A common suggestion we might get when struggling with gut problems is to eliminate specific foods from our diet.

The idea behind this is that those foods are the cause of our gut discomfort and symptoms.

This is partially true.

So when we eliminate those food, we may notice our gut problems improve.

But even with a reduction in symptoms, it likely won’t resolve the underlying issues that led to those symptoms in the first place.

The truth is that food sensitivities are often a symptom and not a root cause.

Eliminating foods that your body is reacting to can reduce symptoms (and it’s a very important part of any digestive repair protocol) but eliminating foods alone won’t completely restore your digestive system and put you in the clear.

And without repairing your gut and restoring proper digestion, you’ll likely have to eliminate those foods permanently to feel good.

It’s helpful to understand how we become sensitive to specific foods in the first place.

One very common factor for developing food sensitivities is intestinal permeability, or “leaky gut” as you may have heard it called.

Leaky gut develops when damage is happening to the intestinal lining because of toxins, parasites, microbiome imbalances, and poor digestion.

The intestinal lining is a barrier between you and the outside world. Its job is to allow only small food particles to pass through it and into your blood stream.

Its role is to keep out parasites, toxins, and other foreign items.

When the gut is damaged, the barrier is compromised and foreign invaders can more easily get through it into your blood stream and elsewhere in your body.

A more permeable gut lining will allow larger food particles to cross through. Those food particles (proteins) appear as foreign invaders to your immune system.

So your immune system mounts a response which results in uncomfortable symptoms and damage to your own body as well as the foreign invader.

Our body starts to tag those food proteins so it remembers them for next time and can respond again.

The tricky part with food sensitivities is identifying the foods that your body is reacting to.

Often times it’s not just the typical gluten, dairy, soy, eggs and corn.

It can be foods that we view as healthy like broccoli, strawberries, cumin or tea.

It can also be chemicals found in foods and medicines like sorbic acid, acetaminophen, dyes, benzoic acid and more.

How can you determine which foods you are sensitive to? There are a few ways to do this but that’s a lengthier conversation for another day.

Today, I hope to help you understand that eliminating foods won’t be the complete answer to resolving your gut problems or chronic symptoms related to an unhealthy gut.

It’s important to know that food sensitivities result from (but also continue to exacerbate) leaky gut.

Leaky gut develops because of:

• Poor digestive function - foods not breaking down properly and therefore causing dysbiosis and damage
• Poor eating hygiene - eating while stressed, not chewing food, meal timing and frequency
• Parasites, viruses, or pathanogenic bacteria and organisms
• Bacteria overgrowth or undergrowth
• Candida (yeast) infiltration
• Toxins

To truly find healing from your gut related symptoms, you want to heal your leaky gut while resolving any of the factors that lead to leaky gut.

This is where working with a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner like myself can save you time, stress, and money.

Through comprehensive assessments and functional labs, I can help you identify where dysfunction and dysbiosis is occurring.  No more throwing "spaghetti" (supplements or diets) at the wall to see what sticks.

I will build you a bio-individual protocol based on results from assessments and labs and a thorough investigation of your health history.

 I will offer ongoing, regular support to help you address the root causes and nourish your body with the foods it needs to repair and thrive.  

Do you experience gas, bloating, heart burn, irregular bowel movements, skin rashes, mood imbalance, brain fog, fatigue, headaches, trouble sleeping, joint pain or other symptoms related to poor gut health and food sensitivities?

Want to figure out the root cause and receive guidance and support to resolve your problems?

Let’s jump on Discovery Session (it's complimentary!) and discuss your health challenges and the changes you’d like to see in your health.

You’ll walk away with a better idea about your potential root causes and the steps needed to begin resolving your gut related symptoms.

We can also discuss what it’s like to work with me, my process, level of support, lab testing and assessments, investment in my program and anything else you want to know about Nutritional Therapy.  Click here to get started.

Looking forward to meeting you on zoom!

In health,

Heather Glenn, Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner

Restorative Wellness Practitioner

Certified Holistic Health Coach

Certified Behavior Change & Weight Management Specialist 

www.heatherglenn.com

Nourish to Thrive

     

Book A Discovery Session

       

Common Symptoms of Food Sensitivities It's no surprise to most that food sensitivities can result in gut discomfort and pain.  But, if we don't have obvious gut symptoms, we may not think that food sensitivities, leaky gut, and poor gut health are driving our symptoms.  Food sensitivities can lead to all types of non digestive symptoms.  Here is a list of common symptoms related to food sensitivities.

       

Save 10% On Your Supplements Save 10% on all of your supplements and healthy lifestyle products through my Fullscript dispensary.  Quality matters when choosing your supplement brands.  Fullscript vets all of its brands, choosing the cleanest, most effective formulas to ensure you get, and ultimately benefit from, what you pay for. Simply create a free customer account with me here to start shopping and save!  I've even showcased some of my favorite digestive and healthy lifestyle products to get you started!