Why we almost always start with your gut
A patient comes to us for fatigue, or skin that keeps flaring, or anxiety that arrived without a clear reason. They are often surprised when one of our first questions is about digestion.
It is not a detour. In our practice, we almost always begin treating chronic health problems by looking at the gut first.
Your gut does more than digest
It absorbs the nutrients every other system runs on.
A large share of your immune system lives in and around it.
It is in constant conversation with your brain, which is why gut health and mental clarity so often move together.
It is home to trillions of bacteria. When that community falls out of balance, inflammation tends to follow.
A healthy gut should mean more to you than freedom from a little bloating or heartburn. It is connected to nearly everything that happens in your body.
Signs your gut may be part of the problem
Some are obvious: bloating, reflux, constipation, loose stools.
Others are easy to miss because they show up far from the digestive tract: low energy, brain fog, eczema or acne, new reactions to foods, restless sleep, and weight that will not respond to your efforts.
How we find out what is going on
We do not guess. Depending on your history, your workup may include:
Full blood work
A nutrient evaluation to see what you are and are not absorbing
A GI stool test to look at the bacteria and other organisms in your gut
Food allergy and sensitivity testing
The results give our providers and nutrition team what they need to build a treatment and nutrition plan that is specific to you.
What improving your gut can do
Calm inflammation, which makes weight easier to manage
Improve digestion and the absorption of vitamins and minerals
Support a steadier mood and clearer thinking
Help you sleep, which in turn helps your gut
Three places to start this week
Eat a wider variety of plants. Different fibers feed different beneficial bacteria.
Avoid sugar, packaged food, seed oils and alcohol
Protect seven to eight hours of sleep. Your gut bacteria keep a schedule too.
These habits help most people. Symptoms that are persistent or severe deserve a proper evaluation, not a guess.
Get to the root of it
Your first step is a New Patient Consultation, in person at our West Loop clinic or by video or phone.
Book an appointment or call 312-877-5512.
This article is for education only and is not medical advice.
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