WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE A HEALTHY DIGESTIVE SYSTEM?
The shape of your digestive system (your gut) dictates the shape of your body, and ultimately, your overall health. All too often,
people are frustrated with slow progress, or worse - see no results because on a cellular level, their body’s are not getting essential
nutrients required for transformation.
In order for your health to improve and your body composition to change, the nutrients you consume must be used appropriately;
burning body fat and looking great are not entirely dependent on what you eat, but what you absorb. Anything less than great
digestion is hindering your efforts, regardless of the high quality foods you’re consuming. And more than likely, the lack of results and
continual progress is leaving you frustrated and ready to quit.
But don’t!
There is a reason this happens and it’s something that most people in America will sadly experience at some point of their life, simply
because of our lifestyles, which are loaded with stress, poor sleep, lack of movement and the Standard American Diet - which is full
of nutrient-depleting ingredients, chemicals and toxins.
The good news though is that we have come up with a solution to help you heal and seal your gut so it can begin to work with and for
you as it should. Of course, this goes hand in hand with healthy habits. After all, we don’t work in pieces.
One of the most common issues when it comes to suboptimal digestive function is due to a condition known as Leaky Gut Syndrome,
or “LGS.” This occurs when the lining of your digestive system is compromised and becomes “leaky,” allowing invaders to pass into
your bloodstream and wreak havoc on your body.
Think of this like a window screen. You have a screen to keep bugs and other outside irritants out. What would happen if you cut a
hole in that screen? Everything would come inside, right? Well, over time, the infestation of these invaders would create a big
problem, which is exactly what happens with leaky gut.
Increased permeability of your digestive tract allows food particles to creep in where they shouldn’t be, triggering an immune
response in order to defend your body. This results in an inflammation. While having a defense system is usually a good thing, an
overworked immune system causes chronic inflammation, making it difficult to achieve optimal health and feel your best.
Overtime, this overactive immune response to irritants and chronic inflammation in the body will undoubtedly prevent you from seeing
improvements to your health or changes, along with changes in your physical appearance, whether that be weight loss or lean
muscle gains.
WHAT CAUSES LGS?
There are many factors that come into play when it comes to the health and integrity of your
gut. Many of the triggers leading to this imbalance are things in which you may use on a daily
basis, often unaware of the long-term effects.
It’s important that you realize that when this imbalance occurs, it not only affects your gut - it
affects your entire body. Keep in mind that roughly 70% of your immune system resides in your
gut along with 95% of serotonin, the “happy” hormone. Scientists believe that leaky gut plays a
role in many chronic ailments, including neurological problems, like ADHD, autism, depression
and anxiety disorders. Allergies, cancer, immune system dysfunction (autoimmune conditions),
type 1 diabetes and asthma have also been linked to an imbalanced gut.
Green Med Info lists over 200 studies linking probiotics to more than 170 different diseases and
health problems.
It’s connected to all of your organs and even talks back and forth with your brain. In fact, it’s
often referred to as your “second brain,” and has it’s very own nervous system, called the
Enteric Nervous System, or ENS.
Your gut is literally your body’s nutrition factory, containing a team of organs that work together
to pull key components of the foods you eat and fuel your body for optimal health and wellbeing. Your gut breaks down larger molecules into smaller molecules, which your body can then
use for energy, nourishment, initiates nutrient absorption and distribution, cleanses the system of dangerous toxins and
carcinogens and then... releases them so that YOUR internal environment is clean and able to do it’s job all over again.
Everything in your body - skin, muscles, brain, reproductive organs, eyes and lungs - all of these super important organs
rely on your gut to it’s job well so that they can do theirs. That’s incredible!
As you can see, keeping your digestive system strong and efficient is not a luxury, it’s imperative if you want to live a
vibrant life!
When you think about everything you are consuming on a daily basis, whether from the food you eat, the air you breathe,
or the products you use on and in your body, it’s no wonder that our internal ecosystem becomes bombarded and
confused. WHERE SHOULD YOU START?
MOST IMPORTANTLY: REMOVE GUT IRRITANTS
Commonly, digestive inefficiencies, such as LGS make transforming your body and life nearly impossible. Maybe you
have worked hard in the gym without results. Maybe you have focused on eating a clean diet, only to see no changes to
your physique. Familiar or not – optimizing how your body utilizes the food it digests is in your best interest if you’re
serious about transforming!
Instead of…
Sugar: Try a green juice fast to eliminate cravings and slowly decrease sugar containing foods (ie: anything you ADD
sugar to and all things that contain added sugar). You’ll have to pay close attention to food labels - get curious! You’ll be
shocked at all of the common items containing sugar unnecessarily. According to the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human
Services, added sugars show up on food and drink labels under the following names: Anhydrous dextrose, brown sugar,
cane crystals, cane sugar, corn sweetener, corn syrup, corn syrup solids, crystal dextrose, evaporated cane juice, fructose
sweetener, fruit juice concentrates (apple or grape), high-fructose corn syrup, honey, liquid fructose, malt syrup, maple
syrup, molasses, pancake syrup, raw sugar, sugar, syrup and white sugar.
Dairy: Opt for unsweetened almond, hemp or coconut milk - avoiding brands that contain carrageenan, which is a huge
gut disruptor. Use ghee in place of butter, which has the milk solids removed for you. Lucky for us, these alternatives taste
great and are readily available in most places nowadays! You can always make your own almond and coconut milk too!
Stress: Schedule some downtime, a massage, journal, go for a walk, meditate, do yoga, etc. Something that allows you
to simply BE, while resetting your mind, body and spirit. Plus, doing so allows you to be much more productive!
Processed Foods (gluten especially): Look for 1-ingredient options (IE: broccoli, wild caught fish, etc.) Shop at your local
farmer’s market or only from the perimeter of your grocery store. Fresh, whole food is typically found in these areas, rather
than the middle aisles.
Caffeine: Try green tea varieties and focus on getting more sleep. Green juice is also a great option to energize you.
Gluten: Researcher Dr. Alessio Fasano, M.D., has been on the forefront of recent autoimmune and gut research. And
what Dr. Fasano says is no human can digest gluten. Absolutely no human can digest the gluten proteins in wheat. No
human, whether you get symptoms or not is just dependent on if the straw broke the camels back. When the small
intestine gets damaged, the gut becomes leaky/permeable. A leaky gut is the gateway to systemic inflammation & many
things wreak havoc on your gut lining. Go for at least 6 servings of veggies, at least .6 grams of protein/lb of your body
weight, plenty of healthy fats and 1-3 servings of fruit/day instead of the grains.
The Most Common Gut Disrupting Culprits Include:
Medications/Drugs
•Antibiotics
•NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
•Antacids
Parasites and Free Radicals
•Various microorganisms, bugs, bacteria and molds
Lifestyle
•Stress
•Smoking
•Lack of Sleep
Nutrient Deficiency
•B Vitamins, Zinc
•Vitamin A
•Amino Acids
Diet
•High sugar, flour, processed foods
•Artificial flavorings and sweeteners
•Alcohol
•Soda
•Excessive caffeine
•Gluten + Grain-based diet
ADD GUT HEALTH PROMOTING FOODS TO REPAIR AND SUPPORT YOUR
DIGESTION
New, groundbreaking studies are solidifying what Ayurvedic and ancient
medicine have been practicing for years: The root and foundation of all
health, lies in having good gut bacteria. Good bacteria, on the other hand,
help us burn fat, absorb all the nutrients that we eat, boost our happy
hormones, and prevent us from getting sick. How nice would it be to lose
some fat around your belly, feel great, and take less sick days?
Chronic bloating, inflammation, weight gain, and especially constipation, loose
stool, lactose intolerance and gluten sensitivity can ALL be traced back to poor
gut flora. Bad bacteria are the kind that promote infections, raise our
cholesterol, raise our blood-sugar, raise our cortisol, and cause depression.
These also lead to massive weight gain, creating a sort of snowball effect, and
this is how our society has reached it’s current state.
Today, bad gut bacteria are reaching SCARY levels because:
• Fermented foods have been stolen from our shelves and replaced by sugary
snacks. There is a war raging inside of our stomachs. We have good bacteria,
and we have bad bacteria. Each of these bacteria can be fed and cultivated,
and unfortunately, our American diet really only feeds the bad bacteria. If bread,
pasta, chips, cookies, soda, energy drinks and bars, sauces, dressings, or
other processed food has been a part of your diet for more than a few months,
then your digestive system is probably a breeding ground for bad bacteria.
• Raw foods are now secretly processed, destroying natural probiotics
• Over-processed grains and hidden sugars actually feed bad gut bacteria
• Pesticides and toxins in our food kill our protective, good gut bacteria
• Many foods marketed as “fermented” contain only dead bacteria and more hidden sugars and toxins
• Probiotic supplements often contain hidden fillers like “maltodextrin” and “monosodium glutamate” (aka MSG)
that fuel bad bacteria
• Some probiotics only label the bacteria “species” and you’ll never know if the strain is beneficial or harmful for
your gut flora
• Many probiotic products only contain one species of bacteria, or sometimes even only one strain, but it’s
imperative that you diversify your probiotics, to match the diversity of foods and substances in your diet
Repair your gut with:
Fermented foods: Add sauerkraut as a side dish to any meal. Include cod-liver oil/
butter oil blend daily, which is also an amazing Omega 3 supplement. Other
fermented foods to incorporate include: Kimchi, Kombucha, Natto, Miso and kefir.
Healthy oils and good fats: Cook with organic coconut oil, ghee or grass-fed
butter, drink nutrient-rich bone broth, eat avocados, nut butters, drizzle your cooked
food with olive oil and add chia seeds to your smoothies and juices!
Increase hydration: Buy a BPA-free water bottle (S’well, Klean Kanteen, Glasstic)
and keep it with you at all times (this is an easy way to keep hydration at the top of
your mind). Aim for 1⁄2 your body weight in ounces daily, more if you are active.
Digestive enzymes: There are several enzymes with specific roles, but the main
function is to break down large macronutrients (protein, fat and carbs) so your gut
can use them. Many people lack adequate digestive enzymes, which can trigger
uncomfortable symptoms such as bloating, gas, or feeling “heavy” after a meal.
Supplementing simply helps aids your body in this process. You can get these online
through Thrive Nutrition or at your local health store.
Prebiotics: Garlic, onion, jerusalem artichoke, chicory root, tincture of dandelion or
dandelion tea, tigernuts, plantains, once chilled rice (resistant starch) and/or store
bought psyllium or PGX powder help to feed the good bacteria.
Probiotics: Healthy bacteria crowd out bad microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, yeast, mold, parasites, viruses,
etc.) and are an intricate part of the immune system. Healthy bacteria also reduce inflammation and calorie
absorption. They also produce vitamins K and B12. Buytrate is released by fiber-digesting microbes which feeds
intestinal cells.