Health Adversity: Educating Yourself to a Healthier Gut
You know the feeling. You buy a new car and the moment you drive it off the lot, you notice five other cars exactly like yours. It’s kind of a bummer, especially when you thought you were being original.
But when I started having issues with my gut, I was actually thankful for this phenomena. Since I’ve started on my gut health journey these last few months, it seems like everywhere I look someone is talking about it.
And I’ve learned a lot.
Basically, an unhealthy gut is a result of the unhealthy foods we eat here in the U.S. Even when we think we’re being really healthy, we’re still putting processed foods, sugars and allergens into our bodies.
Some facts I’ve learned:
- About 75 percent of all people have some form of Candida.
- Probiotics are good for your body, but you should only add two strains at a time.
- If your immune system is out of whack, you’ll have problems with your allergies.
- Imbalances in your hormones will prevent you from losing weight.
After thinking that my gut issues was a result of age creeping up on me, I finally had enough. I decided to arm myself with knowledge so I started researching. And what I found is that I am definitely not alone. It seems like people with gut issues are coming out of the woodwork. I wish that there weren’t so many people suffering, but I’m also thankful for the abundance of resources that are out there.
If you’re one of the millions struggling with gut health issues, don’t suffer in silence. Here’s what I did—and what I recommend you do:
- Pay attention to your body. Try to identify triggers that make you feel “off” and eliminate those from your diet.
- Find someone you believe in. Whether you go to a traditional doctor, a naturopath or another provider, it’s important to find someone with experience who you can trust.
- Get the right tests. Finding a fix for your particular issue will likely involve some tests—for allergies as well as more in-depth issues. Talk to your provider about what tests will get you the answers you need.
- Rule out the scary things first. When I first started really looking for answers, my mind went to the worst-case scenarios first. Put your mind at ease by ruling out those issues first, then dig deeper.
- Look at other options. If you don’t get the answers you need, look for other possible issues and get a second opinion. I’ve seen doctors, nutritionists and alternative health providers to get some answers to my outstanding gut issues. And in doing this, I share the information I’m receiving—including test results—so everyone is on the same page and has all the facts.
As of now, I’m on probiotics and working with a nutritionist to eliminate some of the foods that I recently found I’m allergic to. But I know that my solution is not the right solution for someone else, so it’s important to stay educated and informed to get the right answers.
What have you found to be some of the best resources for your own gut health? I’m always looking for new tidbits of information to help me continue to heal and grow.
