Is the Gut the Root of All Health Problems?
By Danielle Bararuk
Clinical Director, Physiotherapist, Pelvic Health Therapist, Paediatric Physiotherapist, GrowCo Postpartum Rehab Instructor
Nov 1, 2023
Is the gut the root of all health problems?
Maybe not all of them, but science and research are uncovering more evidence every day about how closely your overall health is linked to your gut health. Today, I want to talk a little bit about why, and then I want to tell you about some - possibly surprising - ways you can improve your gut health.
Long-term inflammation is thought to be responsible for many chronic metabolic diseases that we believe begin in the gut. We’re talking about diabetes, obesity, liver disease, and even depression, in addition to a host of other problems, like indigestion and constipation, that inflammation can cause.
It’s incredibly complex and we still have a lot to learn, but we do know there are a lot of things you can do to start improving your gut health. Your risk of chronic inflammation and the associated conditions it can cause aren’t determined by one single factor. Rather, a combination of diet, hydration, and other lifestyle factors like exercise and sleep all play a role.
By working with an interdisciplinary wellness team, you can access collaborative care that leads to OPTIMAL care for your health and well-being. For example, it might surprise you to learn that seeing a pelvic floor physiotherapist can positively impact your gut health…
I’m sorry, what??
That’s right! Many women suffer from pelvic floor dysfunction and it can cause more than incontinence and prolapse. A pelvic floor that is too weak or too tight can lead to constipation, which can slow digestion and create a bacterial imbalance in your gut. A specially trained physiotherapist can address underlying pelvic floor issues to help relieve constipation symptoms and promote better bowel function.
A functional nutritionist can assess the bigger picture of your metabolism, food sensitivities, and any nutritional deficits that need to be addressed. They can also make recommendations for dietary changes you can easily implement or recommend supplements where appropriate. (For constipation, we often recommend magnesium, digestive enzymes, aloe vera juice (2-4 oz), slippery elm or marshmallow root, psyllium husk, and vitamin C.)
And finally, lifestyle medicine can help you pull together everything you learn from your care team to make sure you’re able to consistently build those dietary recommendations, home exercises, etc. into your daily routine.
One practical example is how to make sure you’re getting enough fiber. Ensuring you have a diversity of fibers in your diet is one of the BEST ways to ensure your gut is healthy and happy - because all the good varieties of bacteria in your gut feed on different types of fiber. The golden rule is 30 different sources of fiber each week.
Can you do it? (We believe in you!)
Fiber is found in plenty of places:
Fruits & Vegetables
Nuts & Seeds
Legumes
Whole Grains
When you’re shopping for groceries or fixing your plate, think about diversity and color. Use a variety of peppers (yellow, red, green, and orange) in a stir fry. Use a mix of berries (strawberry, raspberry, blackberry) instead of just blueberries in your smoothie. Mixed nuts instead of a jar of cashews... you get the idea. With a little mindfulness, you’ll hit 30 with no problem. Keep track of your fiber number so you can celebrate your achievement at the end of the week!
Hopefully, you’re starting to see the benefit of a circle of care when it comes to your all-important gut health. When you’re ready to address it, we hope you’ll come to us. There’s a lot of confusing and conflicting information out there and a care team really is your best bet for getting your body where you want it to be.
Danielle Bararuk
BScPT