Think You Don’t Have Stomach Issues? Think Again
Dr. Frank Lipman said, “If you don’t know what to treat, treat the gut.”
For years I was always the one among friends and family with the “stomach issues.” Everyone's got their "thing"—some get repeated colds, other suffer frequent migraines, and then there's me with my stomach problems. I'm the only one ordering my sauce on the side.
As I got older, I became more educated and learned something fascinating: Even people who don’t have stomach issues, have stomach issues.
That sounds confusing, so let me repeat: Even people that do not have diarrhea, gas, bloating, IBS, indigestion, constipation or food allergies, could still have many problems with their gut. They may just not be aware of it.
The digestive system has so many parts and components - from the stomach, intestines, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, to the dozens of hormones, enzymes, and millions of bacteria, not to mention adequate levels of stomach acid and motility function.
I’m sure many of you reading this are wondering if I’m talking about you. YES, I’m talking about YOU!
Yep, I hate to break it you, but if you have any health issue, there is a good chance is has something to do with your gut, and/or could be connected to your diet. Everything starts and ends with the gut.
Here’s an interesting fact: When it comes to gluten sensitivity, two-thirds of gluten-related symptoms manifest as headaches, skin problems, mental fogginess, or other symptoms. That leaves only one-third of gluten sensitivities that manifest digestively.
What this tells us is, while the symptoms may not be gut-specific (e.g., gas), the origin of the symptoms is gut-related.
Taking care of your gut may seem inconsequential if you don’t suffer with digestive ailments like I did. But considering that the gut is the gateway for all things to enter your body (the good and the bad), it’s essential to maintain the health of your digestion for the sake of your overall health and well-being.
Think of it this way: If the roof of your house was sagging, you might think it’s just a roof issue. So, you’d repair the roof. But what happens if the roof keeps sagging no matter how many times you fix it? The roof is held up by pillars, which if insecurely planted in a faulty foundation, will continue to sag until you fix the foundation. The gut is the foundation of our body.
When you think about it, this makes perfect sense. We refer to our stomachs as our “core.” It is our center, and aptly termed our “second brain.” Our digestive tract houses billions of healthy bacteria which are responsible for breaking down food, as well as building our immunity. If we are killing those good bacteria with inflammation, stress, and toxic foods, we are compromising our overall health.
Our digestive tract has more nerves than our brain (this is why anxiety and depression are tied with stomach problems). It is in our mid-section where we feel our gut feelings. It is one of the most common places we store emotions and past experiences.
The lining of our intestines is only one (1) cell thick. When we accumulate stress, or irritate the already-thin lining with pathogens, chemicals, and processed food, we damage the intestinal wall, creating increased intestinal permeability (also known as “Leaky Gut”). This is how foreign proteins escape into our bloodstream. When this happens, our body responds to these particles as invaders, creating various inflammatory reactions: acne, headaches, sinus infections, mood imbalances.
When this happens, even healthy foods can become irritants — larger food particles that aren’t meant to be in the body get through the barrier.
Do not take your digestive system (and all that it does for you) for granted. You may not always feel how hard it works, or be aware of its vital role in keeping you healthy (or unhealthy as the case may be), but trust me, it's not something you ever want to piss off!