Over 70 million Americans experience gastrointestinal distress including: bloating, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn and acid reflux, abdominal pain, gas, SIBO, IBS, and IBD. And of those suffering, nearly 2 out of every 3 are women. If you experience any of these symptoms on a regular basis, you’re not alone.
While digestive problems are very common, they certainly aren’t normal and shouldn’t be brushed under the rug like they are in conventional medicine. How many times have you gone to your primary care doctor or even a GI specialist and heard: “Your labs are normal,” “you’re just stressed,” “eat more fiber/take Miralax,” or my favorite “it’s all in your head.” Infuriating, right?!
The more we learn about gut health and our microbiome, the more central it becomes to optimal health and longevity. And the more crucial it becomes to uncover the root of your digestive issues so you can stop playing whack-a-mole with your symptoms (aka trying every random supplement and elimination diet you find on the internet).
A diverse and robust microbiome is crucial for proper functioning of almost every system in our body including:
- Eliminating excess hormones and chemicals
- Supporting a strong immune system
- Balancing blood sugar and increasing insulin sensitivity
- Supporting weight loss and optimal weight maintenance
- Improving mood and decreasing anxiety
- Decreasing inflammation
- Protecting against infections and pathogens
- And protecting against the development of autoimmunity
The Poop Talk
So what’s normal and optimal when it comes to digestion? It’s time for The Poop Talk.
Poop is a VERY important indicator of our gut health and therefore, overall health. Some are even calling it the 6th Vital Sign which is why I ask ALL my clients about it in our first session. Our other vital signs include: heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, body temperature, and menstrual cycle.
Ready to get TMI with me? Let’s go!
Why My Husband Calls Me the Poop Queen
Because poop is important! Yes, it’s gross and we’re taught to keep it behind closed doors and never think about what lands in the toilet before we flush, but I’m here to change that!
1) Our poop is a daily report card of our digestive health, providing valuable information into the balance and diversity of your gut microbiome.
2) It’s a snapshot into how well your body is digesting and absorbing your food (we are what we absorb, remember?).
3) And most importantly, poop is how our body takes out the trash (literally).
How Much Should I Be Pooping?
Ideally, you should be having 1-3 satisfying, well-formed, and complete bowel movements every day. This not only feels good, but it keeps all that trash from building up. Ideally you’re going to the bathroom within an hour of waking up, before you’ve even had your coffee. This indicates a synced circadian rhythm and a healthy digestion.
What Should My Poop Look Like?
Yep, this is the part where I ask you to look in the toilet before you flush 💩 Take a look at the chart below and compare it to what you see in the toilet tomorrow. Ideally, it looks like type 3, or 4. Type 1 and 2 indicate constipation and types 5, 6 and 7 indicate diarrhea.
What can go Wrong with Digestion
Unfortunately as 70 million Americans are experiencing, a lot can go wrong with digestion and cause symptoms like heartburn and acid reflux, abdominal pain, gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, SIBO, IBS, and even IBD.
So what are some of the root causes of your symptoms?
- Food poisoning or travelers diarrhea
- Bacterial pathogens like E. Coli, C. Diff, or giardia
- H. Pylori infection
- SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth)
- Dysbiosis or an imbalance of good to bad bacteria
- Yeast/candida
- Parasite/worms
- Decreased digestive capacity due to low stomach acid, liver and bile issues, digestive enzyme insufficiency
- Decreased gut motility
- Food sensitivities
- Increased gut permeability (aka “leaky gut”)
Where to Start
So what can you do if your digestion needs a little TLC? The first place to start is your mouth. Yep, even if your symptoms may be further down south, we have to look to the top FIRST. That’s because digestion is a top down process and if something is going wrong at the top, it can affect the rest of the process.
That’s why I always start with the basics of good digestion. These may seem boring, but you’d be amazed what an immediate difference they make in my client’s digestion. Try these for a few days and let me know how you feel:
- Sit down to meals without distractions (no TV, no phones, no computers)
- Take 3 deep breaths before eating to move your nervous system out of “fight or flight” and into “rest and digest” mode
- Chew your food, A LOT. Like 20-30 times per bite
- Eat slowly by putting your fork down between bites
- Go for a short walk after eating
I cover all of these basics and so much more in my “start here” course – THRIVE. If you feel like you could really benefit from some improvements to your daily habits and the foundations of good health, this is the perfect place to start.
But what if you feel like you’ve tried everything and have never been able to get to the root cause of your digestive problems to find relief? You’re doing all the basics, you’ve removed foods, you’ve tried every supplement, you’ve talked to your Primary Care doctor and have maybe even had a colonoscopy or endoscopy with no tangible results or recommendations.
You can’t remove any more foods, you fear your next meal, you dread social situations that involve food, you can never poop on vacation, and feel anxious about long car rides or being caught without a bathroom in sight.
There’s another way.
Get to the Root with a Customized Approach and Functional Lab Testing
We live in an amazing time where conventional medicine can save lives, treat infections, and transplant organs. But unfortunately the conventional approach often fails my clients when it comes to digestion. The majority of my clients come to me after years of digestive discomfort, having seen 3+ conventional Doctors and GI specialists, having undergone multiple invasive procedures like endoscopies, colonoscopies, or gastric emptying tests, only to be told they have IBS and there’s nothing they can do about it except manage it with Miralax or Imodium.
This is where Functional Medicine shines with dozens of tools and tricks up our sleeve that conventional medicine discredits as “woo woo,” but that have healed hundreds of my clients, finally putting their digestive woes into remission for good.
Would you rather undergo:
- 3-5 years of inconclusive doctors visits
- Invasive endoscopies, colonoscopies, gastric emptying tests
- Being dependent on countless bottles of Miralax and/or Imodium
- Being told it’s in your head and there’s nothing left to do
Or, you could:
- Take a simple single-sample at-home stool test (I use the GI Map Microbiome Stool Test)
- Get test results that outline a detailed map of your gut microbiome and digestive health markers to finally get answers about the root cause of your issues
- Receive ongoing support with a customized gut healing protocol with diet, lifestyle, and supplements
- Experience complete symptom relief after just 2-4 months
- Walk away armed with the tools and confidence to sustain your newfound digestive health for life
If you’re interested in learning more about my Functional Medicine approach to gut healing, book a FREE Wellness Assessment with me – zero pressure!