Gut Health Part II: A Healing Protocol

There is a growing public knowledge of how using food as medicine can be beneficial in improving health. This awareness of food as medicine is obvious in the increasing use of the paleo diet, autoimmune diet, and vegan or vegetarian food plans in attempt to heal one’s self. Healing the gut can reduce not only gut symptoms but many other health conditions and ultimately protect one from chronic illness.
As mentioned in last month’s “Gut Health Part I”, many things, including poor diet, stressful lifestyle, and toxins, can cause disruptions in gut health. Overall health begins in the gut and we need to protect the gut environment – and here is why.
The majority of our immune system surrounds the gut as a built-in defense system. This makes complete sense – we eat some things and our body needs to decide if it is a friend or foe? Should it be digested or eliminated? Gut imbalances can trigger an abnormal immune response causing a cascade of different symptoms. These symptoms can present differently in individuals as health conditions and include allergies, skin disorders, mood and cognitive disorders, autoimmune conditions and many others.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common relapsing bowel disorder once thought to be psychosomatic in nature. However, newer information on the cause of IBS is suggesting an imbalance between the good and unhealthy bacteria, and this can cause low-grade intestinal inflammation triggered by the immune system. Recent research suggests people with asthma and allergic symptoms have a higher prevalence of IBS. This supports the understanding of the connection between gut health, the immune system and one’s overall health.
People with IBS often relate their symptoms to food reactions and believe that certain foods increase their symptoms significantly. The offending foods often include wheat products, milk-derived products, eggs, certain meats, cabbage, peas/beans, fried foods, food additives, alcohol, and caffeine. People who suffer with IBS and other gut symptoms need support with personalizing their diets to reduce symptoms, address potential nutrient deficiencies, and shift the gut bacteria to a healthier environment.
A gut healing protocol which can be used for IBS and many gut disorders is the “5 R Protocol”.
The “5 R” protocol is aimed to address gut imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, promote gut restoration, and proper functioning of the digestive tract. It can address many chronic illnesses of today including chronic fatigue, low energy, migraines, and many other chronic illnesses.
For more information, call Compassionate Healthcare Associates at 661-295-7777.