We’ve been told “you are what you eat.” The truth is, you are actually what you “digest, absorb, and assimilate” because it is not until your food is digested optimally that it actually becomes part of the body.

 

The gut has many responsibilities- converting food into essential nutrients that can then be absorbed and assimilated, maintaining a balance of microbes, and removing waste.  If essential nutrients are not available for whatever reason—poor quality food, digestive dysfunction, microbial imbalance, poor absorption—those metabolic processes can be disrupted. This can have far reaching consequences. So, good health, and unfortunately poor health, does start in the gut.

People struggling with chronic conditions most often have a GI related dysfunction or imbalance. Those with GI disorders most often have other systemic symptoms.

Low energy, muscle aches, arthritis, not sleeping well, inability to concentrate, and migraines among others, have been associated with some disruption in digestion. Dysbiosis, leaky gut syndrome, food sensitivities are all potential culprits that may need to be addressed. This is why we are told to “start with the gut,” when addressing health problems.

If you feel you are currently nourishing your body properly and treating your digestive tract well, but still have digestive complaints or other symptoms that have not been explained,  see your physician to rule out medical conditions.  Identifying food sensitivities may be needed so that you can address potential culprits of poor digestion, resolve them, and begin reaping the health benefits of optimal digestion. Ignoring it will not make it go away. The Alcat Test for Food and Chemical Sensitivities and the Celiac, IBS, Crohn’s Array (CICA), offered by Cell Science Systems can help identify pieces to the puzzle. Couple that testing with a PreviMedica membership which includes valuable lifestyle guidance from nutrition and culinary specialists, personalized nutrition and supplementation plan, and customized meal planning.