You’re sick and tired of bloating, constipation, and nausea. Antacids and over-the-counter medications aren’t working (they’re likely making the situation worse). You’re ready to move on from the quick fix to lasting relief.
I’m Samantha Gilbert, FNC, CHNP, CNC, and I use functional nutrition to heal your gut.
At Eat For Life, we offer personalized one-on-one nutrition plans tailored to your unique needs. Our approach centers on identifying and addressing gut imbalances that may be causing symptoms like indigestion and brain fog. By focusing on targeted gut inflammation treatment, we help you reset your diet and uncover the root cause of your symptoms, leading to improved overall well-being and a healthier, more balanced life.
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 gut, known as the gut-brain axis, is underdeveloped or disrupted, it can lead to a range of conditions such as anxiety, depression, violent behavior, autoimmunity, ADHD, eating disorders, and autism. This imbalance in the gut ecosystem, including gut inflammation, often plays a significant role in these issues. At my clinic, I focus on addressing these underlying imbalances to improve overall well-being and support effective treatment.
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, often referred to as the “second brain,” is remarkably dense, with more nerve endings than the spinal cord. This extensive network allows the gut and its bacteria to interact directly with the entire nervous system. It is intimately connected to the brain via the vagus nerve, which travels from the brain to various organs in the neck, chest, and abdomen. Given its critical role, managing gut inflammation is essential for maintaining overall neurological health.
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.
When the wrong type of microbes start inhabiting the gut at high levels, they can significantly impact the brain which is a major factor on why gut health plays a major role on mental health. Opportunistic and pathogenic microbes, if allowed to proliferate, produce neurotransmitters in the gut that travel to the brain, leading to heightened anxiety and even panic disorders. Focusing on healing the gut helps restore balance, preventing these harmful microbes from disrupting your mental health and overall well-being.
As a functional nutritionist, recognizing the symptoms of gut inflammation is essential for diagnosing and managing underlying health concerns. This condition can manifest through various signs, impacting not only digestive health but also overall well-being. Common indicators include persistent abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel movements. Additionally, systemic symptoms such as fatigue, skin issues, and mood disturbances may arise.
Addressing these symptoms through targeted nutritional strategies can significantly improve health outcomes and support optimal function.
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.
Identifying the factors contributing to digestive inflammation allows for targeted interventions that restore balance, alleviate symptoms, and promote optimal gut health.
Here is a list of common causes associated with digestive issues:
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.
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.
For a deeper understanding of how different imbalances can affect overall health, you may also want to explore our page on Undermethylation.
Functional nutrition is essential for healing gut inflammation and restoring optimal gut health. By providing a personalized approach that takes into account your unique dietary habits, lifestyle, and specific health challenges, functional nutrition targets the root causes of digestive issues. This tailored strategy not only alleviates symptoms but also promotes long-term gut health by addressing underlying factors that contribute to 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 with Eat For Life. Together, we can explore how functional nutrition can guide you on the journey to healing and well-being.
If you’re ready to start your healing journey, schedule your free one-on-one consultation to discuss your current mental and/or physical health challenges, history, and desired health goals. Take the first step on your healing journey today.
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