What you’re about to read may come as a surprise to you. Many people have learned to live with uncomfortable digestive issues because they think these issues are normal or mere inconveniences. Many people also like to eat highly addictive foods even when they cause digestive upset because our brains are conditioned to enjoy the immediate reward of great taste over the long-term punishment of gas, bloating, indigestion, pain, reflux or elimination disorders.
The Root Cause of Disease
But, did you know that your digestive issues are really just the first sign of potential long-term disease? At Path Wellbeing, we practice what is known as Ayurvedic medicine. This form of holistic healing has its roots in Vedic healing traditions that focus on the whole person: mind, body and spirit. In Ayurveda, digestive issues such as gas, bloating, indigestion, pain, reflux or elimination disorders are not only the first sign of potential disease building in the body – they are the root cause of most* diseases or imbalances.
Don’t believe us? Modern research has shown us that for every 10 percent of your diet that comes from processed food, your risk of death increases by 14 percent! And, according to a study in 2018 by the Milken Institute, our national medical care costs for chronic health conditions related to obesity and poor diet reached $1.1 trillion in 2016. The total cost, when taking into account factors such as lost productivity and lost income, reaches $3.7 trillion!
Today, 60 percent of Americans have one chronic disease and 40 percent have two or more. Chronic conditions include abnormal cholesterol, osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer, Alzheimer’s and kidney failure. According to the Milken Institute study – if we continue on this path – in 10 years, 83 million Americans will have three or more chronic diseases – more than double the 30.8 million in 2015. Convinced yet?
What if we told you that you could avoid inclusion in this statistic just by fixing your digestion? Hippocrates once said “Let food be thy medicine and let thy medicine be food.” An ancient Ayurvedic proverb tells us the same: “When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.”
From an Ayurvedic perspective, because each constitution is so different, each person is going to be more prone to a particular digestive issue. Once we know your constitution, we know how to treat your digestive issues. And, we do not use over-the-counter medication that may actually be making your digestive and elimination issues worse (just read your OTC inserts on “side-effects”). Our approach focuses on the use of food, herbs and lifestyle to bring your body back into balance naturally.
Probiotics
According to the Center for Disease Control, five out of every six Americans received an antibiotic prescription in 2016, at least 30% of which were most likely unnecessary. We see adverse reactions to antibiotics in our practice all the time, resulting in digestive or elimination issues such as bloating, distention, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Other symptoms can include allergies, candida, headache, neurological issues, skin rash, among others. Because antibiotics destroy bacteria, including the good flora and fauna of your gut, a lot of people take probiotics to offset the potential adverse effects of antibiotics…but the solution isn’t so simple.
Many people also take probiotics outside of antibiotic use. Be aware that the probiotic industry reaches $40 billion worldwide and that not all probiotics are made the same. Your best probiotic comes from a food source such as probiotic yogurt, kimchi, and other fermented foods – but not all people can tolerate these foods. By assessing your constitution and imbalances, we can recommend the right probiotic foods for your constitution. And, if these foods aren’t right for you, we can recommend a scientifically-backed probiotic supplement that works for you.
Finally, not everyone needs a probiotic. In fact, we have seen clients who have used probiotics regularly for a long time and have destroyed their gut health by overpopulating their gut bacteria and ability to process foods and nutrients effectively. There are no “magic pills” when it comes to your digestive health. Honor your natural constitution and consult with a holistic health practitioner before starting a new supplement or nutritional regime.
Stress & Hormones
One of the biggest factors in digestive upset: stress. That’s right, how you feel has as much impact on your gut than what you eat. That “gut feeling” you get? That’s your brain and belly talking to each other along the “gut-brain axis” (GBA). Your gut also has a huge conglomeration of nerves called the “solar plexus”. This is the area that goes haywire when you’re under stress and is just the beginning of your path toward digestive upset, pain, and intolerance. Even if you ate the healthiest of foods, you won’t digest them appropriately and your body will fail to process the essential nutrients it needs to function well and stay healthy.
Struggling with a hormonal imbalance? The gut processes a great majority of your hormones. For example, your brain receives 95% of its serotonin from your gut, where it is made. When you eat food that doesn’t digest well or is lacking in essential nutrients, your body can’t produce the hormones it needs to function well. In essence, poor nutritional choices are leading to greater levels of depression, anxiety, and insomnia; in addition to bone loss, reproductive and menstrual disorders and other chronic inflammatory diseases.
Your Path to Digestive Health
Recent studies in UK prisons showed a 30 percent decrease in violence and substantial behavioral improvement with simple changes to a person’s diet and lifestyle, including fresh vegetables and fruits, supplements and yoga classes. In other words, small changes matter! If you aren’t ready for a one-on-one consultation, simply incorporating more fresh foods into your diet and reducing processed foods will have a big impact!
If you are ready to take it to the next level, to learn about and eat according to your constitution, in addition to understanding the lifestyle rhythms and routines that are best for you, contact us at Path Wellbeing.
*Not all diseases will arise from digestive imbalance – but digestive imbalance will certainly make most diseases worse. You may contract disease from a genetic abnormality, environmental or food toxin, viral or bacterial infection, among other exogenous sources.
**As the science of the elements, we conduct a comprehensive analysis to know how much earth, water, fire, air, and ether show up in your body, mind and spirit (your constitution). Earth represents the solid structures of your body such as bone and muscle mass and density, as well as stability of the mind and its resilience under stress; water represents the consistency and quantity of plasma, lymph, synovial fluid, etc. as well as your ability to “go with the flow” and not let stress overwhelm you; fire represents metabolism and thermal energy and the quality of discernment, judgement or “seeing clearly” in the mind; air represents movement and how much oxygen, CO2, and other gasses are moving about your body as well as the movement (rate, motility and distraction) of the mind; and, finally ether represents the hollow cavities in the body and the expansiveness of the mind.
Required Disclosure: The information contained within this article is for educational purposes only and should not replace the direct advice of a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. Always consult a medical or other professional healthcare provider when considering a new health regime.
