The food that we eat has an impactful effect on our health. Sometimes symptoms like depression, eczema, mood swings, headaches, digestive problems, joint pain, weight…
What is gluten? Gluten is the protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Unfortunately, gluten is the stable of the American diet and hidden in many foods, like soy sauce for example. 99% of people who have a problem with eating gluten do not even know it. They associate their poor health and discomfort with other instances. However, this is becoming an epidemic as those who have a gluten intolerance or sensitivity (diagnosed or undiagnosed) have a significantly higher chance of developing heart disease. So far, there have been 55 diseases that are linked to eating gluten.
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBDs are health issues that affect the digestive tract by causing inflammation that lasts longer than an…
Osteoporosis is a disease process based on stem cell and immunological dysfunction and it is where this dysfunction collides with energy regulatory mechanisms leading to weak and brittle bones. The skeleton is a large block of calcium that the body taps into to survive. This leaves the skeleton depleted of essential nutrients if not properly maintained. One thing that is important is to work on skeletal health from a metabolic level.
There are currently 54 million adults who suffer from Arthritis. Additionally, about 9% of adults have some type of arthritis-attributed activity limitation. The CDC predicts the number of those diagnosed with arthritis will only continue to rise in the years coming. Arthritis means inflammation of the joints. With Arthro meaning joint and itis referring to inflammation, it is clear that joint inflammation is the symptom being referred to. Many conventional approaches to arthritis treatment are aimed at reducing the inflammation of the joints. These medications also come with a heavy dose of side effects including kidney failure, gastritis, and bleeding in the stomach. Looking from a functional perspective, we pinpoint what is causing the inflammation in the first place. By resolving the overall inflammation in the body and creating a holistic plan to treat and reduce what is causing the inflammation, the joint inflammation ultimately subsides.
The first Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) conference was held in 1990 and discussed what PCOS is and how they were diagnosing and treating patients. They looked at oligo-anovulation, no ovulation, and too many androgens. Now, we use the Rotterdam criteria. This criterion groups together anovulation abnormal ovulation, clinical hirsutism acne (signs of hyperandrogens), and an ultrasound to view the presence of 12 or more follicles and determines if you have two out of those three then you are diagnosed with PCOS. There are multiple pathways that PCOS develops. Ultimately, these pathways are categorized into 4 groups: LIfestyle induced PCOS, Poor Fat Digestion/Sugar Burner, Inflammatory Diet/Poor Food Choices, and Genetic Predisposition.
Depression is a natural response of the body and brain when there are biochemical imbalances occurring. These imbalances can involve toxicities, inflammation, metabolic issues, and genetic predispositions. When we are in a stressful state that lasts for too long, dysautonomia occurs and we burn out, leading to depression. Bun out is what occurs when any system is operating at too high of levels for too long. No matter what the issue is, depression or adrenal exhaustion, all chronic health issues can be related back to stress. We have the ability to test the neurotransmitters and take on depression from a holistic approach.
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.
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)
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!
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.
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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