Gut problems are common. Read on to find out more….
If Loo Troubles are Plaguing You
Nobody wants to talk about it, but your toilet habits can actually say a lot about your health. Do you spend way too much time in the loo or experience constipation, diarrhoea, bloating or flatulence? These symptoms may be a sign that you have a functional gut disorder. It is important to make sure that your digestive system is in great shape, as it affects the health of your entire body and how you feel each day.
Functional Gut Issues
How well you move your bowels can be an indicator of how well your gut is functioning. Daily bowel motions are ideal. Less than three poos a week is consistent with a clinical diagnosis of constipation. Frequent stools may indicate diarrhoea. Symptoms of pain, bloating, flatulence, straining, feelings of incomplete emptying or even seeing undigested food, blood or mucus in the toilet can all indicate a need for an accurate diagnosis and specific treatment.
What Causes Gut Problems?
Diet, stress and your past health may all play a part in the development of gut disorders. An imbalance in the gut microbiota (bacteria and other organisms in the gut), and irritation and inflammation from dietary or immune triggers may lead to increased permeability in the gut lining (leaky gut), exacerbating symptoms. You may even fit the criteria for such conditions as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
Simple Ways to Improve Your Poo
Get your digestive system back on track with these easy tips:
1. Include two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables in your daily diet, plus wholegrains, legumes, nuts and seeds. Adequate fibre helps feed your healthy gut bacteria and keep you regular.
2. Drink plenty of filtered water to help moisten the stool.
3. Exercise regularly to encourage better circulation and movement to your digestive tract.
The Strain is Over
See me for an individual assessment and treatment advice. Tests such as breath tests and the latest generation of microbiome genetic stool sampling can often help sort out underlying issues.