Many people don’t realize but inflammation starts in the gut, leading to cancers, allergies, autoimmune problems, weight gain, and even hormonal imbalances. TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), Ayurveda, Functional Medicine, Integrative & Holistic Medicine all believe the Gut needs to be fixed first before the other medical problems exacerbate. So start healing your gut now regardless of how you feel because you will only get healthier.

1. First things first, cleanse you GI system.

Is it an allergy or food intolerance? There’s a difference. An Allergy is IgG meditated and usually the ramifications are instantly within a few minutes depending on severity. Food intolerance however can take up to days to manifest! It’s hard to know until you either test it or try and eliminate it  and then re-introduce it back into your diet. Try to avoid gluten, dairy, soy, and sugar to test it out first. Eat simple and clean with a diet full of fiber from fresh fruits and veggies along with lean protein.

2. Other Contributions

Could your GI dysfunction be caused by other things like candida overgrowth, parasites, or something more chronic like crohns, celiac, IBS, SIBO or dysbiosis? These can be evaluated by your primary care provider or integrative & functional doctor by some additional stool testing. A lot of time we are carrying around toxic exposure from birth so you want to eliminate anything bad and preventable out of the equation pronto!

3. Supplements to incorporate

There are a few supplements you can try to heal your gut faster. Probiotics is one of my favorite, not only does it help with your stomach but also strengths your immune system. A lot of people have damage to their GI tract from many years of antibiotics, NSAIDS and other medication use. Probiotics reintroduce and colonize the gut flora with organisms we want. More and more studies are showing it’s benefits including help regulating blood pressure.When you start a probiotic make sure it’s a good quality kind, at least >5 strains of bacteria and >20 Billion CFU. Probiotoics can be found in yogut, kefit but not as concentrated as in a pill form

Prebiotics is non digestive fiber in the large intestine that stimulates growth of “good bacteria.”  Inulin is s type of prebiotic another good for your gut. You can get this naturally through bananas, garlic, onions, beans and asparagus. Studies have shown this to be helpful with metabolism.

Glutamate is non essential fatty acid and important in the “Krebs cycle” and important in cellular metabolism . It’s one of my “go to” digestive dysfunction supplements. This can be done in the form of a powder which you can add to your protein shakes 1-2x/day.

Tumeric is another one of my favorite G.I supplements.  The best way to do this is through a curcumin dose. You have to cook with a lot of turmeric to get the same effects as seen in a pill. Many studies prove this yellow pigmented Indian spice has great anti-inflammatory effects. Many Ayurvedic practitioners have been recommending this for years because it works.

4. Eat more fermented foods

Fermented foods are the new craze but there’s a reason why. Full of various good bacteria, probiotic s,great enzymes, omega fatty 3 acids, and many B vitamins things like Sauerkraut, Kefir, kimchi, pickled vegtables, yogurt, kombucha are a must to try! You absorb more foods, and it’s cheap you can make it at home. Home made salsa is a good example of fermented food.

5. Eat your mom’s kitchri, or mine

Kitchri is good for your digestive system. Every time my stomach hurts my mother makes kitchri. It’s full of many grains, rice, and tumeric;  all which are easy on your gut. There are numerous recipes out there.. Try finding one that works for you and eat it with yogurt and pickles and you are on the way to healing your gut. Doing this consecutively for a few day will help you shed the lbs.  Many people also make it a fast. It’s full of fiber and the daals (lentils) have protein in it as well. Definitely give it a try. It’s one food that all 3 ayurvedic constitutions can enjoy.

6. Reduce your stress

Without stress reduction, your Gut will not heal properly. The more cortisol that is released, the more likely your body will let you know in various forms. Just meditating as little as 10min/day or going to a yoga class 3x/week can significantly reduce your body’s stress load. Try journaling, prayer, or find an artistic outlet so you can put your mind to ease.