How Healthy is Your Gut? A Functional Medicine Approach to Gastrointestinal Health

Is my gut healthy?

The gut microbiome is a diverse and complex ecosystem of trillions of microorganisms that live in your gastrointestinal tract. These powerful microorganisms are responsible for digestion and nutrient absorption, regulating your immune system, preventing the colonization of harmful pathogens, maintaining an intact gastrointestinal barrier, and preventing the entry of harmful pathogens directly into your bloodstream. A healthy microbiome is the key to your overall gastrointestinal, metabolic, mental and neurological health. Meaning, if your gut isn’t healthy, then you likely aren’t healthy either.

Your digestive tract can affect several different bodily systems. You will know if you need to give your gastrointestinal system more attention and care if you have any of the following symptoms: bloating, heartburn/acid reflux, food feeling stuck in your stomach, food intolerances, food sensitivities, gas, constipation, diarrhea, pain/cramping, brain fog, headaches, migraines, joint pain, anxiety/depression, insomnia, nausea, fatigue, skin issues, frequent colds, reoccurring infections, and/or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

If you are experiencing these symptoms on a regular basis, you will need a total gut restoration protocol that is individualized to you by the right professionals. People have been misled to believe that cutting out gluten from their diet and adding a probiotic will cause gut symptoms to vanish. Your gastrointestinal system is too complex for that. You did not develop GI dysfunction overnight, so you will not optimize its function that quickly either.

Gut Disruptors

An imbalance in the gastrointestinal system is influenced by many factors.

• Genetics
• Born by c-section
• Formula fed as opposed to breastmilk
• Diet- eating the same foods / lack of diversity, undereating, overeating, lack of fermented foods, lack of probiotics and/or prebiotics, low dietary fiber, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, high consumption of artificial sweeteners, sugar, processed foods, and alcohol
• Cigarette smoking
• Not getting enough sleep
• Unmanaged stress
• Medications (PPIs, NSAIDS, antibiotics)
• Poor oral hygiene
• Exposure to pesticides, herbicides
• Lack of physical activity
• Food poisoning / post-infectious IBS
• Diagnosed conditions can lead to imbalances, yet they can also occur alongside or as a result of them. (Autoimmune, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, IBD, Celiac, Candida Overgrowth, Hormone imbalance, Cancer, Opioid use, Ehlers Danlos, Thyroid disease, Depression, Anxiety, Weight gain/loss, Gastroparesis, and more)

How do I optimize my gut function?

1. Be leery of the “quick fix” products you see on social media. Social media marketing is wildly successful at influencing consumer purchasing behavior. Some of these “treatments” promoted on social media platforms can be very dangerous. Please do not make the mistake of missing out on much needed medical care for the false promises these sellers are making. On a positive note, social media has opened a much-needed dialogue about being proactive in your healthcare. However, it has become the mecca for advertising partnerships. Even credentialed practitioners are now recommending supplements, herbs, creams, and new diets without ever getting so much as a health history from their followers. It is highly unlikely that one supplement will fix everyone’s gastrointestinal imbalances. Just remember the influencer making money off your purchase does not know you or your health history. They have not completed an assessment or ordered lab work specific to your needs. It is very easy to sell the benefits of any health product but how do influencers know if this health product is something you need? The simple answer is they don’t.
2. Stop the guesswork and seek professional help. This can often involve multiple medical professionals and specialists. While this may feel overwhelming, it will provide you with more clarity and direction. Physicians can order and evaluate labs, perform diagnostic tests, and endoscopic procedures to obtain a diagnosis. Having the right diagnosis leads to better, more targeted treatment plans and outcomes. Seeking care from a medical professional is the first place to start when you are experiencing irregular symptoms.
3. Embrace personalized medicine as a strategy. After a diagnosis is achieved, it is important to understand WHY you are experiencing these symptoms. Identifying the root cause can be complex and will involve making several lifestyle changes. This requires a methodical approach. One step to take is to make an appointment with a Functional Medicine Practitioner. Functional medicine practitioners help uncover the root cause, to understand why your symptoms started and how exactly to address them using natural modalities. These practitioners are trained to identify and address the following areas of imbalance: Defense & Repair (Immune Response), Energy (Metabolism / Mitochondrial Function), Biotransformation & Elimination (Detoxification), Transport (Cardiovascular / Lymphatics), Communication (Neurohormone), Structural Integrity (Membrane and Musculoskeletal Integrity), Assimilation (Digestion / Absorption). The practitioner would work with you to devise a strategy attached to goals specific to your symptoms and conditions.

4. Receive a comprehensive targeted health protocol from a Functional Medicine Practitioner to rebalance the gut microbiome.

   Phase 1: IDENTIFY microbes (bacteria, yeast, fungi, parasites) that are disturbing normal microbial flora or contributing to symptoms. Identify indicators of digestion, absorption, inflammation, and immune and barrier function. Identify food sensitivities, food intolerances, or any offending foods that may be causing inflammation. This phase typically involves a variety of functional medicine lab work (stool tests, blood work, saliva tests, urine tests, etc.). Order and analyze the results to formulate your personalized gut health protocol.

   Phase 2: REMOVE offending organisms with antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, or antiparasitic therapies. Remove offending foods.

   Phase 3: SUPPORT the function of the digestive system with prokinetics, digestive enzymes, betaine hydrocholoride, ox bile, etc. Optimize sleep, exercise, and stress management as well.

   Phase 4: REINOCULATE with prebiotic and probiotic supplementation and foods to help re-establish the proper microbial balance. The timing of introduction and selecting the specific strains are recommended on an individual bases as they may be contraindicated; they can exacerbate gastrointestinal dysbiosis if done incorrectly.

   Phase 5: REPAIR the intestinal barrier function and optimize immune function with vitamins, minerals, herbs, immunoglobulins, diet protocols, and amino acids.

   Phase 6: PREVENT future gastrointestinal dysfunction by setting sustainable lifestyle goals.

   Phase 7: RETEST if necessary and continue to adjust protocol to optimize health.

Understanding your gut is one of the most important things you can do for your overall health. Working with a functional medicine practitioner is one way to get ahead of your gut health and begin supporting your system naturally. To schedule an appointment with one of our functional medicine experts at the Whole Health Institute, call Call913-632-3550 or request an appointment.