Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Pike Creek

Are you experiencing indigestion? Acid-Reflux? Bloating and Gas?

Most recently many people have come to know that the gut and its microbiome are now referred to as the third brain. The term probiotic has become common place in most households and is almost throught to be a panacea for most digestive disturbances.

Basic understanding of digestion can be helpful. To digest means to change food in the mouth, stomach and intestines by the action of gastric and intestianl jucies into a form that can be used by the body. Sounds simple, but in reality, it is not. The organs involved are the mouth, esophagus, liver, gall bladder, stomach, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus, all playing specific roles. Enzymes are required to break food down and when this doesn't happen or the acidity in the stomach isn't adequate such as in the use of proton pump inhibitors like Nexium or Prilosec, there is failure to absorb ingested minerals. when this happens toxins build up and burden the liver.

Our Stomach Is a bigger factor than you may THINK!
The brain and Immune System are completely dependent on the gut which is largely controlled by your microbiome, your intestional microbial organims. This affects your mood, libido, how you use fats and carbs, your immunity, inflammation, vitamin production, digestion, neurotransmitter production, and even how you see the world. How we feel emotionally and physically hinges on the condition of our microbiome. No other system in the body is more sensitive to changes in the gut bacteria than the CNS. This relationship is bidirectional. Some of the gut's nerve cells and microbes release neurotransmitters that speak to the brain. In the Encyclopedia of Cancer it was mentioned that although electromagnetic fileds may be deleterious to our microbiome counterpart. Even flouride ingested by the fetus in the third trimester in utero will impact the microbiome of the developing fetus creating a potential future diagnosis of autism.

The Connection
The discussion between gut health and the brain can include conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Diabetes, Psychological Disorders, exzema, allergies, arthritis, autoimmune concerns, anxiety, and depression. The functional approach would be to first gather information through case history and physical examination, neurological questionnaires, blood, urine, and stool samples, possibly breath testing, and at times brain mapping. In some cases blood work is used to test the integrity of the gut lining, gluten reactivity, cross reactions and food sensitivity. Stool samples will give us specifics about bacterial diversity, protein, carb and fat metabolism, and inflammatory biomarkers. These biomarkers will give information about infection, inflammation, digestive insufficiency and metabolic imbalance.

This is some of the information used to devise an individualized treatment plan at Crosser Natural Health in Pike Creek. Hopefully, you now understand why this specific testing lays the perfect foundation to find the cause so we can appropriately treat and rebuild the gut so you have... better health!

Happy gut = happy life!