Eating should be nourishing, not harming your gut

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Are heartburn, gas, bloating, constipation, irritable bowels or other digestive problems part of your day-to-day life? Have you gone to the doctor, had tests done and been told that everything looks fine, but yet you continue to suffer?

You may be so used to your digestive issues that you have normalized them. We are here to tell you that the distressful signs your gut is sending you are anything but normal. In fact, they are signaling your body to underlying health issues that are causing you pain and discomfort. If you seen doctors who run tests, write you a prescription, and send you on your way, you are failing to uncover the root causes of your digestive issues and treat them.

You are what you eat. Digestive health doesn’t stop at your gut. Properly nourishing your body is the key to overall health and wellness. We at Integrative Wellness Centers understand the intricate connection between your digestive system and the rest of your body. By using advanced biotesting, we are able to uncover the root causes of your digestive discomfort where traditional medicine comes up short.

Hidden causes of digestive struggles that doctors often miss:

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​1. Food Sensitivities

Food sensitivity is very different from a food allergy. While food allergies trigger immediate reactions, food sensitivities are more complex and can develop for various reasons:

• _{Leaky gut syndrome, where compromised intestinal walls allow partially digested food particles to enter the bloodstream}
• _{Insufficient digestive enzymes or stomach acid, leading to undigested proteins that can trigger reactions}
• _{Imbalanced gut bacteria, reducing your body's ability to properly break down certain foods}
• _{Genetic causes of sensitivities, where specific foods simply aren't compatible with your body's chemistry}

What makes food sensitivities particularly challenging to identify is their delayed reaction time - symptoms can take up to 48 hours to appear after eating trigger foods. These reactions can manifest as:

• _{Inflammation throughout the body}
• _{Sinus pain and congestion}
• _{Persistent brain fog}
• _{Unexplained fatigue}
• _{Various skin issues}

Here's what's crucial to understand: When the root causes of food sensitivities aren't properly addressed, the problem typically snowballs. What might start as sensitivity to just a few foods can gradually expand to dozens of foods. We often see patients who've eliminated more and more foods from their diet, yet continue to develop new sensitivities. Eventually, they're left with an extremely restricted diet, struggling to find anything they can eat without experiencing reactions. This isn't just frustrating - it can lead to nutritional deficiencies and even more health problems.

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Unlike food allergies, sensitivity reactions can persist for up to 6 months, making them even more frustrating to deal with. That's why a strategic elimination diet, guided by proper testing, can be crucial for identifying your specific triggers.
At Integrative Wellness Centers, we use advanced bio-marker testing to precisely identify foods causing sensitivity reactions. We then create a personalized program to not only eliminate trigger foods but also heal and nourish your body, addressing the root causes of your sensitivities. By treating the underlying issues, we can help prevent the development of new sensitivities and potentially restore tolerance to foods that were previously problematic.

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2. Hidden Infections‍

Traditional tests often fail to uncover common gut infections, leaving many people frustrated and confused about their digestive issues.

Let me explain something we see every single day in our clinic:
Many patients come to us believing they're "sensitive" to certain foods, when in reality, hidden infections are the real culprits. Here's what's actually happening:

• _{Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO): When too many bacteria grow in the wrong place (usually the small intestine), they feast on certain foods - especially carbohydrates. As these bacteria eat, they produce gas, causing bloating, pain, and digestive distress. It's not that you're sensitive to these foods; it's that you're feeding an unwanted bacterial population.}
• _{Candida (Yeast) Overgrowth: This sneaky fungal infection loves sugar and refined carbs. When you eat these foods, the yeast population explodes, creating intense sugar cravings and various digestive symptoms. Many people blame the foods, but it's actually the yeast causing the problem.}
• _{Dysbiosis: This is when your gut's bacterial balance is disrupted - too many harmful bacteria and not enough beneficial ones. Certain foods can trigger symptoms because they're feeding the wrong bacteria, leading to inflammation and digestive issues.}

Think of it like this: If you had uninvited guests in your house eating all your food and leaving a mess, the solution isn't to stop buying groceries - it's to address the unwanted guests!

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This is why simply avoiding "trigger" foods often doesn't solve the problem long-term. Those underlying infections continue to cause problems, and the list of "problem foods" keeps growing. We see this pattern every day in our clinic.

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At our clinic, we use a DNA stool analysis that is 3000 times more sensitive than traditional tests. This allows us to:

• _{Identify these hidden infections with incredible accuracy}
• _{Understand exactly which unwanted organisms are present}
• _{See how they're affecting your digestion}
• _{Determine the best approach to restore balance}

We also look at how your diet, medications, and stress levels might be contributing to these infections. This comprehensive approach helps us:

• _{Address the root cause rather than just avoiding foods}
• _{Restore proper digestive function}
• _{Help you regain the ability to enjoy a wider variety of foods}
• _{Prevent new sensitivities from developing}

Remember: When you're reacting to foods, it's often not the food's fault - it's what's happening in your gut that matters. By identifying and addressing these hidden infections, we can help you get back to enjoying food without fear of reactions.‍

3. Autoimmune Conditions‍

Autoimmune disorders occur when your body receives mixed signals and cause the body to attack its own healthy organs. Celiac, Crohn’s, irritable bowl disorder and ulcerative colitis are common autoimmune disorders that wreak havoc on the digestive system. “Leaky gut” happens when gaps develop on the lining of the digestive system, causing particles to leak into the bloodstream. We can diagnose and treat leaky gut to reverse autoimmune disorders to get your life back.‍

4. Stress‍

Stress has a direct influence on digestive health. Your gut has its own nervous system that reacts to signals from the brain. If you stress levels are off balance, they negatively impact your gut’s nervous system and lower production of stomach acid. Addressing your stress levels is imperative to digestive health. Unfortunately, traditional medicine often overlooks the intricate connection to our brain health and our digestive health.

If you are sick of being sick and not getting the treatment you deserve, Integrative Wellness Centers can help. We use functional medicine to find the root cause of your digestive imbalances and other health issues. Our specialists map out the interconnected systems of your body to develop a personalized treatment plan, then provide the support and help you need to get your life back on track. You deserve better care. Request a consultation with one of our providers today.

For a deeper understanding of the test we order for digestive issues and an explanation of the common biological causes of digestive problems go here.