Aching, bloating, gas, nausea, constipation, diarrhea... sound familiar? If so, you're not alone, millions of Americans suffer daily from some sort of gut related issue. The big question however is how to fix it. Many people spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars per year in search of remedies, answers, and solutions and nothing really changes. For those who suffer with this issue daily, it can become very discouraging, but there is hope!
Your gut is home to approximately 100 trillion microorganisms! The good bacteria that live in your gut are critical to a healthy body. They form an entire “microbiome” that has many important functions in your body:
breaking down your food
producing and absorbing nutrition
making neuro-chemicals like dopamine, serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) which regulate appetite, and give you feelings of peace and well being.
Imbalances in your gut bacteria contribute to high levels of depression and anxiety, and have been linked to diseases such as diabetes, obesity, inflammatory bowel diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome, autism spectrum disorder and autoimmune diseases. Also people with poor gut health are more likely to experience the toxic side effects of certain prescription medications.
Unfortunately, our modern lifestyle and eating habits directly contribute to unhealthy gut flora. If you’re not sure that you have poor gut health, the following are major contributors to the problem:
A high stress lifestyle or going through a traumatic event
Chronic infections
A single round of antibiotics or other Rx medications
Diets high in refined carbohydrates, sugar and processed foods
Consumption of dietary toxins like wheat and gluten that can cause leaky gut
Drinking alcohol
Low stomach acid
Using over the counter pain killers like Advil, Aspirin or Tylenol
Eating GMO foods that destroy the gut lining
So what's the solution? The first thing you should do is change your diet. You can take all the supplements in the world to try and heal your gut, but if you continue eating the things that are damaging the gut, you're wasting your money. You need to remove gluten, dairy, sugar, processed foods and GMO's from your diet for at least 4 weeks and then see how you feel. If you feel better, then you will know that food is definitely an issue for you, so you will need to continue on the elimination diet for at least 3 months, optimally for 6 months. If you see no change at all after 4 weeks, (which is very rare) then food is not the culprit for you and your issues are probably coming from one of the other causes. Side note- it is always best to eat healthy or you could end up with gut issues over time.
Second, we recommend being under chiropractic care. The reason is so the optimal nerve signals are able to flow properly to the organs of your GI tract. When the spine is misaligned due to injury, poor posture, prolonged sitting, or chemical or emotional stress, it puts stress and strain on the nerves, leaving them unable to send out the necessary signals to your digestive organs keeping them from working properly. As a result, ailments such as chronic acid reflux, upset stomach, improper digestion or constipation can develop. A healthy diet and chiropractic care are truly at the root of all the wellness programs we offer.
Next, you need to begin healing your gut lining and reinoculating your good gut bacteria. There are two products we recommend to accomplish this, one is GI Complete for healing the gut lining and Super Biotics II for a high quality, high potency probiotic. Not all probiotics are created equal, not by any means, so it's super important to use a high quality source that has many different strains of bacteria. Most probiotics that you will find in the stores only have 2 or maybe 3 strains at best; Super Biotics has 12 different strains and 50 billion CFUs per capsule, making it highly effective.
Finally, you need to add in a good enzyme to help properly break down your food. In addition, if you're over the age of 30 you will need to add in Betaine HCL (Hydrochloride) to aid your stomach in having enough acid to break down your food, because after the age of 30 the Hydrochloric Acid in your stomach decreases. We recommend BetaZyme which has the HCL as well as the enzymes pancreatin, pepsin and ox bile to help you break down proteins and fats. This is especially helpful for people who suffer from gallbladder issues, heart burn, or who have had their gallbladder removed.
You can find these all of these supplements in our online store and of course we sell them in our office as well. If you need more in-depth guidance and coaching for alleviating your gut issues, we offer programs that focus on cleansing, balancing and healing your gut. Give us a call and we would love to help you get back on the road to a happy, healthy gut.
*Results may vary. Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your Physician. Richeson Wellness, LLC does not dispense medical advice, prescribe, or diagnose illness. The views and nutritional advice expressed by Richeson Wellness, LLC are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medical service. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your Physician.
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