When Is the Last Time You Had Your Gut Checked?
Millions of Americans are currently suffering from gastrointestinal related issues, experiencing symptoms like abdominal pain. Our GI tract plays an essential part in maintaining our health and wellbeing. Without a healthy and fully functioning GI tract, many issues can arise. At our Dallas gastroenterology practice, our board-certified gastrenterologists are dedicated to your digestive gut health. Patient education helps prevent GI problems. Let’s have a look at what is a healthy GI tract.
What Does It Mean to Have a Healthy and Fully Functioning GI Tract?
A healthy GI tract allows nutrients and water to enter our body while preventing the entry of toxins and antigens. A distressed gut is inhibited from keeping up with its job, allowing dangerous compounds to enter the body. This is where nutrition comes in. Healthy eating and the right diet help to strengthen the gut, leading to improved health and well-being.
“Leaky Gut Syndrome”
Many things contribute to gastrointestinal distress including malnutrition, pharmaceuticals, stress, inflammation, lectins, MSG, fructose, bacterial balance, gluten, and much more. A more common contributor is in individuals that consume a diet high in sugar and processed/refined carbohydrates. Alcoholics are also very susceptible to Leaky Gut syndrome.
How Do I Avoid Gut Distress?
Obviously, not everyone is susceptible to nutrition-related gut distress, but it is important to note some of the most common offenders: gluten, casein, lactose, fructose, and lectins. If you suspect that you may have a nutrition-related gut disorder, then removing one or all of these may improve symptoms. For some, these compounds lead to food and/or respiratory allergies. For others, they experience autoimmune symptoms such as joint pain or skin rashes. Some people also may lack key enzymes needed to digest these compounds, which leads to an upset stomach, bloating, etc.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and/or are not experiencing 1-3 regular bowel movements/day, it might be time to have a gut check with you local gastroenterologist. At the Digestive Health Center in Dallas and Fort Worth, our GI doctors are dedicated to improving your gut health. Schedule an appointment with specialists like Dr. Bhavin Patel, Dr. Asha Adams, or Dr. Lisa Alvarez to get the care you need for a healthier digestive system.