Getting to the guts of your health
Femented foods can have beneficial effects for gut health
Naturopaths have long been saying that your gut health is central to your overall health and now the stats confirm this. In fact, mainstream medicine now reports that poor gut health is associated with many chronic health conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and may contribute to disease progression because of the effects of poor digestion and gut health.
What does this really mean?
Well, a recent study of 589 adults found that those who have increased intestinal permeability (IP) or ‘leaky gut’, reported having lower quality of life. Poor quality of life includes mental health (cognitive and emotional), as well as physical wellbeing that allows a person to function in all the areas of their life (work, social, family).
Poor gut health may sound vague and I often find that patients dismiss it by advising that ‘all is well’. Unfortunately, more targeted questioning often produces positive associations and uncovers underlying gut dysfunction. If you’re unsure whether you may have ‘leaky gut’ or suboptimal gut health, here’s some common signs and symptoms:
Feeling bloated soon after eating ,or feeling like your stomach swells up
Needing to find a bathroom quickly after eating particular foods (often dairy or gluten)
Going days between bowel motions or alternating between constipation and diarrhoea
Experiencing excessive gas after eating certain foods (it often has an odour that makes people run in the other direction)
Burping or acid reflux after meals. Some people also report feeling like a lump in their throat, or a cough
Other signs that your gut may not be functioning well are not as specific and are often not uncovered unless you are consulting a health practitioner such as a Naturopath or Integrative GP. These include:
Your getting sick all the time with colds, flu or other recurrent illnesses
You have nutrient deficiencies (iron, zinc, magnesium). Maybe your iron stores are always low
You react to common foods like dairy or grains
You have lowered thyroid function
Your hormones are out of balance (painful, heavy periods, infertility, weight gain)
You experience skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, acne)
You have joint pain
You are struggling to lose weight
Interestingly, this recent study found that those people who did seek help from a healthcare practitioner responded well and reported that their gut health improved alongside their quality of life. Treatments consisted of nutritional and herbal medicines as well as lifestyle interventions including mindfulness and dietary changes. Some of these included:
Probiotics
Prebiotics including soluble/insoluble fibre
Zinc
Glutamine
Vitamin C
Vitamin A
Turmeric
Yoga
Guided meditation
Removing gluten & dairy
A really important point from the study was that those people who self-prescribed supplements did not get the long term improvements to their gut health and importantly their quality of life that those who sought professional treatment did. There may be many reasons for this, but one of them is likely the support that comes from working with a healthcare practitioner who is invested in your progress. Regular check ins keep you on track, celebrate your wins and support you on the journey.
Is it time you got to the guts of your health?
Leech B, McIntyre E, Steel A, Sibbritt D. The Subjective Well-being and Health-Related Quality of Life of Australian Adults with Increased Intestinal Permeability and Associations with Treatment Interventions. J Altern Complement Med. 2021 Dec;27(12):1136-1146. doi: 10.1089/acm.2021.0202. Epub 2021 Sep 7. PMID: 34495737; PMCID: PMC8713268.