What the word means
Dysbiosis is a shift away from the balance that normally keeps your gut working comfortably: fewer of the organisms that help, more of those that do not, or simply a loss of overall diversity.
It is a description, not a diagnosis. There is no single test that returns a yes or no.
Common triggers
- A course of antibiotics
- An acute infection
- A sudden, sustained change in diet
- Prolonged physical or psychological stress
Recovering balance
In most healthy adults the community re-establishes itself over weeks. Fibre variety, adequate fluids, sleep and — where appropriate — a probiotic can support that process.
