Gut health seems to be a regularly discussed topic, and with the latest research – it’s no surprise. We now know, there are significant links between gut health and auto-immune diseases such as thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes, as well as neurological disorders like ADHD, ADD, autism, depression and anxiety.
What’s more interesting to me, is Hippocrates ‘The Father of Modern Medicine’ (460 BC to 370 BC) said “All disease begins in the gut”. This isn’t new knowledge, but rather wisdom that science has finally been able to prove!
There are a number of aggravating symptoms that indicate a poorly functioning digestive system. By being aware of these symptoms early, we would be able to address the cause, and in many cases, prevent these symptoms manifesting into something more significant which potentially is harder to reverse or cure.
So, what are some of those aggravating symptoms that often get ignored?
- Excess gas
- Fatigue after eating
- Abdominal cramping
- Constant hunger
- Bowel irregularity (constipation & diarrhea)
- Muscle and joint aches
- Irritating skin conditions
Symptoms such as above, if left unaddressed can lead to:
- IBS (irritable bowl syndrome)
- Leaky gut
- Leaky skin
- Parasite infections
- Fungal overgrowth (Candida)
- Impaired immune system
That being said, these issues are then often pre-cursers to far more serious diseases I mentioned earlier.
So, what are the most common causes of digestive disorders, and what steps are needed to restore gut function for sustainable health?
Poor or dysfunctional digestion, is rarely caused by a single isolated source. The most common of causes, are an accumulation of one or more of the following lifestyle factors:
- Prolonged consumption of processed and fast foods
- Prolonged consumption of soft drinks
- Chemically-laden fruits, vegetables and animal products
- Medical drugs and antibiotics
- Excessive alcohol and/or recreational drug use
- Mental and emotional stress
Restoring digestive health, requires us to assess the health and function of those organs associated with digestion, namely the liver, gall bladder, kidneys, pancreas, stomach, small intestines and the colon (large intestines). Each of these organs have their individual jobs to perform, and rely on each other equally for the digestive system to work as a whole.
Our ‘Nourish Your Gut’ cooking class, not only explores the fundamental dietary changes needed to restore digestive health, but also looks at natural ways through foods and elixirs to repopulate good bacteria, and balance the guts micro-biome, a vital component of a healthy immune system.
Having healed myself naturally from leaky gut, I know first hand the time and commitment this takes, however with the right knowledge at hand and a willingness to change old habits, anything is possible – I’m living proof!
If you feel you’re needing some help getting your gut health back on track, then perhaps consider our next Nourish Your Gut cooking class.