GASTROINTESTINAL CONDITIONS

According to recent research, approximately seventy-four percent of the United States population is currently experiencing, or has experienced, some form of disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. In fact, gastrointestinal disorders are some of the most common health conditions managed by the practitioners at Flatirons Integrative Health & Nutrition.

UNDERSTANDING GASTROINTESTINAL FUNCTION

Commonly referred to as the "GI" tract, the gastrointestinal tract includes the organs involved in the consumption, digestion, and elimination of food. After food has been chewed in the mouth, it follows the esophagus down into the stomach, where it undergoes additional digestion by the acid in the stomach. After leaving the stomach, food passes into the small intestine, which has microvilli, small finger-like projections, that absorb the nutrients from food as it passes by. Next, the food passes into the large intestine, which is where a large majority of the water is absorbed. Each one of these stages of digestion is separated by a valve which helps regulate when food will pass into the next stage. A process called peristalsis is responsible for squeezing the walls of the intestines to help move food along. The pancreas excretes digestive enzymes which help you body to break down macronutrients, such as fats (to lipids), protein (to amino acids), and carbohydrates (to sugars), while the gallbladder secretes bile to helps digest fats in the small intestine.

COMMON CONDITIONS OF THE STOMACH & ESOPHAGUS

One of the most common GI conditions is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), also called "acid reflux", which chronically affects over 20% of the population. With this condition, stomach acid can slip through the valve and back up into the esophagus, causing burning and irritation. Inflammation of the esophagus is called esophagitis. Common conditions of the stomach involve fluctuations in stomach acid levels. Too little stomach acid is called hypochlorhydria, which causes bloating, belching, flatulence (immediately after meals), heartburn (often thought to be caused by excess stomach acid), indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, undigested food in stools, acne, rectal itching, chronic candida, food sensitivities, weak fingernails, or dry skin. Conversely, excess stomach acid is called hyperchlorhydria, which causes regurgitations, bloating, burping, hiccups, nausea, or dysphagia (a narrowing of your esophagus that creates the feeling of food being stuck in your throat). Peptic ulcers are ulcers in the stomach lining which cause burning stomach pain, the sensation of being full, bloating, belching, fatty food intolerance, heartburn, or nausea.

COMMON CONDITIONS OF THE PANCREAS & GALLBLADDER

If the pancreas and gallbladder are under functioning, the GI tract can have difficulty breaking down macronutrients, which can lead to protein, fat, or carbohydrate maldigestion. Issues with the gallbladder all seem to have similar symptoms, including pain, nausea, fever, chills, diarrhea, jaundice, or unusual stools or urine. Inflammation of the gallbladder is called cholecystitis while gallstones are small, hardened deposits that form in the gallbladder. Similar symptoms occur with pancreatic issues. Inflammation of the pancreas is called pancreatitis, which occurs when the digestive enzymes created by the pancreas digest the lining of the pancreas itself. Cystic fibrosis is a much less common genetic disorder in which thick mucus can also block the tubes in your pancreas.

COMMON CONDITIONS OF THE INTESTINES

The intestines are divided into two main sections, the small intestine and the large intestine. Though the small intestine is typically sterile, bacteria from the large intestine can occasionally make its way back into the small intestine, causing Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth, also referred to as "SIBO". Other common conditions affecting the large intestine include Ulcerative Colitis, which causes ulcers of the colon and rectum, as well as Diverticulitis, which causes inflammation or infection of pouches in the colon. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are typical of both the small and large intestines. Common autoimmune disorders of the gut include Celiac Disease and Crohn's Disease. Other conditions, such as sensitivities and intolerances, may trigger GI symptoms. For example, lactose intolerance or sulfur intolerance may trigger symptoms that seem to be originating in the GI.

NUTRITION & INTEGRATIVE HEALTH INTERVENTIONS FOR GASTROINTESTINAL CONDITIONS

Though GI disorders are unfortunately very common, they are thankfully very responsive to changes in diet and lifestyle. However, each one of the GI conditions discussed requires differing intervention protocols. If you believe that you may have a GI condition, contact Flatirons Integrative Health & Nutrition to get help. Our GI testing panels can be viewed here.

UPCOMING COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS

Contact us today to reserve your spot at one of our popular upcoming community presentations on the following gastrointestinal health topics:

GASTROiNTESTINAL CONDITIONS: FINDING THE ROOT CAUSE

UNDERSTANDING IBD AND IBS - C/D

IMPROVING DIGESTION

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