Except when hit by a stomach bug, we spend most of our lives not too concerned about what is going on in our intestines.
However, for many people I have spoken with lately this is catching up to them in midlife. I hear frequent complaints of chronic constipation, diarrhea, or indigestion interrupting their lives.
In this way, our gut is speaking to us daily and it’s time to listen. And it’s more than just about a belly ache. Gut health is important to overall wellness. It is the gateway through which all nutrients reach the many cells of our body.
So, what is causing this poor gut health? irritating foods stress poor sleep lack of exercise insufficient fiber bacterial imbalances obesity environmental toxins many medications
When our gut is damaged in this way, it causes a cascade of inflammatory responses in the body. These inflammatory states characterize the most common bone, joint, and metabolic diseases associated with aging.
The health of our gut is critical to decreasing the pain and of these conditions inflammation. It’s a most significant factor in pain related to diabetes, autoimmune disease, arthritis, or neuro muscular disease. In these cases persistent inflammation and a lowered immune system can be improved by healing your gut.
The result – decreased pain and improved ability to maintain an active lifestyle. Let’s get on the path to gut healing. . .
1. Remove Gut Irritating Foods
By removing irritating foods in your diet for a period of time, you allow the inflammation in your body to decrease. Foods that are most irritating include gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, sugar, and alcohol.
In a heightened states of inflammation your body is irritated by these trigger foods and may need some time off to recover.
The cells lining your intestines turnover in about 21 days and these foods can often be reintroduced.
2. Replace Depleted Nutrients
If your gut isn’t working optimally, your body is not able to absorb nutrients from food you eat (or even supplements you take). As you start to take out irritating foods, you want to replace nutrients that were depleted.
The highest rates of nutrient deficiencies come from chronic use of antibiotics and anti inflammatory medications. A diet loaded with fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats will fill in the nutrient gaps.
3. Restore the Beneficial Bugs
We have beneficial bacteria living in our intestines. They fight off the bad bacteria for a healthy immune system and improve digestion for proper nutrition and elimination.
The “good bugs” – probiotics – are found highest in plain yogurt, kefir, kombucha, and other fermented foods. To allow these beneficial bugs to thrive they must be fed by prebiotics.
This type of fiber is found in oatmeal, apples, onions, asparagus, and bananas to name a few.
4. Repair Damage
When we take out the bad stuff and put in the good stuff, we also need to repair damage already done. This comes back to diet, as well as supplementation if you can’t get enough in the foods you eat.
The most critical gut healing nutrients are Omega 3 fatty acids, zinc, and vitamins A, C, and E. Bone broth is found to be very healing as well, since it contains collagen to coat, calm, and heal the gut wall.
In conclusion . . .
Irritation and inflammation in your gut causes your body to basically start fighting itself. It sends messengers throughout your body causing inflammation in joints and tissues that ultimately result in pain.
Our bodies were made to be inflamed only during short periods following injury, not chronically every day. We were made to move daily with freedom and ease.
By improving gut health and decreasing this chronic inflammation, symptoms of bone, joint, and metabolic disease can be decreased. You can move with less pain and enjoy the active lifestyle that allows you to continue on the path to a healthy lifestyle.
