According to the National Institutes of Health, digestive diseases affect approximately
60 to 70 million Americans. Seventy percent of the immune system resides in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and gastrointestinal issues can have a major effect on other parts of the body. Digestive issues can result from a variety of factors, including poor diet, stress and food intolerances, such as to lactose or gluten. Digestive disturbances include such symptoms as bloating, indigestion, feeling full after eating, cramping, lack of appetite, constipation and loose stools.
One of the main causes for GI issues is the standard American diet—SAD, which is high in processed foods, refined carbohydrates and unhealthy fats and low in fiber and plant-based foods. In addition to eating a healthy diet, taking a probiotic supplement daily is key to maintaining gut health. Probiotics help restore the right balance of gut bacteria to promote healthy digestion. The health of a person’s GI system is determined by the amount and types of bacteria in one’s digestive tract—ideally there should be a balance of good and bad bacteria. An imbalance can lead to many problems, including gut dysbiosis. This imbalance can cause damage to the GI tract, which then allows food proteins to enter the bloodstream. This can aggravate the immune system. Food allergies and sensitivities can also hurt the GI tract, so it’s important to determine if one has any food intolerances so they can be eliminated from the diet.
When the gut is inflamed or irritated, which can occur when the body is trying to digest overly processed foods or foods that it has a sensitivity to, the body’s central nervous system is also effected. The digestive system is also linked to cognitive function—and when the digestive system is under stress it can affect certain cognitive functions, including thinking skills, memory and early Parkinson’s disease. Ninety percent of the body’s serotonin is made in the digestive tract—and when there is a lack of serotonin, which is cultivated by a certain bacteria in the gut, it affects mental health and has been linked to such diseases as irritable bowl syndrome, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and leaky gut.
So, what can you do to improve your gut? First, you can stop guessing and identify your problems by utilizing medical tests, which include specific nutritional tests. You can then begin supplementing in response to test results (i.e., if you are low in vitamin D, you would supplement with that vitamin). It’s possible to fix the damage done to your gut over time. Determining food sensitivities is also important so as to avoid these foods going forward. A healthy diet and nutrients including a probiotic are very important in restoring the gut to optimal health.
Source: Steven M. Rachlin, M.D., PC, of Rachlin Medical Center, located at 927 Willis Ave., Albertson. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 516-873-7773 or visit RachlinMedical.com.
