5 Things Your Gut is Trying to Tell You

The Importance of Maintaining a Healthy Gut

It’s surprising how much you can tell about your overall health from the condition of your gut. The state of your gut has been known to have a direct correlation between overall health and wellness and can even indicate problems in other parts of the body. Because research indicates that 70 percent of the immune system may be found in the gut, paying attention to your gut health is incredibly important because problems with the gut can be the first signs of problems elsewhere in the body. If you are experiencing gastrointestinal problems, your gut may be trying to indicate a mild or serious problem. Here are a few of the ways that gut health and overall health are connected

1. The Link Between Gut Health and Depression

The gut is sometimes referred to as “the second brain,” thanks to a multitude of studies indicating a strong link between gut health and brain health. From depression and anxiety to brain fog and fatigue, your bathroom habits and the presence of other gut-related conditions like the rapid onset of nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea can tell you quite a lot about your mental health.

How Gut Health Affects the Brain

The link between gut health and brain health indicates the state of our brains and our stomachs have a direct connection. Numerous research studies have indicated that individuals with chronic depression experience frequent bouts of constipation, diarrhea, stomach discomfort, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. This is believed to be caused by the bacteria in your gut since evidence suggests those with depression tend to have higher chances of having gut biomes that contain a large amount of “bad bacteria” or inadequate amounts of “good bacteria.” An imbalance of gut bacteria can lead to many additional side effects, including:

  • Acid Reflux
  • Delayed Digestion
  • Delayed Gastric Emptying
  • Flatulence
  • Heartburn
  • Nausea
  • Upset Stomach
  • Vomiting

2. The Link Between Anxiety and Gut Health

As with depression, there’s evidence to suggest a direct link exists between anxiety and gut health. This is again believed to be the result of an imbalance of bacteria, and it makes sense. When you don’t feel well, you can become more agitated, restless, and anxious, so if there’s a chronic or permanent problem in the stomach, the lining of the intestines, or other digestive areas, it’s easy to see how anxiety can become a chronic problem.  

3. Celiac Disease and Gastrointestinal Problems

Gastrointestinal problems are the biggest signs and symptoms of food-related autoimmune disorders like celiac disease. Celiac disease is a serious condition in which an individual’s small intestine is unable to ingest gluten, a common ingredient found naturally in wheat, barley, and rye but also as a thickening agent in salad dressings, packaged foods. In individuals with celiac disease, the immune system triggers a response to gluten, and in addition to stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, this can also lead to physical symptoms elsewhere, including fatigue, headaches, joint pain and inflammation, and even seizures. Over time, the small intestine can even sustain permanent damage from the ingestion of gluten.

4. Vitamin Deficiencies and Gut Health

If you’re experiencing gastrointestinal issues and food allergies and sensitivities have already been ruled out, it’s possible your symptoms are related to a Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D and it is anti-inflammatory and immune system regulating effects can boost your mood and your overall health. Studies have shown a vitamin D deficiency, however, may be linked to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), colon and rectal cancer, breast cancer, and other serious health concerns.

5. Hormonal Imbalances and Gut Health

The human body produces around 50 different hormones that are essential to the proper function of essential organs and processes. When too little or too much of these hormones are secreted, the result can be a decrease in vitality, focus, and overall health and wellness. One of the ways hormonal imbalances can manifest is through gastrointestinal problems. When the endocrine system (which is in charge of the organs that secrete hormones) isn’t functioning properly, this can also mean the digestive system, circulatory system, and other parts of the body can malfunction. Through a hormone test, your wellness provider can determine whether or not a hormone deficiency or imbalance can be the cause of your gut health concerns.

Ready to change your gut health for the better?

Contact us today to get your body back on track or feeling better than ever before because at New Leaf Wellness, our mission is for our patients to ‘live their best life’. Get started with a totally free consultation or call us at 888-728-7555.

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Is What You’re Eating Making You Sick?

Do you make eating a healthy diet a priority? Did you know that some of the healthy foods you eat, even ones that you eat frequently, may actually be making you feel bad, as well as harming your overall health?

Sometimes even a ‘good’ food can be ‘bad’ for a certain individual, due to their personal allergies and sensitivities. 

For optimal health, it is beneficial to determine the best foods for you to eat to help you feel, look and live your best, as well as determine the foods that you should avoid.

You may think that you don’t have any food sensitivities, but perhaps the symptoms have gone unnoticed. Your body, however, is very aware of the sensitivity and it is affecting you internally.

There are two types of allergic reactions to food. One is easier for you to identify, the other often goes unnoticed and unaddressed.

The 2 Types of Allergic Reaction

Immediate Reaction: this occurs within hours of ingesting the specific food item

Symptoms can vary including:

  • Wheezing
  • Coughing
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal Cramps
  • Throat Constriction
  • Tingling Extremities
  • Diarrhea

Because of the immediate, usually strong reaction after eating a certain food, it is usually easier to tell that you are allergic to something and what that specific item is.

Delayed Reaction: these symptoms occur up to 72 hours after food is ingested.

Because of the delayed reaction, it’s often difficult to tell which food you have sensitivity to (think of all the different things you eat in a 3 day period!)  Unidentified food sensitivities can actually contribute to many serious illnesses including Rheumatoid Arthritis, Infections and even Eczema, as well as many others.

Foods that you have a sensitivity to can cause internal inflammation in your body, which opens the door to potential future serious health conditions.

The Most Common Sensitivity Causing Foods Are:

  • Milk
  • Wheat
  • Soy
  • Eggs
  • Peanuts
  • Fish
  • Shellfish
  • Tree Nuts

Though these items are the most common foods people have sensitivities to, there are many others foods that can cause a inflammation reaction as well. This is why we test for 90 different foods in our patients with the Food Sensitivity Test.  Once the offending foods have been determined, we can customize an eating and treatment plan to address your needs.

The end result?

  • Inflammation is greatly reduced in your body, preventing many different diseases
  • Sensitivity symptoms are eliminated: everything from excess bloating to skin irritations related to your sensitivity dissipate
  • Overall health and quality of life, including energy, will greatly improve.  Your body will be functioning at it’s optimal level based on the customized fuel you are feeding it.

To learn more about our Food Sensitivity Test and more options to relieve your symptoms and understand what is causing them, give us a call at 1-888-728-7555 or contact us.We look forward to you having your best year yet!

What Now?

Follow the Dr’s recommendation on the elimination diet. Test yearly for the latest information on what is causing inflammation in your body. Be sure you are getting your follow up tests completed and you will not have chronic health problems due to inflammation caused by sensitivities of food.