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.
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!
What is “Leaky Gut”?
Hyper permeability, more commonly known as leaky gut syndrome is a common problem where there is inflammation in the pore-lining of the gut. The inflammation causes the tight junctions to open more than usual allowing toxins to leak in and out of the GI tract. This aggravates other body systems and in turn, results in systemic body inflammation. Health conditions that have been associated with leaky gut include but are not limited to:Â
-Rheumatoid ArthritisÂ
-Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
-Brain FogÂ
-Food Allergies/ IntolerancesÂ
-Inflammatory Bowel Disease
-Irritable Bowel Disease
-Joint ProblemsÂ
-EczemaÂ
-And more
Pathogens: What are they?
Pathogens are bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms that can cause disease. The most common pathogens we see today are bacterial pathogens, parasitic pathogens, and fungal pathogens.
The first step to overcoming pathogens is to have lab testing performed. Lab testing will provide your practitioner with the necessary information to determine what pathogen is overgrowing in your gut. From here, the plan can be created to properly assess the pathogen and repair a healthy gut.
Let’s talk about stool testing! Although many individuals would prefer to do a serum test (blood draw), stool testing provides so much more information. Stool testing gives us the ability to see what bacteria in your gut are overgrown or depressed! With this information, we can create a personal treatment plan to ensure your microbiome is being fueled with the direct strands it needs to healthily replenish itself.
Two Brains? Studies now show the gut (ENS) and the brain (CNS) can function separately from each other! This gives us an all-new insight into the gut. The gut is extremely important and acts as our inner defense system and contains more than 100 million nerve cells. That’s more than our spinal cord! This new research is shining more light on how important our gut health really is and how it is connected to other health conditions, such as autoimmune. Start taking control of your gut health now!
We are seeing a significant amount of research pointing to dietary factors and autoimmune triggers. These studies show that the foods we eat are responsible for creating inflammation and an immune response throughout our system. To help reduce the amount of inflammation and dietary triggers you experience:
-Perform an elimination diet
-Eat local homegrown crops
-Eat organic
-Avoid artificial sweeteners, sugar, GMO, dairy, and gluten
Food is the ultimate medicine!
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