Your gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by microbes collectively called the microbiome, which includes bacteria, fungi and even viruses. Although it sounds gross and even unhealthy, it’s in fact, the complete opposite. Gut bacteria perform many important functions in the body, including aiding the immune system, producing the feel-good brain chemical serotonin, making energy available to the body from the food we eat, and disposing of foreign substances and toxins, according to dietitian Lisa Dreher. Though most of us have a mixture of good and bad bacteria, sometimes the bad guys get the upper hand, causing dysbiosis, or an imbalance in gut bacteria, which can play a role in a number of health conditions. So, how do you know when you have an imbalance? These signs point to a dysbiosis that…
