70% of our immune system resides in our gut and 90% of neurotransmitters, including serotonin, are created there. A healthy digestive environment determines how well we absorb our nutrients, eliminate our wastes, balance our hormones, detoxify, and determines how stable our moods are. Maintaining a healthy GI tract, from beginning (mouth) to end (anus), is key to feeling good and functioning optimally.

 

Chinese medicine embodies 7 pillars of treatment, among those, nutrition is of utmost importance. I often find that in our modern lifestyle we tend to forget or simply ignore this important pillar until something goes wrong. I believe that so much or our dis-ease and dis-function begin with an unhealthy gut and that when we put the time into understanding and changing what may be negatively effecting us we can make huge strides towards a healthy, happy life. The benefits of healthy food choices and healthy eating habits transcend to us all and are why it is so important to work not only on choosing the correct foods for your body type but ensuring that your digestive function is working optimally. Gas, bloating, abnormal weight gain/loss, foggy brain, fatigue, insomnia, infertility, and so much more can be linked to an unhealthy gut microbiome. Our bodies, when given the correct nutrients, are capable of amazing feats of self healing and repairing.

 

The 4 R's of digestive health:

 

Remove: Identify and remove the offending foods. This is the first step towards digestive recovery. Foods that tend to be the worst offenders include soy, wheat, cow's milk, corn, refined sugars, and artificial sweetners though this list differs for each individual.

 

Replace: This is where whole foods, fiber supplements, digestive enzymes, and herbs come into play to replace and improve nutrtion and absorption.

 

Reinoculate: Find a practitioner that has done their homework and will be able to advise you on the appropriate probiotic to use for your specific needs.

 

Restore: The healthy lining of the gut with the appropriate herbs and high quality nutrients your body is craving.

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The human body is remarkable in so many ways especially when it comes to repairing and healing itself. Often times we forget this when the easy choice is to just take a pill and for some of us that works just fine but for others that is not our journey. Choosing foods that are organic and rich in nutrients is a good place to start. 

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The doctor of the future will give no medication, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and

in the cause and prevention of disease. ~ ”

― Thomas A. Edison