Do you feel you have to excuse yourself during a meal in order to hide painful gas?
Do you feel like you have a "food baby" after you eat?
Do you feel like you cannot even indulge once without terrible indigestion later that day?
In the United States alone, it is estimated that 60% of the population (or more) is dealing with at least one symptom of digestive dysfunction — gas, bloating, heartburn, constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, candida, and the list goes on.
Living with digestive problems has become the new “normal.”
But digestive issues aren’t normal, they’ve just become common.
Don’t believe me? Just count how many TV commercials, in one hour, address at least one type of digestive issue.
Typically, digestive issues begin as minor complaints — a little indigestion here and there, the occasional tummy ache or bout of heartburn — and sooner or later, what was once a minor annoyance becomes something that can literally take over your life. This usually happens for two reasons — embarrassment or lack of knowledge.
Aside from my functional medicine and closest friends, most people find it embarrassing to talk about their bathroom habits or digestive dilemmas but frequently find themselves sprinting to the nearest bathroom, feeling weighed down by a rock in their stomach or popping antacids like candy.
And others just don’t know any better. Either digestive issues run in their family and they’ve accepted that they are doomed to have them too, or they don’t see the connection with a symptom that is far removed from the source such as acne, anxiety, depression or eczema.
In any case, they’ve simply settled for what they’re dealing with on a daily basis.
Digestive issues should not be ignored, it’s your tummy talking to you.
The digestive system plays a vital role in making sure the body receives the nutrients it needs, in supporting the immune system, and in protecting us from bad guys such as toxins.
If your digestive tract isn’t up to speed, then you’re pretty much guaranteed to run into bigger health issues down the road...or maybe you already have?
Think about it.
If you’re not digesting properly, then you’re not getting enough protein to feed your muscles, vitamins to keep your energy or mood balanced, and toxins aren’t being eliminated making for a toxic internal environment.
In this blog, I’ll help you decipher what your tummy is talking about, explain why you should be listening and how to respond.
Do you experience any of the following?
· Less than 1-2 bowel movements per day
· Adult acne, eczema, psoriasis, skin rashes or breakouts
· Anxiety, depression, mood swings or a nervous stomach
· Fatigue, cloudy thinking, trouble losing or maintaining weight
· Seasonal allergies, frequent common colds or sinus infections
· Loose stool or an unexpected urgent need to use the bathroom
If you answered yes to any of these then your tummy is trying to talk to you, and you could be suffering from digestive dysfunction.
And chances are, your doctor is unaware of the growing number of research studies demonstrating these alarming findings related to your digestive health:
- The toxicity of persistent constipation may cause common, everyday symptoms like fatigue, attention deficit, and brain fog.
- Autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis are almost always rooted in digestive dysfunction.
- Inflammation from gut dysfunction can spread throughout the body, causing inflammation in the brain, joints, sinuses, other important organs and deplete mood balancing hormones known as neurotransmitters.
Digestive dysfunction can cause a cascade of stress throughout the body.
Most doctors are either unaware of this information, lack the training to link digestive dysfunction to other health issues or don’t have enough time to get to the bottom of it. Meanwhile, people like you are paying the price in unnecessary suffering, over the counter digestive aids and medical bills.
As Dr. Nasha Winters (ND), author of The Metabolic Approach to Cancer, says “you are what you don’t poop.”
The good news is…
Digestive dysfunction can be resolved through proper nutrition, rest, exercise, stress reduction and supplementation. As a functional health coach, this is the foundation of the work I do with all of my clients because it relates to just about every single health issue.
I’ve seen clients go from one bowel movement a few times a week, to twice a day in just a few weeks, after making simple changes to their diet, lifestyle and taking supplements to support their digestive health.
And as a result, they feel lighter, more energized, clear-minded, happy, free and at home in their body!
I love helping clients heal their guts, for they notice unintended positive consequences when they do. It is truly amazing how systemic and important gut health really is.
It’s time to listen to your tummy talk, and to stop settling for a life less lived.
It’s hard to decipher what is going on just by symptoms alone. There could be food sensitivities, gut pathogens (candida, bacteria, parasites), mucosal barrier damage and low gut immune function.
Taking probiotics isn’t enough and in fact, in some situations, can make symptoms worse until underlying issues are addressed.
So what if you are having issues? Test, don’t guess!
I spent my entire life with gut issues. (I’ll share more details on that in another post)
I took some stabs in the dark with limited success and improvement… paleo diet helped, acupuncture helped, limiting gluten helped.
Yet: I still had stomach issues. I still was prone to gas and bloating. I couldn’t figure out why. And I was strict with my diet.
But no matter how “perfect” I was, I was prone to the farting or the uncomfortable sensation of holding gas inside. And it would be worse if I was nervous or excited.
It wasn’t until I tested my poop and food sensitivities that I uncovered the hidden stressors and caused all of my gut problems.
After my healing protocol, coupled with diligent lifestyle changes like slowing down, chewing more and deep breathing before meals, I was a new person! No more farting! Haha!
It was life changing for me. To be able to eat at a restaurant without hiding intense gas pains is a HUGE blessing.
And I wish that kind of comfort in your belly for you!
***
If you want to get your hands on the right lab tests and resources to understand what your tummy is talking about, to test and not guess, request a complimentary clarity call with me today!
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In Good Health,
Melanie Rogers
FDN-P, MS
