10/20/2022
The food we eat not only feeds our fat cells, but also determines what kind of inner garden we are growing in our guts. This garden is filled with bugs that determine more about your health and your emotional and mental well-being than you ever imagined. Getting your gut bacteria healthy is one of the most important things you can do to get and stay healthy. If your bacteria are sick, so are you.
Your gut wall houses 70 percent of the cells that make up your immune system. You might not attribute digestive problems with allergies, arthritis, autoimmune diseases (irritable bowel syndrome, acne, chronic fatigue), mood disorders, dementia, and cancer. Many diseases seemingly unrelated are actually caused by gut problems.
If you want to fix your health, start with your gut. Gut health literally affects your entire body.
The foundation of good gut health begins with what you eat. Focus on fiber-rich vegetables, low-glycemic foods, healthy fats, and quality protein.
You might also consider an elimination diet to address food sensitivities. Completely remove gluten, dairy, yeast, corn, soy, and eggs for a week or two and see how your gut feels and what happens to your other symptoms.
I often follow a four-step strategy with patients to reduce inflammation and heal the gut. Many find when they employ these steps, they lose weight, feel better, and their symptoms improve:
1. Remove the bad bugs, drugs, and food allergens.
2. Replace needed enzymes, fiber, and prebiotic
3. Reinoculate your gut with good bacteria (probiotics)
4. Repair the gut lining with omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, glutamine, and other healing nutrients.