Functional Nutrition for Gut Inflammation

Why Gut Health Matters

Your gut microbiome is a highly intelligent ecosystem of organisms. Bacteria tend to dominate this ecosystem, but you’ve also got viruses, fungi, and protozoan, among other organisms that exist there. Your microbiome is defined as all of these organisms, including their genetic elements.

When the bi-directional connection between the brain and the gut (also called the gut-brain axis) is underdeveloped, and/or the ecosystem becomes imbalanced, we often see anxiety, depression, violent behavior, autoimmunity, ADHD, eating disorders, autism, and a lot of other conditions I work with in my clinic.

There are actually a few reasons the gut is called the second brain. First, a lot of metabolic and neurotransmitter byproducts, such as serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, are produced in the gut, which affects the brain in a very significant way. The second reason is that the enteric nervous system, which is a neurological system, lines the entire digestive tract.

The enteric nervous system is only second to the brain in terms of the number of nerve endings it has. In fact, it’s got more nerve endings than the spinal cord does making it a very, very dense neurological tissue. The gut and the gut bacteria have direct access to the entire nervous system, and the enteric nervous system is directly connected to the brain through the vagus nerve, also called the wandering nerve, because it wanders from the brain into organs in the neck, chest, and abdomen.

The vagus nerve functions in a wide variety of ways, including communication between the brain and the gut, digestive tract, respiration, and heart rate functioning, speech and taste sensation, as well as fear management (fight, flight, freeze), among other functions.

If there is dysfunction of the development of the neuronal tissue itself, meaning there is not proper signaling back and forth between the gut and the brain, the effects can be profound from behavioral disorders, to memory and response time issues, as well as challenges with appetite, mood, and sleep.

However, most of the time what goes wrong is the wrong type of microbes start inhabiting the gut at high levels, therefore impacting the brain significantly. For example, if opportunistic and pathogenic microbes are allowed to proliferate, they will produce neurotransmitters in the gut that go to the brain, which can cause you to have high anxiety, which can then lead to a panic disorder.

Symptoms of an Inflamed Gut

As a functional nutritionist, understanding the symptoms of gut inflammation is crucial for identifying and addressing underlying health issues. Gut inflammation can manifest in various ways, affecting not only digestive health but also influencing other aspects of well-being. 

Here is a list of common symptoms associated with gut inflammation:

• Digestive Issues: persistent bloating, gas, abdominal pain, and discomfort.
• Irregular Bowel Movements: changes in bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation.
• Food Sensitivities: increased sensitivity or intolerance to certain foods.
• Reflux and Heartburn: frequent acid reflux or heartburn.
• Fatigue: chronic fatigue and a general lack of energy.
• Skin Conditions: conditions such as acne, eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis.
• Joint Pain: inflammation in the gut can contribute to joint pain and stiffness.
• Mood Changes: anxiety, depression, or mood swings are often associated with gut inflammation.
• Weight Fluctuations: unexplained weight loss or difficulty maintaining a healthy weight.
• Nutrient Deficiencies: malabsorption of nutrients leading to deficiencies, such as iron or vitamin B12.
• Autoimmune Conditions: inflammation in the gut is linked to autoimmune disorders affecting various systems in the body.

Recognizing these symptoms allows for a comprehensive approach to gut health, emphasizing the importance of personalized nutrition strategies and lifestyle modifications to alleviate inflammation and restore overall well-being. As a functional nutritionist, my goal is to guide individuals towards optimal gut health and address the root causes of inflammation for sustained vitality.

Causes of Gut Inflammation

Identifying the factors contributing to inflammation allows for targeted interventions to restore balance, alleviate symptoms, and promote optimal gut function. 

Here is a list of common causes associated with gut inflammation:

• Poor Dietary Choices:
  High intake of processed foods, sugars, and artificial additives.

• Food Sensitivities:
  Reactions to specific foods triggering an inflammatory response.

• Imbalance in Gut Microbiota:
  Disruption in the balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria.

• Chronic Stress:
  Prolonged stress can impact gut health and contribute to inflammation.

• Infections:
  Bacterial, fungal, viral, or parasitic infections can trigger inflammation in the gut lining.

• Medication Use:
  Many medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), birth control, antidepressants, and antibiotics often irritate the gut.

• Environmental Toxins:
  Exposure to pollutants and toxins can contribute to inflammation.

• Lack of Physical Activity:
  Sedentary lifestyle may impact gut motility and contribute to inflammation.

• Inadequate Sleep:
  Poor sleep patterns and sleep hygiene.

Through personalized nutrition interventions, my role as a functional nutritionist is to guide individuals in making informed choices to reduce inflammation, restore gut health, and foster sustainable vitality.

Gut Health – The Cause of Your Anxiety?

In my adolescent clients, this manifests as anxiety through tantrums, hyperactivity, and extreme meltdowns over the slightest little occurrence. Often, these episodes occur after consumption of sugary processed foods loaded with gluten, dairy byproducts, and lots of chemical flavorings engineered in a lab to stimulate opioid receptors (thus creating a “high”) in the brain. These foods are triggers because they feed the “bad” microbes into producing the aforementioned byproducts that are inflammatory to the brain (and body, as we often see in autoimmune disorders such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis).

As adults, we have learned over time how to navigate the world by suppressing our anxiety. Unfortunately, this causes us to socially isolate, binge on food and alcohol, and live in fear, afraid to reach out for help. I spent most of my life this way so I have an intimate understanding.

I am often asked “how did I get a leaky gut?” or “why do I have SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) or yeast overgrowth?” The answer is simple, yet layered: genetics is one piece (including biochemical imbalances from mom and dad), epigenetics (how your genes interact with your environment) yet another. When you layer in stress from work and relationships, medications and often heavy antibiotics in childhood on top of a standard American diet (or very restrictive dieting), a shift in the microbial terrain occurs, creating permeability issues to the gut barrier.

You have a magnificent intelligence that resides in your gut. Gut reconditioning, nutrient, and dietary therapy, as well as lifestyle modifications, are powerful in their ability to heal the gut, creating health and happiness in your life.

Can Functional Nutrition Heal Your Gut?

Functional nutrition plays a pivotal role in healing your inflamed gut, and it’s how I help all of my patients restore their gut health. By tailoring a personalized approach that considers your unique dietary habits, lifestyle, and specific health challenges, functional nutrition aims to address the root causes of gut inflammation. 

I focus on incorporating anti-inflammatory foods, identifying and eliminating potential trigger foods, and restoring the balance of gut microbiota through targeted nutritional interventions. Moreover, lifestyle modifications, stress management techniques, and supportive supplements can complement dietary strategies to create a comprehensive healing plan. 

If you’re seeking a holistic and sustainable path to alleviate gut inflammation, I encourage you to take the first step toward optimal digestive health by booking a free consultation call. Together, we can explore how functional nutrition can guide you on the journey to healing and well-being.