Maybe you have heard that Gut health, or digestive health is very important to your overall health. If so, you would be right! It’s so important, that I always ask about it in my clinical practice. No matter why someone comes so see me, we talk about their digestive health.
Why would I do that? Why is digestion so important? Because, without proper digestion, all the other good things you may be trying to do are not as effective. You can pile on the supplements and herbs, but if a person isn’t absorbing them, they are wasting a lot of money! Nutrients are the building blocks of good health. Nutrient deficiencies cause a long list of issues. It is the job of our digestive system to absorb what we take in and use the nutrients in the biochemical reactions that take place to keep us healthy. Unfortunately, many people have digestive issues which impact all aspects of their health.
Sometimes it’s obvious that a person has a digestive issue: Gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, alternating between those two things, gas pains, heartburn, acid reflux etc. Doesn’t sound like much fun does it? In fact, it can have a huge impact on your life. I have seen people who have trouble working because they have to run to the bathroom so frequently with diarrhea. It can take an emotional toll on relationships. It can be a really big deal!
Frequently people dismiss digestive issues as “No big deal”… Every one gets heartburn, right? It’s normal to only have a bowel movement every couple of days. Unfortunately those things are anything but normal. Many people pop some antacids and go on their way. In my opinion, antacid medications, whether over the counter or prescription are one of the most dangerous medications a person can take. Raising the pH of the stomach acid is the way that these medications works. By raising stomach acid pH, you end up interfering with nutrient absorption. This is not a good long-term strategy, in my opinion. I like to address the root cause of the problem so that we can look at true solutions that don’t have risky side-effects.
Other times, digestive issues are not so obvious. Malabsorption occurs when someone does not properly absorb the nutrients they are taking in. Sometimes this isn’t obvious until a named disease process shows up. I use functional testing like an Organic Acids test, Micronutrient testing and stool testing all the time in my practice. It’s very common for me to find digestive issues on almost every person I test. Many times, they came to see me for another reason. However, we address digestion first so that the other recommendations will have a much higher success rate.
Digestion is also important for mental health. Neurotransmitters (or brain chemicals) are dependent on proper nutrients, like B vitamins. 90% of Serotonin production comes from a healthy gut environment. B vitamin deficiencies and compromised gut function are very common, yet most people are unaware of the connection between mental health and gut health.
Disruption of the lining of the gut is called intestinal permeability (or “leaky gut”) and occurs when we eat processed foods like wheat, sugar, etc. This allows foreign particles to leak into our blood stream and activate our immune system. The link between gut health and the immune system is very strong.
Proper elimination (aka “pooping”) is very important. Having a bowel movement every day is essential to the proper elimination of toxins. When you don’t have a bowel movement each day, toxins sit in the colon and can actually reabsorb. Many people think having a bowel movement only every few days is totally normal and healthy. It’s not a topic we tend to talk about, but it’s a big piece of the digestive picture.
So, you might be wondering what you can do to make sure you are creating a healthy digestive environment. Here are my top suggestions:
- Eat whole, unprocessed, real food. Eliminate processed wheat, sugar and grains as much as you can. Focus on high-quality organic and grass fed meats and animal products, lots of vegetables, some fruit and keep the sugar as low as possible. This helps provide the nutrients you need while avoiding foods that damage the gut.
- Use medications like antibiotics only as truly needed. Antibiotics disrupt the bacterial balance of the gut. Weight the benefits and risk associated each time you take them.
- Consider other options than antacid medications. Look for the root cause of the problem and address the underlying issue.
- Drink plenty of water to facilitate toxin removal and elimination. At least 1/2 of your body weight in oz. of water every day. Adding a bit of lemon to warm water first thing in the morning can really help with constipation.
- Consider proper supplementation, if desired. I believe that a probiotic, a digestive enzyme and a combination of herbs to support healthy digestion can be a game changer. I have created a “Gut Health Pak” that you can check out. It contains the basics of a good multi-vitamin, Vitamin D and the digestive supports I mentioned above. The paks make it super convenient to take, too!
- Get help if you need it. If you have tried the diet and lifestyle recommendations above and not had the results you wanted, it might be time to speak with a Functional Health Practitioner. Perhaps some professional help or functional testing might be in order. I am happy to speak with you if you have questions about that. You can use this link to book a short free call to discuss your situation.
I hope this article helped you to see the connection between good digestive health and good overall health. They truly are very intimately connected.
To your health,
Dr. Jeni
