Naturopathy for Gut and Digestive Health Treatment
Digestive health is a crucial component to your overall health and digestive health is usually the centre of focus for any naturopathic treatment plans. Digestive health is tied to hormonal health, immune function, brain function and neurotransmitter health, metabolic function, and so much more.Improving digestive health is one of the most common reasons patients seek naturopathic care. Patients seek naturopathic medicine for a wholistic and well-rounded approach to their digestive disorder.
Causes of Digestive Problems
Causes of digestive problems include, but are not limited to:
- Low fiber diet and low fiber foods
- Medications
- Underlying conditions (such as Cushing’s disease or hypothyroidism)
- Stress
- Food Intolerances
- Low activity
- Pregnancy
Types of Digestive Disorders
Common types of digestive disordersand underlying digestive issues include:
- Acid Reflux (GERD)
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Constipation
- Hemorrhoids
- Intestinal Dysbiosis
- Gallstones and Gallbladder disease
- Celiac disease
- Lactose Intolerance
- SIBO
- Leaky Gut
Symptoms of Digestive Problems
Signs of underlying issues with gut and digestive health can include:
- Diarrhea and/or constipation
- Acid reflux and GERD symptoms
- Heartburn
- Gas and Bloating
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Acne and skin issues
- Stress
- Hair loss and signs of malnutrition
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Bad breath
Lifestyle Tips to Improve Gut Health
- Stress Reduction: Stress is one of the biggest culprits to an unhealthy gut! Keeping your stress in check is a key factor in healing,so opt to try meditation or go for a walk daily.
- Anti-Inflammatory Diet: Reduce the quantity of inflammatory foods in one’s diet and choose wholesome anti-inflammatory foods such as fruits and vegetables, high quality meats, poly-unsaturated oils and healthy fats, and whole grains.
- Reducing Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol plays a big role in gut health. Reducing your overall alcohol consumption, drinking with meals and not on an empty stomach, and making sure to drink water are steps to take to reduce alcohols affect on your gut.
- Exercise for Gut Health: Simple, daily movement can improve your gut health and keep your bowels regular. It’s also such a great way to reduce stress!
How Naturopathy can help with Digestive Problems?
Naturopathic doctors focus a lot of their treatment plans around the health of your gut – it truly affects every other system in the body! Naturopathic treatment for gut health involves getting to the root cause of your digestive symptoms through laboratory and/or functional testing and using sustainable and individualized treatment plans that are unique to each individual. A naturopathic doctor will use nutritional, lifestyle and supplemental treatments to improve the health of your microbiome and enzymatic functions as well as reduceoverall inflammation.