WHY YOUR GUT HEALTH MAY BE MORE OF AN ISSUE THAN YOU THINK…

Gut Health... I know, you hear about it all the time these days! But did you know it’s actually a way bigger deal than you think?

I can’t even tell you many awesome ladies I’ve met, who’ve come to see me with a laundry list of health issues and complaints, that all seem totally random and unrelated! And when we find out that a lot of the problems are actually coming from issues with their gut health and systemic inflammation, they’re shocked, and also a little pissed someone hadn’t told them them sooner!

And the thing is, if you aren’t experiencing “embarrassing” digestive symptoms, it’s really easy to think this has nothing to do with your life. But if you’re continuing to experience the same health issues over and over and are seeing multiple physicians and physical therapists, but still not experiencing the success and relief you need? It’s time to start looking within to see if your good ole’ gut is the culprit instead...

You see, our gut is the driver for so many processes and functions within our body, far beyond just digestion; and if things are out of whack in there, it’ll wreak havoc everywhere else too! I know when I finally looked at all of this a little more closely, I was completely blown away by how many symptoms I was struggling with that I NEVER would have related to my digestive tract! I always thought my gut was just the “thing that dealt with the food,” but man, was I wrong… 

So let’s dive in and take a deeper look to see if you’re struggling with any of these seemingly unrelated issues too! Are you experiencing skin rashes, acne, rosacea, eczema, anxiety, chronic stress, depression, chronic joint pain, major weight fluctuations, arthritis, unexplainable muscle aches and pains, hormonal imbalances, an autoimmune condition, thyroid dysfunction, brain fog, nausea, dizziness, chronic fatigue, food allergies or intolerances, seasonal allergies; and of course the more widely known “IBS” issues, such as bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, or heartburn? Yep, the list is pretty freaking long and not even close to being exhaustive of the symptoms you can experience when your gut health is on the fritz!

And now let’s add another element to the mix; do you have a history of taking a lot of medications, such as Advil, Aleve, Excedrin, antibiotics, birth control, antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds, or digestive upset relievers, such as Prilosec, Pepto Bismol, or Gas-X? Unfortunately, they all can cause major gut health imbalances, along with a gigantic list of other medications as well! And while your medical doctor is looking to treat the symptoms of your health problem, they may not have been educated enough on gut-health in medical school and/or don’t have sufficient time in the day to discuss how that new medication they’re prescribing may wreak havoc on your gut microbiome. Fortunately that’s where Health Coaches, Naturopaths, and Functional Medicine Doctors come in, as this is a huge part of our training! And it’s yet another reason why I’m a major advocate of my clients having a “Team” of Health & Wellness Professionals to draw upon, because everyone has their strengths, and it’s a great way for you to stay well rounded.

And once you discover there’s an issue with your gut health, it’s amazing to see the changes you can experience as you start eating differently. Whether that’s through having more energy, clearer skin, reduced aches and pains, sleeping better, or finally losing some weight that’s been holding on for dear life, it’s a game changer and can really reinvigorate you! Also, when you realize that eating a certain way makes you FEEL BETTER physically, it’s a lot easier to stick with the changes as well.  

Since there’s such an overwhelming amount of information out there, I’m really excited to be writing a series on gut health, so that you can understand more about what all this stuff means and how it relates to your life too. And although I’m still on my own gut health healing journey, I’ve learned A LOT thus far, and have resources coming out my ears that I’d LOVE to share with you! I mean, we all just want to feel good and live the best life we can, right?

So here’s your first action step: Start paying attention to what kind of seemingly unrelated symptoms you’re experiencing lately and write them down somewhere. The more self-aware you are about what’s happening in your body, the more we’ll be able to make some big changes, and get you moving in the right direction again asap.

Next, check out my Nutrition and Gut Health Coaching Program and let’s get you on the fast track back to wellness again!