Is your gut distressed? If you notice signs of gut distress such as chronic bloating, irregular stools, abdominal pain, or waking with a persistent stomach discomfort, you’re not alone. Here are seven red flags you shouldn’t ignore and what they could mean for your health. 1) Lingering abdominal pain that won’t go away, 2) Frequent or severe bloating after meals, 3) Sudden changes in stool frequency or consistency, 4) Unexplained fatigue or brain fog, 5) Ongoing indigestion, gas, or reflux, 6) New or worsening food intolerances, and 7) Skin, sleep, or mood changes that seem linked to digestion. Paying attention to these signs of gut distress can help you act earlier and protect your gut health. What these red flags might indicate can vary from minor food sensitivities to more complex gut imbalances. Persistent pain and bloating can reflect dysbiosis or inflammation, while changes in stool may signal shifts in gut function. Fatigue, mood shifts, or skin issues can be tied to how your gut microbiome interacts with your overall health. If you notice multiple signs of gut distress over time, it’s wise to consult a clinician. In parallel, you can start gathering data about your gut with tools that quantify health and guide you toward improvements. A structured approach—combining symptom tracking with microbiome insights—helps you understand what’s happening inside your gut. Practical steps you can take today to support your gut health include keeping a simple 3‑day food diary to identify dietary triggers and patterns, prioritizing fiber-rich foods, staying hydrated, and managing stress and sleep. If you want a deeper, data-driven approach, you can leverage a platform that analyzes both diet and biology to tailor action steps. For example, platforms in this space offer metrics like a Gut Microbiome Health Index (a score from 0 to 100) and profile how your bacteria abundances and metabolic functions compare to a healthy cohort. They can also provide targeted guidance for specific goals, such as healthy aging, endurance or power sports, or skin and hair health, plus personalized nutrition and probiotic recommendations. These kinds of insights can turn signs of gut distress into concrete, doable steps toward better gut health. InnerBuddies provides a white-label Gut Health Operating System that companies can use to power their gut microbiome testing products. It offers a comprehensive set of features, including a Gut Microbiome Health Index, bacteria abundances, categorized bacterial functions with healthy-cohort comparisons, and Target Group analysis for areas like Healthy Aging, Endurance Sport, and Skin & Hair Health. You’ll also get personalized nutrition advice based on your 3‑day food diaries and stool samples, plus customized probiotics and prebiotics recommendations. All the options available to our B2B partners are also accessible directly to consumers. To explore options, you can browse the InnerBuddies microbiome test for testing, consider the gut health membership for ongoing insights, and if you’re part of a business looking to collaborate, learn about becoming a partner at InnerBuddies B2B program.