Gut Health
Would You Like To Understand Your Body Better?
Are you looking for a gut health specialist who can help you make sense of your body’s digestive problems?
Do you suffer from unexplained…
- Weight-gain despite working out and “eating right”?
- Weight-loss without dieting or exercising?
- Skin rashes, heartburn, or upset stomach?
- Bloating, gassiness, abdominal pain/distension?
- Recurring diarrhea, constipation, or nausea?
- Infrequent or excessive bowel movements?
If you are struggling with digestive issues, it can be difficult to isolate or change what is causing your distress. For instance, if you were exposed to unhealthy eating habits or lived on fast food as a child, you may have difficulty changing those old behaviors as an adult. Additionally, the stress that life often presents may be driving you to overeat, eat compulsively, or even avoid food. And then there is the possibility that the very nature of your birth may be contributing to your gut health: children who were born cesarean were never exposed to and thus never obtained the many beneficial bacteria in the vaginal canal.
There are so many factors that play into positive gut health that it naturally can be frustrating trying to piece together the puzzle on your own. Fortunately, we can help you get to the bottom of your digestive issues and provide you with practical medical support for improving your gastrointestinal health.
What Causes Digestive Issues And Why Are They So Common?
Many people who experience intestinal distress often perceive their symptoms as a sensitivity or allergic reaction to a certain food. However, there are many factors that can complicate your gut health beyond those two possibilities—some, are not so obvious.
The typical suspects include a hurried lifestyle in which the demands of work or family life force us to consume highly-processed, fatty foods that are fast and convenient. We don’t chew sufficiently, and we often rush meals or eat on-the-go. Plus, we substitute dining out for home-cooked meals, rich with essential fruits and vegetables. And because the nervous system and digestive system are intrinsically linked, stress alone has the power to completely interrupt the digestive process.
However, some contributors to poor gut health, such as dysbiosis, are biological in origin.
What is dysbiosis?
Dysbiosis is a condition that occurs when the beneficial microbial colonies (good bacteria) in your gut become impaired or outnumbered by naturally less dominant, competing bacteria. One form of dysbiosis is Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, or SIBO, in which the small intestine develops an overabundance of bacteria that overwhelms the system. In some cases, a medical issue, such as an illness or injury that requires the extended use of antibiotics, can wipe out the beneficial flora in the gut.
Leaky gut, also known as increased intestinal permeability, is another common issue that can create problems with your gut health. As the name might suggest, this condition occurs when gaps in the intestinal wall, the barrier between your food and other internal organs, begin to loosen, allowing toxins, bacteria, and undigested food particles to leak their way into the bloodstream. When this happens, you experience systematic inflammation and immuno-responses that can create a great deal of discomfort.
And although your diet may play a part in many of these situations, the human body can take as long as three days to react to what we consume. Therefore, trying to identify foods that may be causing distress can be nearly impossible. Fortunately, a medical doctor can offer definitive evaluations, bloodwork, and lab tests that will pinpoint where you are running into problems and offer you solutions that will give you relief.
A Gut Health Specialist Can Give You Answers
One of the biggest issues clients are often concerned with is the possibility that they have a food allergy. Although in extreme cases this is certainly plausible, most of the time, either a food sensitivity, a biological precursor, or an environmental factor, such as stress, is the culprit. Working with a specialist can clarify exactly what is going on in your body so that you don’t waste time and effort on an exhaustive elimination diet.
Food is a very complicated subject because people eat for so many other reasons besides survival. Therefore, we like to begin treatment by educating you about your body and exploring behaviors that may be sabotaging your gut health so you can make better choices in the future. We can then look at doing an assessment to distinguish any food sensitivities you may have from any potentially life-threatening food allergies. Once we have a concrete idea of what is causing you distress, we can come up with a list of foods and strategies for improving your gut health immediately.
Labs can test for various conditions, including…
- Celiac Disease and gluten sensitivity
- Leaky Gut
- Food allergies (IgE) and food sensitivities
- Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
- Candida overgrowth
- Intestinal inflammation
Whatever your concerns are, we take a comprehensive, scientific approach to your health that considers more than just your symptoms. With access to on-site testing, traditional Western medicine practices, as well as natural, holistic treatment strategies, we can offer a dynamic approach to healing your body and improving your overall quality of life.
We know it can be frustrating trying to figure out how your body works. But with our help, you can learn how to cure digestive issues for good. With the right direction and targeted treatment strategy, you can look forward to a less restrictive lifestyle that isn’t encumbered by gassiness, bloating, and general discomfort. In a short time, you can get your gut health back on track and enjoy eating with greater freedom.
Perhaps you have some questions or concerns about working with a gut health specialist…
I’ve already been tested, but they couldn’t find anything.
If you have seen a physician and are still having symptoms, something is definitely not working correctly. And even though not having a food allergy is great news, we can still explore aspects of your diet, lifestyle, bathroom habits, skin rashes, or sensitivities that can shed light on your situation. In doing so, we may just uncover what previous doctors, self-help books, and online medical sites have not been able to determine. There is much more to your gut health than food allergies, and we can help determine what those factors are.
What if I can’t afford your services?
My extensive experience in this field has provided me with a wealth of resources and a network of support for clients who need alternatives for lowering their out-of-pocket costs. If you are worried about your gut health and your wallet, I can recommend labs that can provide adequate care for affordable pricing. Even if you don’t have insurance, we can get you the help you need and deserve.
I’ve tried sticking to the right foods, but I keep getting off track.
Understandably, any restrictive diet can present a huge challenge. However, working with a medical doctor can eliminate much of the stress and frustration that comes from blindly navigating what you should and shouldn’t eat. Once we have your test results back, we can set up a treatment plan or diet that is tailored to your own body. And as you progress, we’ll be there to help you stay on course with positive reinforcement, regular check-ups, and any adjustments you may need to make along the way.
You Can Feel More Comfortable In Your Own Body
If you are looking for answers to your gut health issues, we can offer you clarity. Please click on the link below to schedule your appointment and begin living with greater comfort.