible. A good water filter can also reduce exposure to harmful chemicals.
Low-Fiber Diet
Fiber is fuel for your good gut bacteria. Without enough, your microbiome starves—and digestion slows to a crawl.
Try this: Add more fiber-rich foods like chia seeds, lentils, veggies, and berries to your meals. But increase slowly to avoid gas or discomfort.
Gut Trouble Isn’t Just About Food
Many women blame their symptoms on what they’re eating, but often it’s these everyday stressors and habits are things that hurt your gut and disrupt gut balance.
If you’re nodding your head at most of this list, it’s time to hit reset.
At Total You Health, we offer simple at-home testing and custom topical patches to gently support your body as you heal from the inside out—without guesswork or overwhelm.
Ready to Take Control of Your Health?
Tired of struggling and not feeling your best? Total You Health is here to help! With Body Balance Testing, we give your body exactly what it needs to function at its best. Check out our website to learn how you can start feeling better today and improve your gut health – https://totalyouhealth.org/body-balance-testing/.