Tired All the Damn Time? Your Gut Might Be the One Sabotaging You
Let’s cut the crap (pun fully intended):
If you're dragging yourself out of bed every morning like a hungover sloth, pounding coffee like it’s your job, and wondering if maybe a nap under your desk wouldn’t be the worst idea—your gut might be the real energy thief in the house.
And no, it’s not just about poop (though we will talk about poop, because... duh, it matters).
From an integrative health perspective, your gut isn't just some tube food slides down. It’s mission control for energy, hormones, immunity, and even your mood. And when it's out of whack? So are you.
So if you’ve been blaming the kids, the laundry, or your toxic to-do list for your nonstop exhaustion, it’s time to check your gut first.
The Top 5 Signs Your Gut Is Screwing With Your Energy
1. Bloating Like You’re 6 Months Pregnant… But You're Not
If your belly looks like you swallowed a balloon after every meal, your body’s waving a big ol’ “digestive dysfunction” flag. Gas and bloating aren’t just annoying—they’re signs your food isn't breaking down properly, meaning fewer nutrients get absorbed… which equals zero energy for you, mama.
Integrative Insight: A sluggish gut = sluggish absorption = sluggish YOU.
2. You're Craving Sugar Like a Gremlin
Can’t stop reaching for that 3 p.m. cookie like your life depends on it? Your gut bacteria might be hijacking your brain. Yep. The bad bacteria in your gut actually feed on sugar—and when they're thriving, they scream at you for more. The result? A blood sugar rollercoaster that ends with you face-planted in a box of Oreos and wondering why you can’t stay awake past 8 p.m.
3. Brain Fog That Feels Like You’re Living in a Cloud of Meh
Gut and brain are BFFs (thank you, vagus nerve). When your gut’s inflamed or overloaded, inflammation travels north and messes with your mental clarity. If you're constantly spacing out, forgetting what you walked into the room for, or losing track mid-sentence... your gut could be throwing static into your mental radio.
4. Your Mood is All Over the Damn Place
You’re snapping at the kids, crying over laundry detergent commercials, and then wondering if you’re just "hormonal." But guess what? Up to 90% of your serotonin (the feel-good chemical) is made in your gut. So if your microbiome is fried, so is your mood regulation.
Spoiler: It’s not just PMS. It’s probably your gut.
5. You Wake Up Tired... Even After a Full Night’s Sleep
Let me guess: You’re doing all the right things—going to bed by 10, sleeping through the night (mostly), and still waking up feeling like you got hit by a truck. If your gut isn’t producing or absorbing the nutrients your cells need to repair and recharge (hello, B vitamins, iron, magnesium), it doesn’t matter how much sleep you get. Your body can't restore energy without the building blocks.
Okay Cool, So My Gut Sucks. What Now?
Deep breaths, mama. Your gut wants to be your BFF again. And healing it doesn’t require a $600 supplement stash or a full-body cleanse from a retreat in Sedona. (Although, I do love Sedona.)
Here are 5 easy, real-life fixes you can start this week:
1. Start Your Day With Warm Lemon Water
It’s not just an Instagram trend. Warm water with lemon kickstarts your digestion, supports your liver (detox queen), and helps bile production to break down fats—aka energy production support.
Add a pinch of sea salt for adrenal support if you’re really running on fumes.
2. Eat Fermented Foods Daily
Think: sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, kefir, yogurt with live cultures (not the sugary kind disguised as dessert). These help replenish your good bacteria—your internal hype squad for energy and digestion.
Start small if you’ve been living on processed food. Your gut needs to warm up to these party guests.
3. Ditch the Gut-Busters
Say “see ya” to the worst gut offenders—refined sugar, processed junk, artificial sweeteners (I see you, aspartame), and seed oils (like canola, soybean, and vegetable oil). These inflame your gut lining and make your microbiome freak out.
Yes, even your “healthy” granola bar might be a sugar bomb with a side of bloat.
4. Sleep Like It’s Your Side Hustle
Sleep isn’t a luxury—it’s gut repair time. Your gut cells regenerate at night, especially between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. So if you’re binging Netflix until midnight and then wondering why your belly feels like a brick… you’ve found your answer.
Aim for lights out by 10. Yes, even if you have to leave Joe Goldberg on a cliffhanger.
5. Chill the Hell Out
Stress is like gasoline on gut inflammation. Cortisol (your stress hormone) literally thins your gut lining and messes with digestion. Build in 5-10 minutes a day of deep breathing, journaling, walking without your phone, or just sitting in your car in silence. (If your kids are screaming in the house, that counts as meditative practice, FYI.)
Final Gut Check
So, are you:
Constantly exhausted
Bloated like a Macy’s parade float
Addicted to sugar
Moody AF
Mentally mushy
Then your gut is waving a red flag and begging you to notice. And here’s the empowering part: You don’t need to overhaul your entire life or give up joy. You just need to support your gut like it’s the ride-or-die bestie you didn’t know was there all along.
Start small. Start simple. Start somewhere.
