COVID can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and harm your gut microbiome.
Learn what foods to eat to help your gut bounce back quickly after COVID.
Were not just talking about vomiting and diarrhea either.
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How Does COVID Impact Your Gut?
Symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite are known to accompany COVID and similar illnesses.
GI symptoms have been reported in about half of all COVID-19 patients, says Rao.
COVID can also impact your gut in less obvious ways.
And thats a problem.
The study also found that COVID alters the gut lining, allowing harmful pathogens to get into the bloodstream.
This, in turn, increases the risk of secondary infections in the bloodstream.
Its possible that declines in these bacterial strains may be a warning sign of long COVID.
How Does Your Gut Health Impact a COVID Infection?
The study examined the gut microbiomes of more than 125 people hospitalized with COVID.
A 2021 study inGutyielded similar results.
Therefore, having a healthy gut microbiome may reduce your risk of severe COVID.
Furthermore, people with preexisting gastrointestinal illnesses may be at increased risk of gastrointestinal symptoms if they contract COVID.
Those with GI issues such as IBS [irritable bowel syndrome] are probably more likely to struggle more.
The symptoms may even be more severe, Rao says.
Rao recommends eating whole foods that are high in fiber, and staying well-hydrated.
Even if you dont have COVID, proactively eating these foods helps support a healthy gut microbiome.
Specific foods that Rao recommends to help heal your gut after COVID include:
Why?
These foods all interact with bacteria and microorganisms in your gut to make short-chain fatty acids, says Rao.
