Warning: This article is about bloating and digestion so it will be TMI on my part!!
So normally, if I’m eating my normal diet, my bowel movements are very regular. A couple weekends ago we had a service weekend at our church. They fed us breakfast, lunch and dinner. The meals consisted of what church meals usually consist of…whatever feeds the masses easily. While eating the first supper (pizza), a friend asked what number my stools will be on the stool chart the next day. I told him I probably won’t have a number because I’ll get constipated. And sure enough, I didn’t poop for two days (FYI…you need to be pooping type 3-4 on the chart, one to two times per day for proper detoxification).
Why Do Bloating and Digestion Issues Occur?
Our digestive system is filled with billions of microorganisms called the microbiota. The microbiota has numerous tasks in the body including playing a part in weight regulation, mood, vitamin production, immune system health, and digestion, among other things. The microbiota consists of helpful, neutral and harmful bacteria. The vast majority should be helpful bacteria.
The microbiota lives off of what you eat. The helpful bacteria love fibrous food (unprocessed, real food like fruits and veggies) and help stabilize your mood, weight and bowel movements. The harmful bacteria love processed, sugary foods that don’t have fiber. The harmful bacteria create more stress, anxiety, depression, weight gain, and bloating and digestion issues.
So…what you eat feeds what bacteria grows. What grows can cause the bloating and digestion issues.
Another cause is the gut brain connection. What’s happening in the gut is happening in the brain and vice versa. So if you tend to worry and stay anxious, that will cause more bloating and digestion issues.
Healing Bloating and Digestion Issues
Bloating and Digestion Doesn’t have to be a lifelong sentence. To heal though, change needs to happen. Some changes are going to be your diet, and some changes are going to be mental. I’ve listed the top changes I see the most difference with below.
Healing Bloating and Digestion Issues Step 1
One of the first steps I lead my clients into taking is removing gluten and dairy. Those two groups of foods in our food system are very inflammatory and create bloating and digestion issues in a lot of people. Usually, by removing these foods, much of the problem is resolved.
Healing Bloating and Digestion Issues Step 2
By increasing fiber and fermented foods, you will feed the helpful bacteria. Remember the helpful bacteria will help stabilize you mood, help with weight and bowel movements, and decrease bloating and digestion issues.
Healing Bloating and Digestion Issues Step 3
Your digestive system can become damaged with processed foods, medications and high stress. Healing bloating and digestion issues takes healing your digestive system. Sometimes that means taking certain healing supplements. Here is a link to the supplements I recommend without knowing your story. If you want a more personalized recommendation, I’d love to hear your story! Schedule a quick call with me here.
Healing Bloating and Digestion Issues Step 4
What you eat is extremely important, but how you eat is just as important. You could be eating everything right, but if you aren’t eating properly, you aren’t going to digest, absorb and utilize the food you’re eating. Proper steps need to be taken to ensure you are set up to digest and absorb food to heal from bloating and digestion issues.
Healing Bloating and Digestion Issues Step 5
And finally, you know I would mention it, your mental health needs to be addressed. Remember, your gut and your brain are intricately related and speak to each other. What goes on in your mind is happening in your gut. Ensuring the neurotransmitters (chemical messengers of your body) are being produced is important for not only mood but also for bloating and digestion issues.
Let’s Connect!
Bloating and digestion issues plague so many people, but many of us stay silent; I know because I have been victim of it too. I’d love to hear your story and help if I can! Reach out to me today! And as always, if you know someone who would benefit from reading this article or meeting with me, please share!!
