Gut Imbalances
The human gut is home to trillions of bacteria, which collectively form happy communities of microbes that work together to maintain your health, both physical and mental. This delicate balance of microorganisms is also crucial for aiding digestion, supporting the immune system, and even influencing mental well-being. However, when one of these happy little colonies falls out of balance, it can lead to gut dysbiosis - which is just a fancy way of saying that the microbes living in your gut are all out of whack.
Gut Balance vs. Gut Chaos
Healthy gut: Good + bad bacteria live in balance (think: harmony).
Imbalanced gut: Harmful bacteria take over like toxic reality TV stars hijacking the reunion show.
Sometimes it’s just a little hiccup = mild bloating. But if the imbalance grows? It can trigger inflammation, weaken your immune system, and fuel chronic issues.
Types of Gut Imbalances
A lack of diversity in the types of microbes you have in your gut
A deficiency of beneficial gut microbes, or
Overgrowth of harmful bacteria
The goal isn’t to kill off all the bad guys. It’s about balance. Even the “troublemakers” have roles when kept in check.
Causes
Here’s where life gets messy:
Poor Diet - inflammatory foods, high in refined sugar, processed foods, poor-quality fats
Stress - mental and physical stress; this includes oxidative stress
Infections - pathogenic infections via food or water sources wreak havoc on the microbiome and can have a long-lasting impact
Antibiotics/Medications - antimicrobial agents, oral contraceptives, antidepressants, antacids, PPIs, and NSAIDs contribute to gut imbalances
Lifestyle factors - poor sleep patterns, alcohol consumption, lack of physical activity, and smoking (this includes the “natural” plant you like).
Excessive Sanitizing & Lack of Soil Exposure - we must unlearn that all microbes are harmful and must be killed and respect the symbiotic relationship we have with microbes. Sorry, but your gut doesn’t thrive in Lysol-level environments. Your microbes need dirt, play, and nature.
It’s rarely one thing. Usually, it’s a combo. Think: diet + stress + antibiotics + poor sleep. That’s when your gut finally gives in.
Signs Your Gut is Out of Balance
Gut imbalances wear many disguises:
Digestive drama (bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, food sensitivities)
Fatigue that coffee can’t even help
Skin issues (acne, eczema, rashes)
Mood swings, anxiety, or depression
Getting sick easily or constant allergies
Ever snapped at someone and then realized later it wasn’t them, it was your gut-brain axis crying out for help? No? Just me? Oh, okay.
Rebalancing the Gut
Here’s the reframe: microbes aren’t villains to destroy. They respond to your environment, your choices, your stress levels. Gut imbalances are messages, not enemies.
Struggling with Candida? Candida naturally lives in your body. The problem is when lifestyle factors (sugar, meds, stress) feed it into overgrowth. “Killing” it with a diet works short-term, but if you keep feeding it? Back to square one.
Over-cleansing or fasting like crazy? That’s not healing, that’s punishment. Your gut wants balance, not war.
You don’t heal by waging war on your body. Trust me, many have tried and all have failed. You heal by listening to your body friend.
Healing gut imbalances long-term means zooming out. Instead of asking, “How do I destroy this bacteria?” ask, “Why is my body out of balance in the first place?”
xx
Dr. Toya D White
