Yes, this sounds similar to the old adage… what goes up – must come down. 

And of course, we know that gravity is a player in that scenario. 

But did you know gravity is also a big player in our digestive health? What we ingest into our mouths, apply to our skin, inhale and absorb through our eyes, ears, nose and throat – has to be processed, absorbed, utilized or rejected by the delicate intricacy of the digestive system. 

Sounds simple right?

Not quite… and as we ingest more processed and inorganic foods, digestion becomes harder, toxins are absorbed by the body since they cannot be broken down and then stored as fat… especially in our abdomens, thighs and buttocks. And we gain weight.

Stored Toxins

When the body is unable to pass foods through the system they overload our system. We become sluggish, lethargic, experience different forms of digestive and excretory issues.

Digestive Issues in the U.S.

How prevalent are digestive disorders in the U.S.? National Institute of Health (NIH) data shows that digestive diseases affect 60 to 70 million people.  In addition, 36.6 million Americans received a primary diagnosis of a digestive disorder during medical office visits; 7.9 million people were admitted and were given a primary diagnosis during emergency room visits and 3.8 million were given a primary diagnosis during outpatient visits. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

What is the Digestive System?

The digestive system is made up of the  or digestive tract also called the GI (gastrointestinal) tract and includes the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. The tract is a series of organs connected in a long, twisting tube including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus. Everything we ingest passes through these organs. The liver, pancreas, and gallbladder are the solid, active organs of the digestive system that breakdown the foods we ingest. Think of the digestive system as a conveyor system adding enzymes to break down food each step of the way.

Why is Digestion Important?

Our body needs nutrients from food and drink to work properly and stay healthy. Proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water are nutrients. The digestive system breaks nutrients into parts small enough for the body to absorb and use for energy, growth, cell repair, and overall health. 

Simply put, when the body does not receive the nutrients needed to perform via digestion, health problems ensue… and just like a car running out of gas, we cough, sputter and eventually shut down. Eventually a minor nuisance (acid reflux, constipation or diarrhea) becomes a chronic digestive issue with health implications.

When do Digestive Issues Become Chronic Digestive  Disorders? 

Ask yourself these questions…

“Are my digestive issues affecting my life?”

“Am I irritable, and short tempered with my spouse or children, because I feel bloated, uncomfortable, constipated or experiencing stomach pains?”

“Am I struggling to be productive at work because my digestive issues are causing stomach aches, heartburn fatigue and lethargy?” 

“Am I on an endless journey to uncover which foods are causing me problems?” 

“Is there a history of digestive issues in my family and I am making the excuse to myself that it is genetic and I just have to live with it?”

“What will happen if my digestive problems continue?”

Anyone experiencing digestive issues will tell you that all of a sudden their gut becomes the center of their universe. When the gut is miserable, the entire body is miserable, and those issues will also affect our mental and emotional health.

Have you been diagnosed with any of these disorders? 

• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) – Occurs when stomach acid frequently flows back into the tube connecting your mouth and stomach (esophagus). The backwash (acid reflux) can irritate the lining of your esophagus. Mayo Clinic 

• Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) and Gastritis – An “ulcer” is an open sore. “Peptic” means that the cause of the problem is due to acid.The two most common types  are called “gastric ulcers” (located in the stomach) and “duodenal ulcers”(located in the small intestine or bowel). A person may have both ulcers at the same time.  American College of Gastroenterology 

• Gluten Sensitivity and Celiac Disease – People with gluten intolerance or celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder affecting the digestive system. Celiac disease affects 3 million Americans. More than 50% are women.1 Gluten intolerance is less severe than celiac disease. US Department of Health and Human Services

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term used to describe disorders that involve chronic inflammation of your digestive tract.  IBD includes:

• • Ulcerative Colitis that involves inflammation and sores (ulcers) along the superficial lining of your large intestine (colon) and rectum. 
  • Crohn’s Disease – inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract.

Symptoms of both conditions are generally characterized by diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss.  Mayo Clinic 

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – A common disorder affecting the large intestine. Those with IBS experience cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation, or both. IBS is a chronic condition that needs to be managed by a healthcare practitioner. Mayo Clinic
• Constipation – Infrequent bowel movements (less than 3 per week) or difficult passage of stools that persists over a period of time. Mayo Clinic
• Hemorrhoids –  Swollen veins located around the anus or in the lower rectum. About 50 percent of adults experience the symptoms of hemorrhoids by the age of 50. Healthline

• Crohn’s Disease – Type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that may cause inflammation of the digestive tract leading to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition. Mayo Clinic

What most people do not realize is that many of these issues are manageable. Just like we add gas so our cars will run, or oil to the conveyor belt, we need to provide the body with the nutrients needed so that the digestive system becomes a lean, green working machine… functioning optimally. 

What are the Benefits of a Fully Functioning Digestive System?

• Weight Loss 
• Better mental health and clarity
• Better performance instead of feeling sluggish
• No more acid reflux… an initial sign the body’s plumbing system is backed up
• No more uncomfortable and embarrassing bowel movements
• No more having to excuse yourself from a meeting or dinner to hit the bathroom. 
• Healthy bowel movements that are effectively eliminating what the body does not need.

What Can You Do to Heal?

Eating a whole-food diet high in fiber, healthy fat and nutrients is the first step toward good digestion. Following a customized guided nutrition plan is essential for those who are not familiar with organic whole foods and is always a good place to start. 

Paramount Wellness offers Guided Nutrition Coaching empowering our clients to take back their health safely and naturally through whole food nutrition and dietary adjustments.  

Our trained professionals also suggest practices such as mindful eating, stress reduction and exercise.  Think about all of the times you have hit a fast food restaurant or throw your breakfast, lunch or dinner into the microwave at home or in the office and then continue with your busy day. Most times we do not even give our bodies time to digest… we are literally eating and running onto the next appointment or obligation in our busy daily schedule. 

Nutrition Response Testing ℠ 

Although there may be multiple causes of digestive disorders, most times, the common denominator (along with a stressed-filled lifestyle) is a nutrient deficiency. Perhaps there may not be enough hydrochloric acid (HCL) considered to be one of the most important fluids found in the human body especially needed for digestion. An HCL deficiency can cause foods to putrefy in the stomach rather than be digested. Over time, an HCL deficiency can lead to many of the problems listed above. 

Over the counter or prescription medications may offer short-term relief, but if the underlying conditions are not addressed, lack of gut health may cause other health issues. Other causes may also include lack of intestinal flora – both good and bad bacteria that live inside the digestive tract –  and are needed for digestion. Chronic constipation is indicative of this deficiency. Many people will take a probiotic to improve this situation without realizing that there are thousands of strains of gut flora and each person’s gut flora is as unique as their thumbprint. Finding the right one for yours requires testing to ensure it’s the correct one otherwise the condition may not be helped or even made worse. 

Nutrition Response Testing ℠ is a natural, safe, and precise analysis used by trained professionals at Paramount Wellness to locate stressed areas of the body, determine nutritional deficiencies associated with the presenting symptoms and providing the “whole food” supplements necessary to restore one’s health. 

With this method we are able to identify the UNDERLYING cause of the inflammation and use targeted nutritional supplementation to create a HEALING response that leads to the end of the inflammation. Traditional therapies just put the fire out while leaving a small burn to reignite when conditions become ideal again (too much exposure to a sensitive food, stress, etc.). However, with Nutrition Response Testing℠ we can identify the cause of the fire and put it out for good. 

Call to schedule an appointment today.