Gut health can affect your brain, heart, digestive system, immune system, blood sugar levels, weight, mood, and overall, all aspects of your health. Some of the symptoms may present themselves in the gastrointestinal tract, these symptoms can include:

Acid reflux, A feeling of general malaise, Bloating, Blood or mucus in stool, Constipation, Cramps, Diarrhea, Gas, Indigestion, Intestinal pain, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Leaky Gut Syndrome, Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), and Nausea/vomiting

However, symptoms of gut dysbiosis can also appear throughout the rest of the body and can present in many different forms. Some other examples include:

Acne, Anemia, Anxiety, Arthritis, Autoimmune diseases, Behavioral changes, Brain fog, Candida Overgrowth, Chronic ear infections, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Chronic sinus congestion, Depression, Eczema, Fibromyalgia, Food cravings, Food allergies, Inflammation, Menstrual problems/PMS, Migraines, Vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and Weight gain or weight loss

Hippocrates said, “All disease begins in the gut”. The more we learn about disease and gut health, the more we realize the links that are associated with our overall health and our gut. Many diseases have been shown to be adversely affected by poor gut health or dysbiosis. Here is a list of disease that have been linked to Gut Dysbiosis:

ADHD Allergies, Anxiety, Asthma, Autoimmune Disorders, Crohn’s disease, Celiac disease, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Depression, Eczema, Fibromyalgia, Heart disease, Hashimoto Thyroiditis, Hormone Imbalances, Metabolic Disorder, Obesity, and Type 2 diabetes

Diet: One of the most important factors is the food you eat. Your diet has a huge impact on your gut microbiome. The SAD Diet (standard American diet) tends to be high in bad fats and low in vegetables. This means you aren’t getting enough fiber to allow good bacteria to grow. It also contains a lot of carbohydrates which crowd out the good bacteria and allows bad bacteria to grow. This can cause you to crave sugar, and the more sugar you eat the higher your chances of developing inflammation in your body, creating a whole host of symptoms and disease.

Medications: Certain medications can adversely affect our gut health by impacting the composition of the gut Microbiota. Some of the biggest culprits include: Antibiotics, acid-reducing medications (PPI’s), over-the-counter pain relievers (NSAIDs), steroids, and oral birth control pills.

Stress: High levels of stress can negatively impact our gut microbiome and cause gut dysbiosis. According to research, social stressors can decrease the diversity of bacteria in the intestine and cause a higher number of potentially harmful bacteria. Stress can cause symptoms such as: Anxiety, Chest pain, Depression, Digestive issues, Elevated Blood Pressure, Heart Disease, Immune System Problems, Infertility, Insomnia, Muscular pain, Skin conditions, Sleep Disruption, and Weight gain.

Treatment should be Personalized and Holistic. The goal is to restore the gut function. The best way to start is by removing foods that are causing GI issues and inflammation in your body. This is best done through an Elimination Diet. The 3 most common foods that often contribute to increased inflammation include: Gluten, Sugar, and Dairy. By treating gut dysbiosis, this often will help to improve all other aspects of your health. Often times a stool test is completed so we can determine how much good bacteria and Bad bacteria is in the gut. It also helps us determine if there are any pathogens, parasites, yeast, or fungus which can cause Dysbiosis. The 5R Protocol is often used to treat and heal the gut.