Gut Feeling: 3 Causes of Common Digestive Problems
One of the most frustrating struggles I dealt with in my battle with chronic illness was the many issues I had with my digestive health. Abdominal pain, bloating, reflux, and irregular bowel habits were common symptoms for many years. Even now that I’m doing much better, I still tend toward digestive problems when I’m stressed or eat something I shouldn’t.
I’m certainly not alone in my struggles with digestion and gut health. IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) affects 25 to 45 million people in the US and an estimated 5-10% of the population worldwide (1). According to the CDC, in 2015 1.3% of the US population (3 million people) reported a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis) (2). Obviously digestive health is a problem, and many people struggle to find relief. So what is causing so much digestive distress? Here are some common problems that occur with the gut:
1. Dysbiosis
Dysbiosis refers to an imbalance in the gut microbiome, which includes the trillions of microorganisms (mainly bacteria) that reside in your gut. An imbalance may involve the overgrowth and proliferation of certain species of bacteria, yeast (such as candida), parasites, or too many microorganisms in the wrong part of your gut. For example, when too many bacteria or the wrong types are present in the small intestine it leads to a condition known as SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) (3). Disruptions in the balance of the gut microbiome can lead to gastrointestinal problems as well as an array of other health issues, including allergies, depression and anxiety, autoimmune conditions, obesity, and hormonal disorders (4, 5, 6, 7).
2. Increased intestinal permeability aka “leaky gut”
The lining of your gut serves as a barrier to let nutrients into your bloodstream and keep potentially harmful substances out. Think of it like a window screen. When you open your window, the screen is designed to let fresh air in and keep other things like bugs and birds out. However, if you start punching holes in the screen, things you want to keep outside may be able to get in. Similarly, if the tight junctions in your gut aren’t functioning properly, it can allow compounds into your bloodstream that shouldn’t be there. This condition is described as “leaky gut” or increased intestinal permeability (more scientific term). When this occurs, it can cause an overreaction of your immune system to the foreign substances in your bloodstream and lead to a number of issues, including autoimmune disease and food intolerances (8).
3. Low stomach acid
Most people associate symptoms like heartburn and reflux with high levels of stomach acid, but low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) may be a far more common problem. Stomach acid is very important for the proper digestion of food, so a deficiency can lead to problems like indigestion, poor absorption of nutrients, and bacterial overgrowth (9). Many people are surprised to learn that low stomach acid is actually the cause of their acid reflux symptoms, not high stomach acid. Risk factors for hypochlorhydria include aging, chronic stress, H.pylori infection, antacid medications, and eating too fast (10).
I know firsthand how frustrating chronic digestive problems can be. I’ve been in the situation where I was given a vague diagnosis like IBS without any explanation or direction for what to do about it. Thankfully, there is hope for getting better. Certain dietary changes, lifestyle adjustments, and nutritional supplements can be very helpful for healing the gut and improving digestive symptoms. Here are some ways to potentially improve gut health:
· Clean up your diet. Try an elimination diet such as Whole30 or a Low-FODMAP diet for 30 days to see if you find improvement.
· Take 1 tsp to 1 TBSP of apple cider vinegar in a small amount of water before meals. This can really help with stomach acid issues.
· Manage your stress better and get more sleep. Chronic stress can be a huge factor in digestive problems.
· Supplements such as L-glutamine, probiotics, colostrum, digestive enzymes, and collagen may improve the health of your microbiome and gut lining.
These tips can help you get started, but sometimes you may need a more personalized approach to your particular condition. If this is the case, we can help! Schedule your free discovery call or initial consultation with us today.
References
1. IBS Facts and Statistics. https://aboutibs.org/what-is-ibs/facts-about-ibs/#:~:text=IBS%20Population%20Statistics&text=IBS%20affects%20between%2025%20and,in%20the%20community%20are%20male.
2. https://www.cdc.gov/ibd/data-and-statistics/prevalence.html
3. What Causes SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) and Why It’s so Hard to Treat. https://chriskresser.com/sibo-what-causes-it-and-why-its-so-hard-to-treat/
4. Feehley, T., Stefka, A. T., Cao, S., & Nagler, C. R. (2012). Microbial regulation of allergic responses to food. Seminars in immunopathology, 34(5), 671–688. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00281-012-0337-5
5. Clapp, M., Aurora, N., Herrera, L., Bhatia, M., Wilen, E., & Wakefield, S. (2017). Gut microbiota's effect on mental health: The gut-brain axis. Clinics and practice, 7(4), 987. https://doi.org/10.4081/cp.2017.987
6. Lerner, A., Aminov, R., & Matthias, T. (2016). Dysbiosis May Trigger Autoimmune Diseases via Inappropriate Post-Translational Modification of Host Proteins. Frontiers in microbiology, 7, 84. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2016.00084
7. The Key to Thyroid and Parathyroid Health? Your Gut. https://drruscio.com/parathyroid/
8. Visser, J., Rozing, J., Sapone, A., Lammers, K., & Fasano, A. (2009). Tight junctions, intestinal permeability, and autoimmunity: celiac disease and type 1 diabetes paradigms. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1165, 195–205. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04037.x
9. Hypochlorhydria. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23392-hypochlorhydria
10. 5 Steps to Naturally Treat Low Stomach Acid. https://draxe.com/health/low-stomach-acid/