We all have days when we feel tired.
A late night, a busy week or simply having too much on your plate can leave you reaching for another cup of tea. But when tiredness becomes a regular part of everyday life, it can be worth taking a closer look at what might be contributing to it.
Fatigue can have many possible causes, from poor sleep and stress to nutritional deficiencies, hormonal changes and underlying health conditions. Your gut may also form part of the picture.
Your gut does a lot of work
Digestion is one of the most important jobs your body carries out every day.
Your digestive system breaks food down, absorbs nutrients and removes waste. Meanwhile, the trillions of microorganisms living within your gut interact with the food you eat and produce a wide range of compounds.
This means your gut has an important relationship with nutrition and metabolism. If your digestion is unsettled, you may also find that your general wellbeing feels different.
The gut and immune system
A large proportion of your immune system is associated with the gut, and the gut microbiome communicates constantly with immune cells. Research has found connections between the gut microbiome and immune function, although the science is still developing. When your body is dealing with illness or inflammation, it is completely normal to feel more tired than usual. This is one reason why energy should not always be considered separately from your wider health.
Sleep, stress and your gut
There is also a close relationship between sleep, stress and the gut. Poor sleep can influence the gut microbiome, while stress can affect gut movement and how sensitive your digestive system feels. You might notice this yourself. Perhaps your stomach feels unsettled during a stressful week, or your digestion changes when you are not sleeping well. The gut and brain are constantly communicating, so it makes sense that changes in one can sometimes be felt in the other.
What can you do?
There is no magic answer to persistent fatigue. Instead, look at the foundations of your routine.
Are you eating regularly and getting enough nutrients?
Are you sleeping enough?
Are you drinking enough water?
Are you moving your body regularly?
Are you making time to recover?
Is your digestion generally comfortable?
And importantly, if you are experiencing persistent or unexplained fatigue, speak to your GP. Tiredness can have many causes and should not automatically be attributed to gut health.
Looking after your gut is simply one part of looking after yourself.