Healing Your Gut: Simple Steps to End Digestive Issues

The process of the breakdown of your food is more or less completed in the small intestine. The key factor in the small intestinal digestive process is the pancreas. This organ produces three kinds of enzymes. Proteases convert protein into amino acids, amylases convert carbohydrates into simple sugars, and lipases break down fats into fatty acids.  Additionally, in the second phase of digestion, your gallbladder dumps bile into the first part of your small intestine (duodenum) to help further break down fat and cholesterol. 

The first stage of digestion in the stomach must be working properly.  Last week I gave you an overview of how important it is to digest well in your stomach.  If you are experiencing digestive issues in the stomach it affects the next stage of digestion in the small intestines. If you have low stomach acid or are on antacid medication you will not trigger all the enzyme activity to occur in the small intestine!

Enzyme deficiencies can result from overeating, poor diets with inadequate nutrient intake, foods high in enzyme inhibitors, and highly processed and overcooked foods. There is a natural decline in enzyme production as we age just as there is

with hydrochloric acid in the stomach.

Cooking destroys the enzymes found in foods. Most raw foods contain enzymes that contribute to the digestive process. Seeds and nuts often contain digestive inhibitors making them difficult to digest unless sprouted.

Gut Dysfunction

Incomplete digestion of food creates a double peril. Firstly, the body begins to starve due to inadequate nutrient intake. Secondly, incompletely digested food contributes to a phenomenon known as macromolecular absorption. This is a situation where incompletely digested food particles begin to enter the bloodstream. This is also called “leaky gut.” This contributes to the development of allergies and sensitivities to various foods. Immune reactivity to foods can result in a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms.

Symptoms of Leaky Gut

•     Hashimotos disease

•     Hypothyroidism

•     Constipation

•     Diarrhea

•     Irritable Bowel syndrome

•     Acne

•     Rosacea

•     Eczema

•     Psoriasis

•     Chronic fatigue

•     Depression and anxiety

•     ADHD

•     Rheumatoid Arthritis

•     Fibromyalgia

•     Joint and muscle pain

•     Migraine headaches

•     Frequent sinus infections

•     Food sensitivities

How To Heal

There are many “causes” of leaky gut but these are the most common.

•   Grains

•   Nightshade vegetables (for those sensitive)

•   Alcohol

•   Chronic stress

•   Infections

•   Antibiotics

•   Medications

•   Low stomach acid

Removing the “offending” food is crucial. For the most accurate understanding of your particle food intolerances you can work with a health practitioner who does food sensitivity testing.  But the most common food sensitivities are wheat, eggs, dairy and corn. 

You can also “test” for food sensitivities by doing a “pulse test.”  This is where you take your pulse then eat just one of the foods listed above, wait 30 minutes to one hour and take your pulse. If your pulse has increased beyond your baseline, this is an indication that your body is reacting to that food.

You can also do a “Food Challenge” where you remove the food for 30 days.  You then re-introduce the food in 2-3 meals over a 24-hour period then stop again.  Pay attention to any “symptoms” over the next 24 hours.  It could be pain and inflammation, migraines headache, constipation or diarrhea, skin breakouts, or mucous creation in the sinuses.  This indicates a “sensitivity” to that food.

If you determine you have a food sensitivity then you will want to remove that food for at least 90 days and do a gut healing program.

Gut Healing Program

At this point, we have discussed the symptoms, causes, and consequences of leaky gut syndrome. If it is not taken care of, leaky gut will eventually lead to chronic inflammation, autoimmune conditions, cognitive impairment, and all around poor health.

1. Start with an elimination diet or get food intolerance testing.  Eliminate gluten, dairy, eggs, and corn initially if not tested.

2. Start Intermittent Fasting of at least 12 hours from dinner to breaking your fast.  Increases this if possible to 16 hours daily.

3. Drink “purified water”.  Drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces daily. ie: 150lb person would drink 75 ounces of water daily.

4. Avoid all chemical beverages and artificially flavored beverages.  Stick with organic coffee, teas, and sparkling waters.

5. Eat a diet that is 70% plant based and organic if possible.  All animal protein should come from free-range and grass-fed animals. Avoid GMO soy.

6. Avoid eating anything out of a box or a bag.  Eat “real” food.

7. If eating nuts, seeds, and other grains, soak overnight before consuming.

8. Take “healing” compounds for the gut like collagen and colostrum (as directed on the label.) Do this for 30 days.

9. Add in L-glutamine either by itself or in a formulation like GI Revive by Designs for Health that includes L-glutamine and healing herbs such as Marshmallow Root and Aloe Vera.  Take 2 X daily on an empty stomach for 4 weeks.

10. Add in Digestive Enzymes with every meal.   Choose a digestive enzyme that has all three pancreatic enzymes, proteases, amylases, and lipases.  It can also contain ox bile for better fat digestion (especially if you have no gallbladder.)

11. Make sure you are taking a high quality multivitamin and mineral complex so you give your body the tools to heal!