Gut Health Matters
Gut health plays an essential role in health and wellbeing throughout the lifespan. Our digestive system is made up of our digestive tract, plus all the additional organs that play a role in breaking down the food we eat. It helps us to absorb what we need, and to eliminate what we don’t. It is also home to the ‘good’ bacteria that aid the digestive process and support immune function.
A functioning digestive system is vital for making use of the nutrients we put into our body. Even the most nutritious of diets are not so great if the body cannot absorb them.
To address digestive problems properly, we need to pay attention to how we are eating and how we are living. For some of us, eating certain types of food, or suddenly introducing foods that we’re not used to, can cause problems with digestion. For others, eating at the wrong times, or during times of acute stress, can cause problems too.
Gut health issues commonly experienced:
- Bloating / gas
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation / diarrhoea
- Nausea
- Reflux
Digestive problems* can be immensely debilitating. Quality of life can be severely impacted due to bloating (affecting choice of clothing), diarrhoea (reducing confidence in leaving the house), and pain (impacting on ability to undertake activties of daily living).
*Please see your GP for initial assessment of any newly presenting symptoms.
How does functional medicine help support gut health?
If you experience any of the following, nutrition and lifestyle interventions (in conjunction with any necessary ongoing medical treatment) can make an important difference to your day to day health and wellbeing:
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
- Food intolerances
- Coeliac disease / gluten sensitivity
- Inflammatory bowel disease (alongside medical management)
Functional medicine for gut health
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Step 1: Understand the root cause
In addition to discussing your current symptoms and concerns, I will take a detailed medical and lifestyle history that incorporates a full analysis of your diet, exercise, stress exposure and sleep quality, as well as interpretation of any previous test results. You will also be asked to complete a three-day food diary.
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Step 2: Undertake further testing
If necessary, I may recommend further testing in order to help inform personalised nutrition recommendations. Tests considered include comprehensive stool testing (including microbiome analysis), breath testing, and food intolerance testing.
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Step 3: Create a personalised wellness plan
I will use the information we have gathered during our initial session, combined with any further results, to design a bespoke functional medicine programme for you. The aim will be to optimise your gut health plus long-term health and wellbeing going forward.
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