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Category: Digestion

people wearing holiday socks by a fireplace and mugs with cozies

Preventing Burnout Over the Holidays

As the holiday season approaches, many people will shift their focus towards giving and caring for others. Many people feel overwhelmed and stressed, struggling with their personal health goals. Caring for yourself and spending time with loved ones should be the number one priority during the holiday season! Let’s talk about it.

What is Burnout?

Burnout may feel like being emotionally, physically, and mentally worn out. It often happens when stress builds up over time, especially in high-pressure jobs or when you have too many responsibilities. If you’re feeling burned out, you might notice that you’re constantly tired, irritable, or having trouble sleeping. You may also find it hard to stay focused or remember things, and you could even experience physical issues like headaches or stomach problems.

If burnout isn’t dealt with, it can lead to more serious mental health challenges like anxiety or depression. You might start feeling detached from your work and personal relationships, which can make you feel lonely. It’s really important to recognize the early signs of burnout and take action. This can include practicing self-care, reaching out for support, and possibly changing your workload or daily routines to help manage stress. Taking these steps can make a big difference in both your work life and your overall well-being.

What Holiday Stressors Can Look Like

Holidays can be a joyful time, but they often come with stressors that impact our bodies and nervous systems. 

  1. The pressure to find perfect gifts can lead to anxiety, while packed schedules might result in fatigue. The constant rush can trigger headaches or muscle tension.
  2. Financial worries can elevate stress levels, affecting sleep patterns, digestion, pain levels, and more. 
  3. Crowded gatherings might overwhelm you, causing sensory overload and further stress.

It’s important to recognize these signs and find ways to balance the festivities with self-care.

Preventing Burnout Over the Holidays

To navigate this busy period more smoothly and maintain your well-being, consider these strategies:

1. Set Realistic Expectations

Often, we pressure ourselves to create the "perfect" holiday experience, which can lead to stress. Instead, focus on what truly matters: spending quality time with loved ones. Accept that not everything has to be flawless and prioritize activities that bring you joy rather than stress. Make a list of “must-dos” and allow flexibility for everything else. Physiologically, this means better cortisol regulation and less stress overall.

2. Prioritize Sleep

Amidst holiday preparations, it’s easy to stay up past our usual bedtime chipping away at work obligations and/or holiday activities. Maintain a healthy bedtime routine that can include reading, exercising, or a relaxing bath. Good quality sleep helps maintain your energy levels and mood, making it easier to handle stress.

3. Use Your Health Benefits/Schedule Wellness Appointments

Make sure to stay in good health during this demanding season by booking in with your health care team — therapist or counselor, naturopathic doctor, massage therapist, etc. Consider booking a massage or acupuncture session to relieve physical tension and promote relaxation. Additionally, a nutritional consultation may help you make healthier food choices amidst holiday indulgence. By proactively organizing these wellness appointments, you can create a supportive framework that helps you navigate the holiday season with greater ease and joy.

4. Limit Commitments, with Intention

It’s tempting to say yes to every invitation, but overcommitting can lead to exhaustion. Be selective about the events you attend and prioritize those that bring you joy. Politely decline or propose alternative, less stressful interactions, such as a casual coffee meet-up instead of a large party.

5. Stay Connected

At the same time, the holidays can sometimes feel isolating, especially if loved ones are far away. Make an effort to connect with family and friends who enrich your life, be it through phone calls, video chats, or letters. These interactions can boost your mood and remind you of the support network you have.

By incorporating these strategies, you can create a more relaxed and enjoyable holiday experience. Remember that the essence of the holidays lies in connection, joy, and gratitude, not in perfection or excess.

In Summary

The holiday season, often filled with festivities and joy, can also bring about stress and disruption to one’s health routine. However, maintaining balance and staying on track with health goals is achievable with a few mindful strategies: Prioritizing self-care is essential; ensure you get adequate sleep, stay hydrated, and maintain a nutritious diet amidst the indulgences. Incorporating regular physical activity, whether through a brisk walk or a dance session, can help alleviate stress and boost endorphins. Mindfulness practices, such as meditation or yoga, can also aid in maintaining mental wellness. It’s important to set realistic expectations and allow yourself some flexibility. By planning ahead, such as preparing healthy meals in advance, booking appointments with your health team, and setting boundaries for commitments, you can navigate the holidays more smoothly. Ultimately, by supporting your body and mind with these practices, you can emerge into the new year feeling balanced and ready to continue pursuing your health objectives.

Best Lab Tests for Digestive Issues

Digestive health can be compromised as we encounter stressors, infections, processed foods, and a multitude of other factors throughout life. Although digestive health is a key component of overall wellness, it is easy to fall victim to fad diets, detoxes, and other treatments in pursuit of digestive relief. 

While it isn’t abnormal to have an irregular bowel movement here and there or a stomach ache after a night out drinking, it is abnormal to suffer from digestive upset more days than not. If your bloating, constipation, diarrhea, gas, etc. is significantly impacting your quality of life, then it’s time to address it and start making informed decisions about your health. 

This article will shed light on the many tests that naturopathic doctors (NDs) offer to help address your digestive issues and get you feeling better sooner.

Best Lab Tests for Digestive Issues

Food Sensitivity Testing

  • Type of test: Blood draw
  • Symptoms you may have: Bloating, gas, changes in bowel movements, abdominal pain, migraines, headaches, fatigue, hives, asthma, unexplained weight changes, sinus congestion, joint pain, hair loss, and more.
  • Conditions it may be good for: Chronic acne, eczema, IBS, IBD, autoimmune disorders, etc.

The IgG food sensitivity test is a blood test that is used to detect the level of IgG antibodies against certain foods that are consumed within the diet. This information can help determine what foods within the diet may be causing your symptoms and which are likely safe to eat. To clarify, IgG food sensitivity tests do not diagnose a food allergy as those are mediated by IgE antibodies. Instead, they look at food intolerances/sensitivities which are believed to be prevalent in up to 20% of the general population. 

Breath Tests

  • Type of test: Breath test
  • Symptoms you may have: Bloating, gas, abdominal pain, heartburn, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, unintentional weight loss, loss of appetite, and chronic bad breath.
  • Conditions it may be good for: Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), H.pylori infection, IBS, and lactose intolerance.

A breath test measures the concentration of specific gases in a given sample of exhaled air. This information can help determine whether certain bacteria have overgrown in the digestive system or whether our body struggles to break down certain carbohydrates in the diet. 

Depending on the type of breath test, patients will usually need to fast for a specific amount of time and then provide a baseline breath sample. After ingesting a test solution (in some cases) you would then provide subsequent breath samples which involve blowing air into a breath collection device. 

An H. pylori breath test is often called the urea breath test as you are instructed to drink a solution containing urea. H.pylori break down urea into carbon dioxide and therefore excess carbon dioxide in the breath can be a sign of infection. SIBO, on the other hand, can be diagnosed with a hydrogen breath test. Patients are instructed to drink either a glucose or lactulose beverage and then breath samples are tested for hydrogen or methane levels to determine a diagnosis.

Stool Tests

  • Type of test: Stool test
  • Possible symptoms: Bloody stools, chronic diarrhea, constipation, ongoing/severe abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, persistent gas/bloating, mucous-y stools, pale or dark stools, etc.
  • Conditions it may be good for: Infections (bacterial, parasitic, viral), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colon cancer, pancreatic insufficiency and more.

Several types of stool tests exist though each involve collecting a tiny amount of stool and sending it off to the lab. The FIT test, otherwise known as the fecal immunochemical test, looks for tiny amounts of blood in the stool which may or may not be associated with colorectal cancer. This test is often conducted with your family doctor or specialist. 

Other types of stool tests like a stool culture determine whether you have an infection and whether the cause is a bacteria, parasite, or virus. This is especially indicated if you have recently travelled outside of the country and/or have other signs and symptoms of an infection. 

Naturopathic doctors sometimes employ the use of more in-depth stool testing like the GI-Map. This test looks at inflammatory and immune markers, digestive markers, antibiotic resistance genes, commensal bacteria, and opportunistic bacteria as well. 

Blood Tests

  • Type of test: Blood draw
  • Possible symptoms: Blood or mucous in stool, fatigue, abdominal pain, changes in bowel movements, rashes, etc.
  • Conditions it may be good for: Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, H. pylori/peptic ulcer disease, thyroid disorders, and more.

Many are aware that our yearly blood work can give us a lot of insight into our bodies and how well they function. What many don’t know is that blood tests can actually be used to help diagnose certain gastrointestinal disorders. For example, there is an entire celiac disease panel that measures antibodies such as anti-tissue transglutaminase to determine whether you have an autoimmune reaction to gluten. In addition, measuring antibodies against H.pylori can help determine if there is an infection causing your digestive issues.

Why Test?

Testing removes the guesswork from treatment and gets you better faster. Even with the help of an experienced healthcare provider, it is virtually impossible to know what is going on inside the body without actually testing to see. 

Testing helps avoid unnecessary trial and error, wasted supplements, costly dietary changes, and precious time spent in visits. Although testing can be an investment, it is the fastest way to determine the root cause of your health concern and how to best address it. It also ensures that no changes are made to worsen your current condition or masks symptoms that need attention right away.

Naturopathic Approaches to Digestive Issues

In order to determine which test is best suited for you, a licensed naturopathic doctor (ND) would need to complete a medical intake to evaluate your medical history, what tests may have been completed prior, and any signs and/or symptoms you currently suffer from. 

Some tests may be diagnostic and others can give us clues as to what foods you may be sensitive to or what digestive enzymes you may require. Contrary to popular belief, there is not always a clean-cut answer as to why a person suffers from certain digestive disorders and others do not. The good news is that NDs are best suited to offering the options that can help. 

Do you have questions about how to navigate testing or how this would impact your treatment plan? Book in with Dr. Angelica, ND to learn more! 

Do you have questions about how to navigate testing or how this would impact your treatment plan?

Book in with Dr. Angelica, ND to learn more

Holistic Nutrition Versus Dietetics: What’s the Difference?

People seek nutrition support for various reasons, primarily to improve their health and well-being through better food choices. This could range from managing chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease to seeking weight loss or simply optimizing overall health. When looking for nutrition support, two primary options emerge: registered dietitians (RDs) and registered holistic nutritionists (RHNs).

RDs offer evidence-based dietary advice tailored to specific medical conditions, often working in clinical settings to provide structured meal plans and nutritional counseling. On the other hand, holistic nutritionists approach nutrition from a holistic perspective, considering not only dietary choices but also lifestyle factors and emotional well-being. They may incorporate natural and alternative therapies into their recommendations. 

This article aims to guide readers in choosing between holistic nutrition and dietetics by outlining the strengths and approaches of each. By understanding these differences, individuals can make informed decisions about which approach aligns best with their health goals and personal preferences.

Clinical Nutrition

Clinical nutrition involves the practice of assessing and managing nutritional needs based on medical conditions. Both holistic nutritionists and dietitians use clinical nutrition to address health issues through dietary modifications. This can include using the DASH diet for managing high blood pressure (hypertension). 

About Registered Dietitians

Registered Dietitians (RDs) are healthcare professionals specialized in nutrition therapy. They assess dietary needs based on medical conditions and individual health goals, providing personalized nutrition counseling and education. RDs work in various settings including hospitals (inpatient) and clinics (outpatient), where they collaborate with healthcare teams to manage conditions like diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. They utilize tools such as dietary assessments, meal planning, and behavior modification techniques to help clients achieve optimal nutrition and health outcomes. People seek RDs for evidence-based guidance on managing specific health issues, improving overall well-being, and receiving tailored nutritional advice that integrates with medical treatments and lifestyle modifications.

About Holistic Nutritionists

Holistic nutritionists are professionals who approach nutrition therapy from a holistic or whole-person perspective. They typically receive training through various holistic nutrition programs that emphasize whole foods, as well as specific supplements and digestive aids. Credentials for holistic nutritionists vary but may include certifications from organizations like the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition (CSNN).

In contrast to registered dietitians (RDs), who focus on medical nutrition and often work in clinical settings, holistic nutritionists tend to work in private practice or wellness centers. They address a wide range of health concerns beyond strictly medical conditions, considering factors such as emotional well-being, lifestyle choices, body movement and environmental influences. Holistic nutritionists use tools like dietary assessments, lifestyle evaluations, and personalized meal planning to support their clients in achieving optimal health through balanced nutrition.

Their scope of practice includes conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, weight management, food sensitivities through the digestive system and overall wellness enhancement through dietary changes and holistic therapies. While RDs provide structured nutritional plans backed by scientific research, holistic nutritionists offer a more personalized and integrative approach, often incorporating mind-body techniques and alternative treatments into their recommendations.

Choosing a Type of Nutrition Therapy

Selecting between RDs and RHNs depends on individual preferences and health needs. Dietitians are ideal for those seeking structured, evidence-based dietary plans, especially for managing specific medical conditions. Some examples include those with issues swallowing may require thickening agents added to their meals or the FODMAPs diet for those diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

On the other hand, holistic nutritionists appeal to people looking for a comprehensive approach that integrates dietary advice with lifestyle changes, mindfulness based techniques and alternative therapies. A full body assessment is the starting point which includes current nutritional intake, exercise, stress levels, a person’s time commitment as well as environmental factors at work and home. Working with a holistic nutritionist likely involves a longer time period to ensure sustainable changes as well as longer appointments to ask your questions and fully address your individual needs. 

Ultimately, your choice should align with your health goals, the level of structure you prefer in your nutrition plan, and your comfort with integrating alternative health practices into your lifestyle.

In Summary

Choosing between holistic nutrition and dietetics hinges on your health goals and preferences. If you prefer a scientifically validated approach with a focus on medical conditions, a registered dietitian is likely the best fit. Alternatively, if you seek a holistic approach that considers lifestyle and emotional factors alongside nutrition, a holistic nutritionist may better suit your needs. Whatever your choice, taking steps to improve your nutrition can lead to significant health benefits. 

Ready to take charge of your nutrition? Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve your health goals through personalized nutrition guidance.

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Do Probiotics Help for Clear Skin?

Probiotics are live, active microorganisms like bacteria and yeast that are naturally occurring in the body. When dysbiosis or infection occurs, harmful microbes propagate and flourish while our “friendly microbes” that keep us healthy, die off. This can cause an array of problems ranging from gas and bloating, to reduced immune function, and even skin concerns. Yes, the skin! Acne, eczema and psoriasis or plain old itchy skin and bumpy rashes can be a result of changes in your microbial composition.

Although probiotics are typically used to support gastrointestinal health, recent studies have shown that introducing probiotic rich foods and supplementation may also benefit the skin. Incorporating probiotics as part of a whole-person, professional-led plan may positively impact the gut-skin relationship and provide relief for stubborn dermatological disorders.

The Microbiome-Skin Connection

Similar to the digestive system, the skin harbours a complex ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, and viruses which each serve a very important purpose. Our bodies constantly exchange microbes with our environment and our microbes may change with hormones fluctuations or with age. This “skin microbiome” has been known to impact our gut microbiome in many ways through what researchers call the gut-skin axis. 

For instance, disruptions in the gut microbiome can trigger an immune response and the release of inflammatory mediators that then disrupt skin physiology. What does that look like? Irritated, angry skin!

Probiotics and Skin Conditions 

Different probiotic strains confer different effects on the skin environment, so knowing what strains to pick can be crucial when shopping for your probiotic. For instance, Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium can help mediate skin inflammation and are great for conditions like atopic or allergic contact dermatitis. If you want to be even more specific, Lactobacillus acidophilus is great for rosacea since it has a calming effect and can soothe irritation or redness of the skin. 

When in doubt, opting for a broad-spectrum probiotic with a variety of strains is a great option to ensure you are covering your bases. A broad-spectrum probiotic is a supplement with multiple strains of beneficial microbes. 

If you have any of the following concerns listed below, probiotics may be a helpful option for you to consider:

      • Acne
      • Eczema
      • Psoriasis
      • Rosacea
      • Hives
      • Dermatitis
      • Wound healing
      • Wrinkles
      • Scleroderma

Probiotics and Acne

Acne can be caused by dietary triggers, stress, sleep disruptions, androgens, and more. Though probiotics can benefit many cases of acne, not all acne is rooted in the digestive system. Furthermore, probiotics as a stand-alone treatment might not be enough to treat severe, cystic, treatment-resistant acne. It’s important to set expectations and know that probiotics can be a great part of a treatment when choosing the right dose, the right strains, and the right delivery. 

So what does that mean? What does the research say? Well, probiotics have been studied in patients with mild-moderate acne and have been shown to successfully improve the skin’s clarity and reduce breakouts.

We know that the bacteria Propionibacterium acnes lives on the skin and can cause acne (along with other bacteria). The wonderful thing about probiotics is that it can help control the growth of these acne-causing bacteria through the gut-skin axis. These helpful microbes have antibacterial proteins and substances that kill off bad bacteria and reduce inflammation on the skin—a win-win!

Recent trials show that both oral and topical probiotics may have a positive effect on the skin. One of the main advantages to taking an oral probiotic is that it can help influence the intestinal microbiota and it can also work on metabolic pathways involving insulin. In addition, the vast majority of the research on probiotics has been using oral formulations rather than the topical preparations. For this reason, one might be more inclined to use an oral supplement or probiotic rich foods rather than applying probiotics in a cream or gel form.

Probiotic-rich foods that you may want to consider for clear skin include:

      • Yogurt
      • Kefir
      • Sauerkraut
      • Kimchi
      • Miso
      • Tempeh
      • Kombucha

Naturopathic Care and Skin Health

Addressing skin health can be complex and probiotics may not be that silver bullet for you. It’s important to consider all of the factors that contribute to our digestive, hormonal, immune, and skin health before jumping blindly towards treatments that may or may not work. 

Part of working with a naturopathic doctor is getting a holistic perspective on how each system of the body influences the next. Without addressing the foundations of health like exercise, sleep, diet, and stress it’s hard for any treatment to work effectively. The body and the mind need to work together in harmony.

My work as a naturopathic doctor involves an in-depth intake and comprehensive testing, where appropriate, to narrow down the root cause of your skin concern. Through this process, I can help develop a targeted treatment plan that supports the gut-skin axis through herbs, acupuncture, supplements, and food. Using my expertise I can also help guide you away from products that may be worsening your skin or failing to address what’s really going on. Or, I may swap out certain probiotic strains for others to ensure that we are using evidence-based recommendations for the best possible outcome. Ultimately, there are a lot of treatments for clear skin out there, but knowing which one is right for you may require some help.

If you are interested in starting your journey towards healthy, clear skin,
then book in to learn more!

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How to Perfect Your Spring-Summer Detox 

Detox, detox, detox.  

Detoxing has become quite the fad, both online and in the health community. Many of us think that we need to be on a plethora of detox supplements or laxatives and that we need to be doing long hours (sometimes days) of fasting in order to do it “properly” and to “cleanse” our systems completely of all waste and toxins.  

But here’s the reality of it: Yes, those things may help accelerate the process. Yes, they may help in the short term. But that is not all of what a detox is, and it is important to note they’re not always the safest either, especially not for long periods of time. As a naturopathic doctor, I would highly advise doing these under direct supervision of your health care  provider.  

What’s a Detox? 

A true detox involves supporting our essential detox organs, which are our:  

These organs help to eliminate toxins, waste, and hormones (and hormone byproducts, called metabolites) from the body. They help filter out the “good” from the “not so good.” However, these organs can become “sluggish” or  backed up (i.e. not functioning optimally) when there is a large toxic load, which can be due to poor lifestyle choices or high environmental exposures.  

Common signs and symptoms of your detox organs not functioning optimally include:  

      • Fatigue  
      • Water retention or swelling  
      • Bloating  
      • Digestive upset  
      • Constipation  
      • Chronic cough  
      • Getting sick frequently  
      • Excess congestion
      • Allergies and sensitivities
      • Skin concerns  
      • Increased acne or breakouts  
      • Increased pain or inflammation  
      • Brain fog  
      • Weight loss or gain  
      • Hormonal concerns, etc. 

Many of us may experience one or more of the above symptoms. Note that we can easily support these detox organs in our day-to-day life through nutrition, lifestyle, supplements, and with botanical medicine as well.  

Top Tips for Supporting Detoxification

The top 7 things to remember when doing your yearly detox:  

      1. Drink enough water! This can be up to 2-3 litres, depending on the individual.  
      2. Increase your vegetable and whole foods intake. Reduce processed foods!
      3. Increase protein and healthy fats.  Swap out for more plant-proteins, olive oil, and avocado oil.
      4. Eliminate alcohol, smoking, sugar, caffeine, and coffee.  
      5. Increase exercise, and encourage daily sweating – whether with movement or a sauna.
      6. Prioritize sleep, and ensure you are getting at least 7–8 hours of well rested sleep everyday. 
      7. Manage your stress — do something that helps you relax everyday!  

These are the foundations of health, and are essential to maintaining a healthy body, and supporting our detoxification systems. The reality is, if we do not optimize our food, our movement, our sleep and our stress, no amount of detoxing or products from the health food store will do us any good. If anything, the effects will be short-lived, and you will be back to feeling unwell soon after.

We are what we consume, and this applies to our food and what we ingest, but also to what we consume socially, from the media, from our relationships and from any such negativity or toxicity in our  lives too.  

I encourage you to be mindful and try the tips above. Notice how you feel after doing so for 1–2 weeks, and the impact it has had on your daily life and functioning.

If you have any other questions on how to support your body or health via naturopathic medicine or botanical medicine, feel free to  book a free 15 minute discovery call with me.  

Let’s work to restore your health in all aspects — mentally, emotionally and physically! 

Wishing you all nothing but good health and positive energy. 

Book with Dr. Sidhu, ND

5 easy tips for better digestion

Digestion can be over complicated or very simple to deconstruct. Before you diagnose yourself with some rare digestive disease by Dr. Google give these easy tips a try!

Chew your food

Digestion starts in the mouth! Even as you’re reading this and thinking of cookies your mouth is salivating. Saliva is a combination of enzymes, electrolytes and proteins that start the process of digestion before food even gets into the stomach. Chewing physically makes your food into smaller pieces and also allows for saliva to be mixed into the food.

[bt_highlight]Solution: [/bt_highlight] You don’t need to count the amount of chewing per bite but the food should be mush before you swallow.

 

Relaxed eating

The process of digestion is most effective when you are in a relaxed mood. Relaxed eating engages the rest-and-digest nervous system (aka parasympathetic nervous system) which allows your stomach to release digestive enzymes.

[bt_highlight]Solution: [/bt_highlight] Limit eating on the go, take a seat, look at your food and chew slowly!

 

Thirst – hunger signals

It’s a well known phenomenon that hunger and thirst signals can get crossed in your brain. Your hypothalamus, the portion of your brain responsible for controlling feelings of hunger and thirst, responds similarly whether you’re thirsty or if you haven’t had enough to eat. Meaning that you may feel hungry when you’re actually thirsty. Many of us are over eating and under hydrating as a result.

[bt_highlight]Solution:[/bt_highlight] When you feel hungry drink 1/2-1 glass of water. If after 20 minutes you’re still hungry then grab a bite to eat! If the hunger dissipated it means that you were actually thirsty/dehydrated and you should up your daily water intake.

 

Meal timing

Body hack: your digestion works best when it runs on a schedule. Your brain and digestive organs are connected enough to figure out when to expect meals and therefore when to send out the digestive juices. This is why many people report that they get acid reflux when they eat late at night or that they have bloating after meals.

[bt_highlight]Solution: [/bt_highlight] Try your best to eat your meals at the same time everyday!

 

Understand your GI transit time

The time it takes food to go from into your mouth and out the other end is called the GI transit time. Optimal digestion takes between 12-24 hours. Anything more or less can tell us whether you are absorbing nutrient and if toxins are properly eliminated.

[bt_highlight]Solution: [/bt_highlight] Here’s how to test your bowel transit time.

Eat a large serving of beets (at least 1 cup of cooked beets)
Record when you ate the beets
Over the next hours check your stool! When you notice your stool is the colour of the red beets, you’ve figured out your transit time.

More than 24 hours: A transit time that exceeds 24 hours may mean your bowels are not eliminating and stool is sitting in your colon for too long. This can lead to a toxic bowel, which can eventually lead to colon disease and a body that is overloaded with toxins. You may need more fibre (from sources like fruits, vegetables, chia and ground flaxseeds), water, relaxation techniques, and daily movement to get your bowels moving regularly. Additionally , your nutritionist or naturopathic doctor can recommend specific dosages of key digestive supplements where necessary.

Less than 12 hours: This is less common but can mean that you’re not really absorbing all the nutrients from your food or you could have too many stimulants in your daily life, like coffee.

 

Bottom line

You need to do the basics before your health practitioner considers any other functional disease. If you’re already doing these simple tips and still experiencing digestive issues then you may need further testing. Food sensitivity or GIMAP tests are a functional medicine approach to treat many digestive concerns. Speak to your naturopathic doctor for more options.