Healing Gut Imbalances

It was Hippocrates who said “All disease begins in the gut”. Turns out, there may be something to that. Now there is an incredible amount of research coming out around the intricacies of the gut. It is directly related to the immune system, mental health and mood, skin conditions, autoimmune diseases and more. 

I now understand the “gut-brain” axis which is the bidirectional link between the central nervous system and the enteric nervous system. Putting it simply: it’s very complex. 

Given that so much of disease stems from the gut, it’s no wonder that when I are so chronically ill. The Standard American Diet is not conducive to good gut health, and when that falls by the wayside it creates havoc. 

There is a delicate balance within the microbiome of your intestines (the bacteria, fungi and other microbes that make up the gut) that keeps our health in order. Things like diet, lifestyle, stress, medications can all alter this delicate balance leaving us with poor gut function and prone to other conditions and diseases.

Symptoms of Gut Imbalance: 

• Brain Fog
• Joint Pain
• Food Sensitivities
• Chronic Fatigue
• Diarrhea, Constipation and Stool Changes
• Foul Breath
• Excess Gas or Belching
• Bloating
• Acid reflux
• Stomach Pain
• Nausea
• Autoimmune Conditions
• Vaginal or rectal itching

Ways to Support Your Gut:

• Functional labs 
• Reduce your stress levels
• Prioritize good sleep hygiene (go to bed the same time every night and wake up the same time each morning)
• Get your diet in check
• Reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption 
• Increase water intake 
• Work with a practitioner to determine underlining food sensitivities 
• Do not over medicate
• If you need to take an antibiotic, work with a practitioner to help get you on the proper supplements probiotics to support your system 

A word of caution:

If you’ve been struggling with gut-related issues for a long time, it’s important to consider functional lab work. Diet changes and supplements are very important, but I need to get to the root of what’s going on so I can address it appropriately the first time around. With your lab results I will create custom protocol which will also include supplemental and dietary changes as needed. 

How Healing is Different with Us:

It’s not uncommon to have struggled with gut related issues for years, or even decades, without relief. I see this in our office all the time, unfortunately. Luckily, this is one of our many areas of expertise and I are able to guide you in your path to healing. 

I am skilled at interpreting functional labs to get a whole picture of what’s going on metabolically, which is why I love the Comprehensive Stool Analysis from Great Plains Laboratory when it comes to chronic or stubborn gut-related issues. It gives us a very detailed report of what exactly is going on with your gut, so I know just how to address it. Using the lab results I are able to determine the best course of action for restoring your gut function and healing. Additional support such as supplementation and lifestyle modification may be used to bring you back to balance. With so many contributing factors to gut health, the best course of action to get to the bottom of your GI concerns is to work with someone like us, skilled providers to support you in your healing.