Gut Health 101
April 23, 2024
Why is it Important?
Gut health isn’t just some trendy wellness fad. It’s the foundation for your health and well-being. In fact, roughly 80% of your immune system lives in your gut.
Your GI tract is home to roughly 100 trillion bacteria (good and bad), known as your gut microbiome. These microbes do A LOT for your body.
They help digest your food, synthesize vitamins, lower inflammation, get rid of toxins, metabolize hormones… and even make around 95% of the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin!
So when your gut gets out of whack, it can have far-reaching effects. This can lead to a ton of physical and psychological symptoms.
Signs of Gut Disfunction
Digestive issues like constipation, bloating, diarrhea, acid reflux, & gas
Skin conditions like eczema & psoriasis
Autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s, rheumatoid arthritis, or type 1 diabetes
Depression & anxiety
Unexplained weight loss/weight gain
Fatigue
Brain Fog
Sugar Cravings
Gut Irritants
Food sensitivities or intolerances
Both create inflammation in the gut, which can lead to GI symptoms. The biggest offenders are gluten, dairy, sugar, & soy. Doing an elimination diet like the Autoimmune Paleo Protocol (AIP) can help pinpoint foods that are causing issues. Food sensitivity testing is another option.
Chronic Infections
Yeast overgrowth (candida), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), or parasitic infections can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria and damage the lining of the gut. Treating these infections via herbs or medications is crucial. Often, stool testing is used to identify these “bad bugs.”
Inflammatory foods
This includes alcohol, coffee, sugar, processed foods, and food additives. Since these foods irritate the gut lining, they’re usually eliminated in Remove to allow the gut to heal.
Medications
Certain medications are bad news for the gut. NSAIDS damage the gut lining and antibiotics destroy healthy gut bacteria. For this reason, it’s advised to steer clear of them while you heal your gut.
Stress
Your gut and brain are deeply connected. Stress increases cortisol, which causes gut inflammation. So reducing stress is key to improving gut health. Stressors can also be environmental like mold or toxins in personal care or cleaning products.
Gut Deficiencies
Digestive Enzymes
If you’re running low on digestive enzymes, you can’t break down your food properly. This can lead to nutrient deficiencies. Taking a digestive enzyme supplement while you heal your gut is an easy way to make sure you absorb vital nutrients. Gas, bloating, and undigested food in your stool are all signs you may benefit from enzyme support.
Brands: Enzymedica & Pure Encapsulations & Digest Gold
Hydrochloric Acid (HCL)
Stomach acid helps you digest your food and absorb nutrients. Plus, low stomach acid can lead to bacterial overgrowth. Bloating, burping, diarrhea, and acid reflux are all signs of low stomach acid. One simple way to boost your stomach acid is to mix 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar with 8 oz of water and drink it before meals. Or you can go the easy route and take an HCl supplement.
Brands: Thorne & Designs for Health
Bile support
Bile helps your body digest fats and escorts toxins out of the liver. So when bile production is weak, you’ll have trouble digesting fats and detoxing. Herbs like dandelion, milk thistle, and turmeric all support bile production. Foods like dandelion greens, artichokes, ginger, lemons, and limes can also help.
Come by everyday for more tips and advice on your wellbeing!
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