The Top 5 Underlying Root Causes Of Gut Based Issues
Good gut health has been linked to the health of just about every other organ in the body, including the heart, immune system, skin and brain. 70% of the body’s immune cells lay along the digestive tract and If your digestive system is not working at an optional rate, than it means your immune system is not functioning as well as it should. You are most likely not absorbing as many nutrients, vitamins and minerals, and your body is not able to make as many neurotransmitters like serotonin that allows you to feel more happy, emotionally stable and calmer.
COMMON SYMPTOMS THAT CAN BE RELATED TO YOUR DIGESTIVE HEALTH:
Loose stool or constipation
Allergies
Asthma
UTI’s
Acne (cystic on back or forehead)
Anemia
Insomnia
Rectal itching
Autism/neurological issues in children
Strong sugar cravings
Gas
Bloating
Itchy ears
Burping
Acid reflux
Skin conditions like rashes, hives, eczema, psoriasis
Brain fog
Chronic fatigue
Mood swings/irritability
Weight gain or weight loss
However, there is good news. When trying to rebalance the gut, there are not 500 things to look for. There are 5 main root causes we are looking at typically. It’s important to note you can have more than one of these at the same time.
1. Parasites
It’s believed that 1 in 4 people have a parasite and 70% of parasites are not visible with the naked eye. Organisms (not always bad) are characterized by living off their host. A parasite attaches to its host internally or externally in order to survive and It gets it nutrients and it’s food from you.
COMMON SYMPTOMS OF PARASITES
Bloating and reflux, Auto-immune issues, loose stool or constipation, skin rashes, autism (neurological issues in kids) allergies, acne (cystic on back and forehead), Malnutrition, imbalanced immunity and inflammation, weight gain or weight loss, hot flashes especially at night, insomnia, anemia, itchy anus (which can also be yeast or fungal based.)
CAUSES OF PARASITE INFECTIONS:
You do not have to live in a underdeveloped country to have a parasite - Contaminated water or food like undercooked meats or raw vegetables, fecal contact, blood to blood contact, raw fish (sushi), undercooked meats and eating insects.
HOW TO TEST FOR PARASITES:
Stool culture test is the best. Ideally a 3 day sample test.
ANTI-PARASITIC FOODS AND HERBS: Garlic, onion, pumpkin seeds, papaya seeds, coconut oil, oregano, black walnut hull, olive leaf, sweet wormwood, berberine.
2. H. Pylori (Heliebacter Pylori)
H. Pylori is a stomach bacteria that affects 60% of the adult population. The bacteria itself is spiral shaped and can grab on to the stomach based lining and in small amounts it is ok, but it’s a quiet bacteria that can build up over time. 90% of people with ulcers have an H. Pylori infection.
SYMPTOMS OF H PYLORI:
Gastritis, nausea, waking up nauseas, bad breath, heart burn, acid reflux, lack of appetite, some people can’t keep weight on, burping, anemia, bloating higher in the stomach area, stomach pain and peptic ulcers.
CAUSES OF H PYLORI INFECTIONS:
H. Pylori is contagious and can be transferred by poor hand washing/fecal contact, saliva, being outside and working in soil and around animals, working in childcare or contaminated food and water.
HOW TO TEST: You can do blood and breath tests to test for H. Pylori, but but stool culture test is best.
ANTI H. PYLORI FOODS: Ginger, turmeric, oregano, basil, berberine, raw honey, cabbage juice for ulcers.
3.) Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth - Dysbiosis of the stomach. Often called SIBO.
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is when either beneficial bacteria or pathogenic bacteria can be over grown in the small intestine, which is about 21 feet long and is typically more sterile than colon.
SYMPTOMS OF BACTERIAL OVERGROWTH:
Stomach pain after eating, bloating around the belly button area, joint pain, constipation, loose stool, indigestion, burping or gas, feeling overly full after meals, auto immune, rosacea and skin disorders like rashes and hives and eczema, mood imbalances including depression, irritable bowel syndrome, neurological issues, increased autism in children.
CAUSES OF SMALL INTESTINAL BACTERIAL OVERGROWTH:
Antibiotic use (even one round of antibiotics can cause small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), alcohol use over time, birth control, toxins from the environment like chlorine or fluoride, processed foods, poor liver function (if you do not have enough stomach acid and enough bile it’s not going to keep your small intestine as sterile), chronic stress, food poisoning, low stomach acid, heavy metal toxicity, thyroid function (can reduce bowel motility allowing for bacteria to over grow).
HOW TO TEST:
You can do a breath test, but it often produces many many false negatives and you have to be in the office for 3 hours. An Organic acids tests plus a stool culture test is best when looking for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.
ANTI-BACTERIAL FOODS AND HERBS: Ginger, turmeric, coconut oil, basil, cloves, peppermint, olive Leaf, rosemary, cinnamon, thyme, berberine, oregano.
4.) CANDIDA AND YEAST/FUNGAL OVERGROWTH:
There are many forms of yeast in the body, but Candida the most abundant. Candida is a fungus, which is a form of yeast. A very small amount lives in your mouth and intestines and can aid with digestion and nutrient absorption. However, If left unchecked Candida can overgrowth and can also break down the wall of your intestine, leading to leaky gut syndrome and penetrates the bloodstream which releases toxic byproducts into your body. This impairs your gut’s ability to produce serotonin and other feel good neurotransmitters.
SYMPTOMS OF YEAST OVERGROWTH:
Oral thrush, brain fog, fatigue, UTI’s, anxiety, itchy ears, yeast infections, feeling tired or worn down, yellow nails/nail fungus, sinus infections, skin rashes, allergies, strong cravings for sugary carbs, bloating and gas, constipation or loose stool, chronic fatigue, low mood/irritability and depression.
CAUSES OF YEAST OVERGROWTH:
Causes of yeast overgrowth are very similar to Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Antibiotics - kills the bacteria but not the fungus and yeast so when all of the bacteria is washed away it allows yeast to over grow and populate. Other causes include processed foods, refined flour, a weakened immune system, birth control, Type 2 diabetes, high levels of stress, alcohol. Even a diet high in beneficial fermented foods such as Kombucha, sauerkraut, and pickles can feed Candida and cause an overgrowth.
TESTING:
Stool culture tests are not the best way to test for candida and yeast overgrowth. You can test the blood for different yeast markers but urine and using an Organic acids test is the most efficient way to test for yeast overgrowth.
HERBS FOR CANDIDA OVERGROWTH: Ginger, turmeric, coconut oil, basil, cloves, olive Leaf, rosemary, cinnamon, thyme, berberine, oregano.
5. CHRONIC STRESS
Chronic stress slows bowel motility allowing for over growth to occur in the small intestines. Essentially, you can actually give yourself small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Chronic stress can leave the ileocecal valve open. The ileocecal valve is a sphincter muscle meaning it can contract and close a bodily passage and is located at the last portion of the small intestine and the beginning of the large intestine. Essentially this passage is supposed to be a one way street, but when under chronic stress the ileocecal valve can stay open and the bacteria from the large intestine actually seeps up into your small intestine which effectively means you just gave yourself SIBO. People who experience reoccurring gut issues like small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is often due to stress and it is imperative to calm the central nervous system.
WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU SUSPECT YOU MAY HAVE ONE OR MORE OF THESE UNDERLYING ROOT CAUSES TO GUT BASED ISSUES?
Test and don’t guess. Work with a natural health practitioner who can provide functional medicine lab testing and good protocols in order to address the root causes to your symptoms and rebalance the body properly. It is very possible to rebalance the gut microbiome and create more harmony and balance in the body, allowing for a healthy gut.