Gut and Intestinal Health: The health of an individual’s gut determines what nutrients are absorbed along with what toxins, allergens and microbes are kept out. It is directly linked to the health of the whole body. Intestinal health could be defined as optimal digestion, absorption, and assimilation of food. But this is a job that depends on many other factors. More than 100 million Americans have digestive problems. Two of the top-selling drugs in America are for digestive problems, and they run in the billions. There are more than 200 over-the-counter (OTC) remedies for digestive disorders. And these can and do create additional digestive problems.
If an individual’s digestion is not working properly, the first thing is to understand what is sending the gut out-of-balance in the first place.
Low-fiber, high-sugar, processed, nutrient-poor, high-calorie diet, causes all the wrong bacteria and yeast to grow in the gut and damages the delicate ecosystem in your intestines.
Overuse of medications that damage the gut or block normal digestive function, i.e. acid blockers (Prilosec, Nexium, etc.), anti-inflammatory medication (aspirin, Advil, and Aleve), antibiotics, steroids and hormones.
Undetected gluten intolerance, celiac disease or low-grade food allergies to foods such as dairy, eggs, or corn.
Chronic low-grade infections or gut imbalances with overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine, yeast overgrowth, parasites.
Toxins like mercury and mold toxins damage the gut.
Lack of adequate digestive enzyme function, from acid-blocking medications or zinc deficiency.
Stress can alter the gut’s nervous system, cause leaky gut, and change the normal bacteria.
Visits for intestinal disorders are among the most common trips to primary care doctors. Most, which also includes most doctors, do not recognize or know that digestive problems wreak havoc in the entire body. This leads to allergies, arthritis, autoimmune disease, rashes, acne, chronic fatigue, mood disorders, autism, dementia, cancer, and more.
Having proper gut and intestinal health is absolutely central to your health. It is connected to everything that happens in the body.
Functional medicine and health coaches are able to look at the source of the gut imbalance and run diagnostic tests to discover the exact type and number of bacteria imbalances. From here, natural supplements can be recommended such as a probiotic to recreate a healthy gut microbiome.
For those who have lactose intolerance, the LCT gene transcription is reduced, leading to a low level of lactase. To turn off LCT it involves blocking an activator or turning up a repressor. In fact, it is theorized that lactase persistence is a human evolutionary adaptation to drinking milk from domesticated animals. The mutation in the gene started to appear around the same time as the domestication of cattle.
One of the best ways to reduce your chances of developing type 2 diabetes, or slow down the progression/reverse a diagnosis is to start with reducing inflammation. This is done by starting in the kitchen. Evaluate diet first. We should be eating clean locally sourced organic foods to fuel our cells and alter our genetic expression in a positive way. By eating pizza and chips we are adding fuel to the inflammation fire and throwing constant reactors at our genes, altering their expression to be pro-inflammatory rather than anti-inflammatory.
As humans, we share genetic similarities and differences. Our genes are associated with our cellular defense and the risk we have for diseases. Additionally, part of our genetic differences include the rate in which enzymes in our bodies operate. Enzymes are important when it comes to cellular health as they determine the speed and activity of genes. Our diet heavily impacts our genetic expression and the metabolic pathways involved in all cellular functions. In order to reduce muscle pain, improve skeletal and overall health, diet needs to be considered as one of the top forms of medicine.
As humans we need ATP to sustain life. ATP is the energy our bodies use to perform cellular functions. To properly create ATP we need a combination of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins (macronutrients). To take these substances and convert them into ATP, our body uses a metabolic pathway referred to as the Citric Acid Cycle. The Citric Acid Cycle is what supplies the body with its primary energy. Without proper energy production from the Citric Acid Cycle we feel fatigued, muscle pain, and our body may suffer from inflammation. Organic acids are a result obtained from metabolic pathways such as the Citric Acid Cycle. We have the ability to assess your body’s energy production by measuring Organic Acids with diagnostic lab testing.
A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger that regulates physical processes. Neurotransmitters are responsible for movement, pain, stress, emotions, cognition, energy, cravings, and more. Neurotransmitters imbalances are not only found in the brain but they are excreted outside of the Central Nervous System as well. Neurotransmitters play a role in influencing our digestion, nutrient absorption and impact our musculoskeletal system. When neurotransmitters are off-balance, individuals experience headaches, mood swings, anxiety, fatigue, pain, and depression. Using diagnostic lab technology, we have the ability to test our patients for neurotransmitter deficiencies.
11% of the population is on some type of antidepressant. Many on antidepressants are on them for years or life. However, as a functional health care provider, we know that 95% of the body’s serotonin is housed in the gut, not the brain. So if depression is a lack of serotonin, the first place you should look is the gut! Fixing the balance within the gut and decreasing inflammation have shown positive results in regards to depression.
Food sensitivities are becoming more common as the food we eat is being produced differently. Many of us have food sensitivities that we are unaware of! These food sensitivities can have delayed symptoms, showing up after 72 hours after being ingested. Food sensitivities cause inflammation and could be the underlying cause of many other health conditions you feel. We work with Cyrex laboratories to test patients for food sensitivities and create a personalized diet plan to help you avoid these inflammatory responses.
The immune system is one of the hardest working systems in the body. It is constantly working in the background, searching the body for bacterias and any potentially harmful pathogens. The first attacker in the line of defense is secretory IGA (SIgA). SIgA is the predominant immunoglobulin that is produced in the lining of the gut. Some functions of SIgA include trapping mucus, neutralizing enzymes and other toxins, inhibiting the adherence of pathogens, having interaction with antimicrobial factors like lactoferrin, all while being tolerant of the friendly flora. Any type of infection will lower SIgA. It is important to note that other factors that reduce SIgA include stress, a poor diet containing low levels of nutrients, genetics, the integrity of your gut lining, and age.Â
Reflux of gastric contents back into the esophagus is normal in human physiology. However, when this reflux begins to present itself with symptoms, mucosal injury, or both, GERD is diagnosed. One way to reduce GERD is to “cut the C.R.A.Pâ€.
C- coffee, cigarettes, and chocolate
R- for refined carbohydrates, also known as sugars
A- acidic foods, alcohol, and allergic foods
P- pop, peppermint, and progesterone
SIBO or Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth is an issue in many individuals. With SIBO, many patients experience IBS as well. Over â…” of SIBO cases are chronic and long-term treatment is needed. For the most symptom relief, patients find a diet to be an essential factor. These four diets are great options for a place to start:
Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD)
Low FODMAP Diet (LFD)
Cedars-Sinai Low Fermentation Diet (C-SLFD)
SIBO Specific Food Guide (SSFG)
Biomarkers are one of the essential ways practitioners are able to assess the flora residing in the gastrointestinal tract. Genova breaks down lab results into a D.I.G. method, representing Digestion and Absorption, Inflammation and Immunology, and Gastrointestinal Microbiome. These are all key factors in determining, diagnosing, and treating leaky gut, intestinal permeability, and other health conditions. These are important when determining overall health status. This is a great way to get started on repairing your gut for optimal health!
The prevalence and severity of Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is evergrowing. SIBO has been linked to intestinal permeability along with being a contributing factor to many other health conditions. Those who experience SIBO report symptoms such as bloating, nausea, headaches, joint pain, fatigue and overall discomfort.Â
All treatments vary and depend on the individual compared with their specific lab results. However, the three main goals when creating a SIBO treatment protocol are generally the same.Â
Reduce the bacteriaÂ
Biotransform and support brush border healingÂ
Prevent relapseÂ
Gluten-related intolerances such as gluten sensitivity or celiac disease need to be addressed as undiagnosed celiac disease has been associated with a nearly 4-fold increase risk of death. Gluten disorders show their presence in symptoms such as weight loss, bloating, flatulence, abdominal pain, iron deficiencies, skin disorders such as rashes, has an association with type 1 diabetes and results in abnormal liver function tests.Â
For patients who are experiencing unexplained autoimmunity, unexplained neurological problems, uncomfortable GI symptoms, skin rashes, and unexplained depression, practitioners should think of gluten!
The phrases Gluten Sensitivity and Celiac Disease are often used interchangeably. However, research has shown that they should not be used as synonyms. In fact, they are significantly different.
Classic Symptoms Include:
Weight Loss
Diarrhea
Stomach Pain
Bloating
Vomiting
If you have any uncomfortable symptoms, reach out to us to get tested!
SIBO is the overgrowth of commensal organisms in the small intestine. SIBO stands for Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth. The overgrowth of bacteria leads to intestinal permeability, opening up an entirely new list of complications propagated by systemic inflammation. Some diseases associated with SIBO are acne, diabetes, celiac, and more! If you experience uncomfortable gas, bloating, abnormal bowel movements, headaches, or skin rashes SIBO could be related! Get tested to find out if SIBO is affecting you.
Can bacteria be impacting your mental health? Throughout the past 10 years, the evidence is coming to light showing that there is a link and relation to certain bacterias and aspects of mental health. Research has shown that increased levels of clostridia are linked to disorders such as autism, depression, and more. It is important to keep an eye on your digestive tract and gastrointestinal health, as uncomfortable symptoms may be an indicator that something needs to be evaluated by a health care professional.
What is the intestinal barrier and why is it important?
The intestinal barrier is our first line of defense when fighting off unwanted pathogens. The intestinal barrier needs to be functioning properly to ensure optimal GI health and immunity. Testing the intestinal barrier will allow us to see the extent of gut dysbiosis as well as food sensitivities. From here, we can begin to remove the irritants, create a personalized plan, and restore optimal gut health and function!