Your Plan Of Action – The Natural Approach
- Consider the root cause of your symptoms rather than just addressing the symptoms in the short term
- Use appropriate tests to find out if your symptoms are coming from an imbalance of bacteria in your gut, inflammation, candida, inability to digest and absorb your food efficiently or leaky gut
- Eat a more diverse diet with a variety of plant foods, herbs, spices, fruits and vegetables and increasing forms of fibre in the diet
- You may need a more personalised approach with your diet and using supplements to restore balance. This should always be carried out under the supervision of a nutritionist.
Best Test Options: Digestive Stool Test, Breath Test for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), Food Intolerances, Gluten Sensitivity
Your digestive system is incredibly complex. In clinic we talk about digestive symptoms in relation to many other conditions including inflammation, autoimmune conditions, thyroid conditions, osteoporosis, fertility and hormonal issues, skin health, mood and brain health to mention just a few!
Some symptoms you might experience:
- Acid reflux
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Feeling of food not going down
- Feeling full very quickly
- Feeling hungry straight after eating
- Bloating
- Pain or spasms
- Feeling of a ‘blockage’
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Irregular and changing bowel movements
- Foul flatulence
Your Digestive System Is Essential For Your Health
We talk about digestion with almost all of our patients as it is so fundamental to your health. There are three main reasons for this;
- You need a good digestive system in order to absorb nutrients out of your food. There is no point in having a great diet if your gut isn’t able to absorb nutrients properly. Nutrient deficiencies can exist even where people seem to be eating all the right foods and this can have endless knock-on effects.
- Your beneficial bacteria are fundamental to your health. Your digestive system houses much of your microbiome, the huge population of bacteria that live with you. They produce some vitamins and fatty acids that help feed your cells, they are absolutely essential to your immune system, they play a role in mental health and brain function and they help you to maintain weight amongst many other roles we likely don’t even understand yet.
- Much of your immune system surrounds your gut. Up to 80% of immune cells are found around the gut. Protecting the gut lining and preventing damage will help to keep your immune system balanced.
If you suffer from digestive problems you will know that bloating, pain, irregular bowel movements or flatulence can really bring you down. It can make you feel sluggish, fatigued and even depressed or anxious over coping with difficult or potentially embarrassing situations. If your digestion is getting in the way of enjoying your daily life, it is time to take a look at what is really going on.
Can Nutrition Help For Digestive Problems?
Nutrition can have a big impact on how your digestive system functions. Testing may show that you have a food intolerance and your diet would need to be adjusted accordingly.
There is also a growing body of research around non-coeliac gluten sensitivity and it is believed that many more people may be affected by this and it would be important to test before you start removing gluten from your diet.
Nutrients
Certain nutrients can be extremely helpful when you have a digestive problem. You may have deficiencies if you have not been absorbing your food well and these can be corrected accordingly.
Also with digestive problems, probiotics may be needed to recolonise the beneficial bacteria in your gut. You would be advised as to what to take at your consultation.
Tests For Digestive Problems
The two most common tests we use are the breath test for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) and the Digestive Stool Test which analyses the health of the large intestine.
Depending on your history, symptoms and triggers you might need a different test such as Food Intolerance or Gluten Sensitivity.
Your nutritionist will help you to identify which test is best for you. Once you understand the underlying cause, you can begin to heal the gut. This is not always a straightforward process. The digestive tract is extremely complex and everyone has a different microbiome. We will guide you along the way back to good health and good digestion.
Where to Start?
Make sure you are eating well to support your symptoms. If you would like personalised advice on what to do next then request a consultation with one of our qualified nutritionists.