What It Means for Your Whole Body
Dr. Paul Deglmann
Meghan Feir Walker
We all know that the gut is where digestion does its magic. From the mouth down to the end of the digestive tract, our gut digests food, absorbs nutrients from the food we eat, and houses the microbiome in the large intestine/colon. However, the gut impacts far more than the digestive process.
Why is gut health important? In this article, we’ll break down some of the gut’s most important roles and how you can optimize your gut health when it needs a little TLC.
How gut health impacts the rest of the body
The microbiome, which is made up of over 100 trillion bacteria, makes up 70-80% of the immune system. This means that the gut has the majority of control over inflammation since inflammation is the result of an imbalanced immune response.
The gut/microbiome also manufactures many different nutrients and neurotransmitters for our body, such as:
- B-vitamins: B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, biotin (B7), folate (B9), and B12
- Vitamin K2
- Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate, propionate, and acetate
- Amino acids, such as tryptophan and arginine
- Neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, GABA, and dopamine
By producing these nutrients and neurotransmitters, it makes sense that gut health can greatly influence energy levels and brain function through the gut-brain axis, hormones, skin health, and mood. Its impact on the inflammatory response can have a major impact on all areas of our body.
What can disrupt gut balance?
Your microbiome is sensitive, and many diet and lifestyle choices can disrupt its balance of bacteria and other microbes. Some of the biggest culprits that can disrupt gut balance include:
- Eating the standard American diet (SAD): A diet full of ultra-processed food, GMO foods, seed oils, added sugar, etc.
- Not having a diet rich in enough polyphenols, phytonutrients, and fiber, which improves bacterial diversity in the gut
- Antibiotics and other medications
- Being exposed to toxins such as insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, glyphosate, mycotoxins, heavy metals, etc.
- Stress
- Poor sleep
- Lack of exercise
- Lack of microbial diversity (from diet, environment, etc.)
- And many other factors
Obvious and subtle signs your gut may be out of balance
Oftentimes, it can be obvious that you’re suffering from gut issues. The following symptoms are clear signs that your digestive system is experiencing some issues, whether it’s having a hard time breaking down and using foods properly, the microbiome is imbalanced, or a variety of other potential factors.
Obvious GI symptoms:
- Bloating/gas
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Frequent burping
- Acid reflux/GERD
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Nausea
- Food sensitivities
- Irregular bowel habits or discomfort after eating
- And more
However, while the above symptoms are easily attributed to the gut, many other symptoms can have direct ties to gut health problems that aren’t as obvious.
Subtle symptoms outside of the gut:
- Fatigue
- Brain fog
- Skin issues (eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, etc.)
- Difficulty sleeping
- Joint/muscle pain
- Anxiety/depression/mood changes
- Hormonal imbalance
- Weight gain/difficulty losing weight
- Weight loss/difficulty gaining weight
- And more
Functional strategies to support gut health
While it’s always important to work with a functional medicine practitioner who can accurately test you and come up with a personalized plan, here are some helpful approaches you can take with your diet that can support your digestive system:
- Eat whole foods that are organic and nutrient-dense
- Eat grass-fed/pasture-raised meats, organic/pasture-raised eggs
- Eat healthy oils/fats (avocado oil, coconut oil, olive oil, tallow)
- Eat foods high in fiber and polyphenols (if tolerated)
- Eat fermented foods for beneficial microbes (if tolerated)
- Eliminate the consumption of ultra-processed foods, GMO foods, added sugars, artificial sweeteners, dyes, seed oils, etc.
- Stay well hydrated by drinking filtered water
- Take time eating, chew your food thoroughly, and don’t eat on the run
Please note: Some people cannot tolerate high-fiber or fermented foods because of their particular GI symptoms and issues. Before changing your diet, consult with your functional medicine practitioner to find out what’s best for you.
For more strategies on how to balance your gut microbiome, click to read “What Naturally Gets Rid Of Bad Bacteria In The Gut” and “How To Reset Your Gut.”
Beyond food: Other lifestyle factors that matter
There’s no doubt that what happens in one part of the body impacts other areas as well. This is why we take a holistic approach toward gut health and overall body wellness.
Just as toxin exposure (such as wildfire smoke, chemicals, etc.), alcohol, unhealthy food, and other factors can put immense stress on the body’s functions, choosing to make clean lifestyle choices can have a huge impact on your overall health. Managing stress, getting restful sleep, exercising moderately every day, and many other lifestyle choices directly and positively impact your gut microbiome and digestive health and motility.
Lifestyle factors that can positively impact gut health:
- Exercise/move your body with a type of exercise or form of movement that your body tolerates well, and do it consistently
- Get daily sunshine (especially morning light and pre-sunset light)
- Drink clean/filtered water
- Breathe clean air (get outside and use a good air filtration system for your home)
- Practice good stress-management strategies
- Get good, restful sleep
Gut health is a window into your whole health
Your gut health can impact every single cell, organ, and system in your body, so optimizing your gut health can significantly improve your overall health.
While many people don’t think the root of their problems could stem from the gut because their symptoms seem unrelated, we often discover significant findings on stool tests.
Remember, the gut/microbiome makes up 70-80% of the immune system, which impacts the inflammatory response, and inflammation is at the root of every chronic disease.
It’s never too early to have certain testing done. You don’t have to wait for more significant symptoms to occur before taking your gut health seriously.
When your body is given the right environment, it has the opportunity to heal, repair, and recover. Removing all the factors/triggers that are negatively impacting your body and breaking the body down (food allergies, food sensitivities, bacterial overgrowth, H. pylori, yeast/candida overgrowth, parasites, toxins, stress, etc.) and giving your body what it’s missing (nutrition, beneficial bacteria, short-chain fatty acids, support for optimal hormone levels, etc.) can help promote healing.
When to consider testing and professional guidance
If you have chronic gut health issues, have tried various diets and supplements, have had several tests done, but still don’t have answers, working with a functional medicine practitioner may be the missing link in your healing journey.
While you may have had testing done in the past to determine the cause of your gut issues, chances are your testing wasn’t digging deeply enough or looking in the right direction. Not all testing is created equal, and not all testing is directed at the right things.
A hundred people may have major issues with bloating. However, after thorough testing, we can then discover why the bloating is occurring. For some, it could be due to food sensitivities. Others have low stomach acid production. And other people may have low digestive enzyme output, poor gallbladder function, bacterial overgrowth, yeast/candida overgrowth, parasites, a combination of factors, etc. This is why a one-size-fits-one approach (not a one-size-fits-all approach) is so imperative for healing. You need to understand the root cause of the problem. Using the same protocol for everyone with bloating won’t solve the problem for many patients because of this. You need to understand what your body’s unique issues are before proceeding.
Thorough, accurate, and honed-in testing, paired with a skilled functional medicine practitioner who can translate the results, can make all the difference when you’re trying to get better. They can then create a detailed, tailored plan for you to recover.
Ready to support your gut? We can help
Whether you’re dealing with gut issues or just feeling like you’re constantly lagging, understanding what you’re facing and the root cause(s) is imperative to your healing.
By learning more about your conditions and the reasons they developed, you can take proactive steps toward enhancing your digestive health, whole-body health, and overall quality of life.
Are you ready to learn more about your gut health and how to improve your digestive health? Read more on our blog about gut health, or schedule your free 15-minute consultation with Dr. Paul to explore a personalized approach for a helpful and effective path to recovery.
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