Can Gut Inflammation Cause Weight Gain?

Have you been trying to shed a few pounds for some time, but just can’t seem to make any progress? Are you feeling tired of trying various fad diets to lose weight, only to see no results? Do you feel like you’re bloated all the time? 

Well, those stubborn pounds that won’t budge no matter what you do might have a deeper issue than you think. These issues could be caused by gut inflammation. 

Gut inflammation is a serious problem for many individuals out there, who are desperately trying to lose some weight without seeing any progress. Recent studies have shown that inflammation in our gut can actually play a significant role in weight gain and our overall health. This is why maintaining good gut health is incredibly important, because it affects so much more than just our digestive system. But what exactly is gut inflammation, and how does it hinder our efforts to lose weight?

Before we dive into understanding gut inflammation, gut inflammation symptoms and how to reduce inflammation in the gut, let’s first take a look at the science behind why inflammation occurs in the body. 

What is Inflammation?

When we think of inflammation, we generally tend to lean towards inflammation that occurs in muscles after we get injured, or perhaps the swelling on our skin after an insect bite. This isn’t too far off from the definition of inflammation that we will be exploring today. 

Essentially, inflammation is the body's way of protecting itself when something harmful happens, like an injury or an infection. It's like the body’s natural defense system.

The way it works is that when you get hurt or sick, your body sends special cells to the affected area. These cells, then, release chemicals that work to expand the blood vessels, which allows more blood to flow there. This increased blood flow causes redness, warmth, and the swelling that we tend to see on the surface of our skin.

These chemicals also attract other cells that either help fight off the infection during sickness, or repair any damages to the area injured. Sometimes, the release of these chemicals can also cause pain in their attempt to repair damages.

In most cases, the inflammation goes away once the infection or injury has been healed. 

But sometimes, the inflammation can last for a long time and cause problems. When this happens, it is called chronic inflammation. 

In simple terms, chronic inflammation means that your body is stuck in a state of alert, even though there is no potential threat or injury. And since the body’s defense system is stuck in this “ON” position, it can start to harm your healthy tissues. This is the reason behind many metabolic issues like heart disease, diabetes, and weight gain.

So, how does this inflammation relate to those stubborn pounds that refuse to shed, you ask? Well, let’s just say, it has a lot to do with what you are feeding, or not feeding your gut.

What is Gut Inflammation?

Your digestive system, or gut, is responsible for a lot of processes that keep your body healthy and functional. This means that your gut needs to be balanced with good bacteria and well-maintained in order for these processes to run smoothly. 

Gut inflammation occurs when there is a disruption in the balance of helpful bacteria in the gut.

This causes a buildup of fluid in your stomach lining, which then leads to a swollen stomach that makes you feel full and bloated most, if not all, of the time.

In other words, when your gut experiences irritation or swelling, you will begin to notice signs of discomfort and just an overall feeling of being unwell. 

It is important to note that gut inflammation can cause damage to the lining of the intestines over a period of time, which can lead to problems like leaky gut, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), autoimmune diseases, and obesity.

So, how do you know whether you are experiencing inflammation in your digestive system? Let’s explore some gut inflammation symptoms in the next section.

What are the Signs of Gut Inflammation?

With all of this information about the negative impacts of inflammation, you must be wondering: how can someone tell whether their gut is inflamed? Or, what are some specific signs of gut inflammation, so that people can detect it early and apply appropriate treatment measures.

Well, let’s take a look into the signs and symptoms, before we consider how to heal gut inflammation.

Although the signs of gut inflammation are generic and can have an overlap of symptoms of other illnesses, it is always a good idea to keep an eye out for a few signs that seem to be occurring simultaneously. This makes for a good strategy when you are trying to eliminate different diagnoses. 

When your gut is inflamed, you might experience symptoms like:

• Stomach pain: you feel like you get constant stomach aches no matter what you eat.
• Bloating: you constantly feel full, or feel like your stomach always looks swollen.
• Diarrhea or constipation: you have trouble with regular bowel movements.
• Weight changes: you have experienced unexplained weight gain, or have had difficulty losing weight despite your best efforts.
• Fatigue: you’re constantly feeling tired, or lacking energy on a regular basis.
• Skin problems: you experience chronic skin conditions like acne, eczema, psoriasis, or chronic hives.
• Recurrent infections: you are someone who frequently gets infections, or has difficulty recovering from them.
• Allergies: you’ve noticed increased sensitivities or allergies to certain substances.
• Mood disorders: you feel like you have persistent mood swings.
• Some other medical symptoms: you might experience symptoms like high blood pressure, chest pain, or shortness of breath.

Is Bloating a Sure Sign of Gut Inflammation?

As mentioned above, bloating is one of the signs of gut inflammation, but it’s important to determine why you are feeling bloated—and whether it’s a rare or frequent occurrence—before making any conclusions.

Check out these 3 steps to reduce bloating after meals if you are someone who experiences frequent bloating. 

Many individuals who experience digestive issues often have the same question: does gut inflammation cause bloating? The short answer to this is: yes, bloating can be a sign of gut inflammation.

Bloating can also be a potential symptom of many other medical conditions, but inflammation in the gut can make you feel bloated frequently. In fact, it is one of the signs that can be used for self-monitoring the health of your digestive system.

Gut inflammation causes fluid to build up in the stomach lining, which makes it appear swollen. It can also disrupt the gastrointestinal tract’s contractions and movements, which ultimately slows down the digestion of your food (and causes food to stay longer in the stomach). For these reasons, you may frequently feel full and bloated.

There are some other possible signs of stomach inflammation such as gas and digestive issues. If left untreated, inflammation can lead to chronic diseases years later. 

So, if you feel that you are in a constant cycle of digestive issues, talk to your primary care physician or a gastroenterologist for a further evaluation. They can perform a physical exam, order tests, or use imaging studies to determine the cause of your frequent bloating. Keeping your gut health in check is detrimental to preserving the overall health of your body along with making sure that you are able to maintain healthy body weight.

Can Inflammation Cause Weight Gain?

Now that we’ve learned about the signs of inflammation, let’s explore the relationship between inflammation and weight gain. 

Gut inflammation and weight gain are linked through something called a bidirectional relationship. This means that they are able to affect each other simultaneously, and in both directions. To put it simply, inflammation can lead to weight gain, and weight gain can contribute to inflammation. 

Sounds like a double-edged sword, right? No need to worry, though! We are going to dive deeper into understanding the root causes, so we can chart out how to reduce gut inflammation.

So, how does gut inflammation specifically cause weight gain? Well, inflammation can be triggered by hormonal and metabolic changes in your body, and it can remain until any excess weight is lost. In other words, it can disrupt your body’s natural processes, making it easier for you to gain weight, and much harder to lose it.

Here are some of the ways in which gut inflammation contributes to weight gain:

• Insulin resistance: Chronic inflammation can interfere with the body's ability to properly respond to insulin, which is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels and other hormones. Insulin resistance can lead to elevated blood sugar levels, increased fat storage, and weight gain.
• Disrupted appetite regulation: Gut inflammation can affect the signals that regulate appetite and satiety. It may increase Ghrelin (hunger hormone) and reduce Leptin( satiety hormone) that can lead to increased hunger and cravings for unhealthy, calorie-dense foods. This can result in overeating and, inevitably, weight gain.
• Compromised metabolism: Chronic inflammation can disrupt normal metabolic processes in the body, including the way that your body stores and utilizes energy. This can contribute to a decrease in your energy expenditure and an increase in fat storage, which promotes weight gain.
• Altered gut ecosystem: Gut inflammation can negatively affect the balance of gut bacteria leading to more bad than good gut bacteria. An unhealthy gut ecosystem has been associated with weight gain and metabolic disorders. For example, people dealing with yeast overgrowth may experience more sugar cravings that can lead to weight gain.
• Reduced physical activity: Inflammation can cause fatigue, joint pain, and other symptoms that can limit physical activity. A decrease in physical activity levels can contribute to weight gain over time.

Therefore, the connection between gut inflammation and weight gain lies specifically in the way inflammation affects your hormone levels, metabolism, and overall bodily functions. This means that in order for you to apply effective measures to reduce your weight, you first have to determine (and eliminate) the root causes of your gut inflammation.

How to Reduce Gut Inflammation? 

It’s important to note that if your gut stays inflamed for too long, it can cause multiple health issues over a period of time. That’s why it is essential to think about how to reduce gut inflammation.

Here is a three step method to reduce gut inflammation:

• Remove: Remove foods from your diet that are causing the inflammation in the first place. This means that you stop counting calories and start counting chemicals in your food. Read the food labels for HFCS, sugar, salt, soy, corn, preservatives, and food colors, so you can begin to eliminate these from your diet.
• Repair: Add foods that bind with toxins and help to eliminate them from your body, and consume foods that heal your gut lining, so that your body can begin the gut healing process. Try to add more sulfur containing foods such as: cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, onion & garlic, milk thistle, dandelion, and B-vitamins in your diet. Some supplements like glutamine and zinc can also be very helpful. Also, adding a plant-based diet that is rich in phytonutrients & polyphenols has shown to be most helpful. In fact, studies have found that a plant-based diet feeds your gut microbiome, and this can help to heal the gut lining. You can learn more about this in our WOW program, where in Phase I, we discuss how to detox and reduce inflammation.
• Replenish: Replenish nutrients and add anti-inflammatory foods that help your gut work in optimal ways for the health of your body. Foods that contain flavonoids, vitamin C, omega-3, curcumin, herbal teas, herbs, and spices should be included in your diet to provide those much needed nutrients to your body. Here’s an anti-inflammatory herbal tea that you can have to reduce bloating.

What are Some Other Steps To Take to Reduce Inflammation?

The regime listed above is a great way for understanding what to feed and what not to feed your gut, so that you can reduce inflammation and improve your gut health. There are also some other steps that you can take in order to ensure reduced inflammation in your gut:

• Sleep: Adequate and quality sleep plays an important role in reducing inflammation. Try to establish a consistent sleep routine, create a comfortable sleep environment, and practice relaxation techniques before bed. These could include: reading a book, meditating, limiting exposure to electronic devices before sleep, and ensuring the bedroom is dark, quiet, and at a comfortable temperature.
• Stress reduction: Practice stress management techniques like deep breathing, meditation, yoga, or engaging in activities that help you relax and unwind. The reason for this is simple: chronic stress can contribute to gut inflammation, so finding effective stress reduction strategies is important. 
• Exercise: Try to incorporate daily exercise in your routine such as yoga, swimming, walking, or jogging. In fact, recent studies have shown that walking is the best form of exercise to reduce inflammation since it removes waste and inflammatory markers from your body more efficiently than other exercises. 
• Practice 5 Minute Meditation: Research suggests that meditation can have a positive impact on reducing inflammation. Meditation is a practice that involves focusing your attention and quieting your mind to achieve a state of mental clarity and relaxation. 

With all of these practices, you can not only reduce gut inflammation, but also ensure that your lifestyle is focused on maintaining better overall physical and mental health. Because when you  spend time focusing on your health and wellbeing, you are able to prevent health concerns that become the foundation of major illnesses.

So, join the WOW waitlist and start your gut healing journey today—one sip of herbal, anti-inflammatory tea at a time! 

                                   Join the WOW (Winning Over Weight) Program Now!

**Disclaimer: Please note that there could be many medical reasons for gut inflammation and bloating, so please check with your doctor before making any dietary or lifestyle changes.