5 actions you can take to improve your digestion (before testing).
Gut health issues can significantly impact your life, but with the right actions and help, you can manage them. If you're experiencing gut health issues, consider consulting with a functional medicine practitioner or nutritionist to help you identify the root cause of your gut issues and develop a personalised treatment plan.
As a functional medicine-trained naturopathic nutritionist and coach, I first look to the root cause of health issues through health history, and symptoms before looking at testing. The next step is translating this information into everyday actions that align with your lifestyle, food preferences, and adding supports such as approriate herbs or supplements to get you back on track and feeling good inside and out.
Here are five actions you can take to manage your gut health issues:
Implement Slow Eating: Slow eating can significantly help reduce gut issues. Eating slowly helps you chew your food properly, which in turn improves digestion. It also gives your body time to signal that it is full, reducing overeating and preventing bloating.
Reduce Stress: Stress is a common cause of gut health issues. It can lead to altered motility and increased inflammation, resulting in gut issues. You can manage stress by practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, or Tai Chi.
Improve Breathing: Diaphragmatic breathing helps reduce stress and improves digestion. It involves taking slow, deep breaths, filling your lungs entirely and breathing out slowly through your mouth. Practicing diaphragmatic breathing for a few minutes each day can significantly improve gut health.
Get Enough Sleep: Getting adequate sleep is crucial for gut health. Poor sleep can lead to increased stress, inflammation, and altered hormone levels, all of which can cause gut issues. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night to support your gut health.
Try a Low-FODMAP Diet: A low FODMAP diet is a temporary diet that can help identify food triggers that cause gut issues. It involves eliminating high FODMAP foods for a period and gradually reintroducing them to identify trigger foods.
Gut isses can be debilitating and impact various aspects of our life. If you still experience gut issues, testing may be necessary. For more information on when and how to test your gut for SIBO and other issues watch the gut health testing webinar.
