Deflate Bloat, Constipation and IBS with a Healthy Large Intestine
Jul 01, 2023
Welcome friend! If you've found yourself here, it's likely because your Symptom Burden Assessment has highlighted the Large Intestine (LI) as an area of focus for you. I totally understand the impact these symptoms can have on your daily life and overall well-being. That's I'm here to guide you towards understanding, managing, and ultimately conquering your Large Intestine symptoms.
In this blog, we will explore the essential role this organ plays in your overall well-being and provide practical solutions to alleviate your symptoms. Let's get started!
The Role of Your Large Intestine:
Think of your large intestine, or colon, as the exit strategy of your digestive system –– it has a crucial job in the final stages of digestion and elimination. It's responsible for forming and eliminating feces, ensuring regular and comfortable bowel movements – nothing is as underrated as a good BM! However, its main job is to absorb water, electrolytes, and essential vitamins produced by our friendly gut bacteria. When your large intestine works harmoniously, it creates a happy gut environment and supports your overall wellness.
Symptoms that Speak Your Language:
Living with a misbehaving large intestine can throw some unexpected curveballs into your daily routine. Trust me, I've been there too! Here are some relatable symptoms that might ring a bell:
- That uncomfortable feeling of your belly expanding like a balloon after indulging in your favorite meal. It's like carrying around an invisible food baby!
- Dealing with those unwelcome guests ––fungus, bacteria, parasites –– the persistent housemate who never seems to leave.
- The joy of sitting on the porcelain throne, waiting for something, anything to happen.
- And if something does happen it's hard or difficult-to-pass.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Ah, the "Irritable Bowel Symphony" that plays in your gut. One minute you're feeling bloated like a balloon, and the next minute you're running to the bathroom, the never-ending rollercoaster ride you didn't sign up for.
- No matter how much you brush, floss, and shower, that lingering bad breath or funky body odor just won't quit.
- Those unexpected cramps in the lower part of your abdomen.
Any of these sound familiar? You're not alone.
For 15 long years, I battled with chronic constipation that seemed to control my life. It was a frustrating cycle of discomfort and desperation, constantly seeking relief. I vividly remember my addiction to Smooth Move tea for nearly 3 years (only supposed to take for 2 weeks) and loading my morning smoothies with every bowel-stimulating powder I could find, hoping for a miracle.
Traveling was particularly challenging for me. While others looked forward to carefree vacations, I dreaded the disruption to my digestive routine. It seemed like no matter where I went, my bowels would become even more sluggish than usual. I resigned myself to the fact that vacations meant feeling bloated, uncomfortable, and always coming back home with a few extra pounds.
That's me ^^... so yeah, I totally get it. These symptoms can disrupt your life, dampen your spirits, and make you feel like you're navigating a never-ending obstacle course. But fear not! Relief is within reach, and I'm here to guide you toward a happier and healthier gut.
The Ripple Effect: How Your Large Intestine Influences Your Well-Being:
Believe it or not, the health of your large intestine has a profound impact on other aspects of your well-being. It's like a domino effect that can either bring harmony or wreak havoc throughout your body. Let's take a closer look at the connections between your large intestine and other key players from your Symptom Burden Assessment:
- Sugar Handling: Your large intestine acts as a sugar referee, either giving you a green light to indulge in sweet treats or waving a caution flag to protect your well-being.
- Adrenals: When your large intestine misbehaves, it sends distress signals to your adrenal glands, leaving you feeling frazzled, drained, and running on empty.
- Thyroid: Your large intestine and thyroid perform a synchronized dance routine, and if one slips, the other may stumble. Hormones aren't the root cause, but they can certainly influence your dance moves.
- Female Hormones: Picture your large intestine and hormonal balance as a dynamic duo. When they support each other, it's like having the best sisters by your side. But if they clash, chaos ensues on your menstrual cycles, fertility, and overall hormonal harmony.
- Toxins and Pathogens: ok, this isn't specifically on your assessment, however, the LI is a key player in your body effectively removing these major health disruptors. Before we can begin to address these things we have to make sure we have an effective exit strategy so they don't end up recirculating and causing more stress on your body.
Understanding these connections provides us with a panoramic view of how optimizing your large intestinal health can unlock a world of possibilities for your overall well-being.
But Why Tho? Unveiling the Culprits Behind Large Intestine Dysfunction
Now that we've explored the vital role of the large intestine in your well-being, it's time to uncover the reasons behind its mysterious disappearance from the health scene. Brace yourself, because the culprits may surprise you!
-
Antibiotic Use: These powerful medications can disrupt the delicate balance of your gut flora, paving the way for dysfunction in the large intestine.
-
Diet High in Sugar and/or Carbs: Excessive consumption of sugar and carbohydrates can create an inviting environment for troublemakers to thrive, wreaking havoc on your large intestine.
-
Alcohol Overuse: Overindulging in alcohol can be detrimental to your gut health, throwing the large intestine off balance and compromising its optimal functioning.
-
Liver/Gallbladder Issues: When the liver and gallbladder fail to produce enough bile, things can quickly become stagnant. This stagnation becomes a breeding ground for infection, causing disruptions in the large intestine (not to mention it makes it hard to clear toxins).
-
Toxicity: We encounter toxins from various sources such as drinking water, food, air, and even personal and home care products. These toxins can accumulate in the large intestine, hindering its performance.
- Low Beneficial Bacteria: these bad boys help keep our gut and immune system in check, but they can be wiped out by unfavorable pathogens, toxins and an unhealthy digestive system upstream.
-
Stress: When stress takes center stage, your gut can suffer. Imbalances in the nervous system can disrupt the proper functioning of the large intestine.
When the gut is thrown off balance, it becomes an ideal breeding ground for pathogens like fungus, bacteria, and parasites. These unwelcome guests can thrive and multiply, further contributing to large intestine dysfunction.
Understanding the underlying causes is the first step toward reclaiming a healthy large intestine. Fear not, for we're here to guide you on a journey of restoration and rejuvenation.
Your Personalized Path to Lasting Relief: Taking the Next Steps
These symptoms have held you back for far too long! Imagine waking up each morning feeling revitalized, pooping like a queen, buttoning up your favorite skinny jeans -– knowing they'll fit all day, and enjoying meals without fearing the aftermath. It's like stepping into a world where your gut is your ally, supporting you in everything you do.
To set foot on this personalized path to lasting relief, here are the key steps to nurturing your gut:.
Support Everything Upstream:
Looking at you Upper GI, Liver and Gallbladder and Small Intestines! When digestion falters, absorption suffers, leaving your cells deprived of vital nutrients. And don't forget that your stomach acid is also the first line of defense against pathogens, so we want to make sure you’re also supporting the factors up stream.
Remove Inflammatory Foods:
To give your gut the love and repair it needs, removing inflammatory foods is key. Common culprits like gluten, grains, alcohol, processed/sugary foods, and toxic water should be eliminated. Temporarily cutting out dairy can also speed up the healing process. Remember, real foods aren't the root cause; it's your immune system's response. Let's identify what's triggering it for lasting relief.
Clean Hydration:
Clean water is likely more important than clean food. Start by ensuring you're hydrating with clean water that's free from harmful toxins. You want to consume about 55% of your body weight in ounces of water. This is my top recommendation for water filters and purification systems to help you sip confidently. It’s triple filtered, structured and remineralized! Pulse, I love supporting small businesses like these :) Here’s a 10% off code for you: thehealthybellyfix
Upgrade Your Coffee Game:
King coffee is the perfect blend of organic, mold-free coffee and the extraordinary power of reishi spores (80X stronger than regular varieties). Reishi spores are a game-changer when it comes to balancing blood sugar levels, promoting pathogen cleanup, supporting detoxification, regulating hormones, reducing stress and anxiety, and enhancing overall brain function. Amazing for immune support too!
I have personally been enjoying 2-4 cups daily for nearly 3 years, and it has become an essential part of my routine. And I love that it's such an effortless swap in my daily routine that can make a remarkable difference in how I feel and perform throughout the day. Amazing liver support tool!
Coffee Enemas:
Enemas are like a natural detox session for your colon and liver, helping to flush out accumulated toxins and leaving you feeling fresh, energetic, and surprisingly calm. They work wonders in opening up those important drainage pathways in your body, creating an exit strategy for harmful toxins, unwanted bacteria and yeast hiding in your colon! Plus, coffee enemas boost bile production and movement, which helps break down fats and neutralize stomach acid, keeping your digestion in tip-top shape. Love these as a supportive healing tool!
Optimize Nutrition with Animal-Based Foods:
Prioritize animal-based nutrition to fuel your body with essential nutrients. Aim to include a minimum of 30 grams of protein from animal foods in each meal. Animal-based proteins are highly digestible and provide the building blocks your gut, hormones and immune system need for repair and maintenance. In fact animal proteins and fats are the most important foods for cellular detox. Explore my DIY course, Healthy Belly Nutrition, to learn more about utilizing the simplicity and effectiveness of animal-based nutrition to heal your body.
Foundations Protocol:
Your Starting Point for a Healthy Reset!
At the heart of our approach lies the recognition that supporting foundational aspects of your health is the first step towards achieving optimal well-being. We believe that addressing key elements like liver and gallbladder function, regular bowel movements (2-3x/day), efficient digestion, optimal nutrient status, and effective toxin removal can lay a solid groundwork for overall health. These pillars are often sufficient for significant improvements, alongside nutrition and lifestyle changes.
Think of our Foundations Protocol as a cleansing, purifying, and resetting experience—a spring cleaning for your system. By prioritizing these essential aspects, we create the ideal conditions for your body to thrive and naturally restore balance. Whether you seek to boost energy levels, promote glowing skin, or address chronic health concerns, this protocol is designed to serve as your starting point towards holistic well-being.
- Start with our Foundations Protocol.
Dive Deeper with Me:
Work directly with me for a comprehensive approach. Together, we'll dive deeper into your specific concerns, conduct functional lab testing if needed, address gut health issues, create personalized protocols, design customized meal plans, and provide ongoing guidance and support. With our collaboration, you'll not only address SI symptoms but also tackle the underlying root causes for lasting health and vitality. See our services here.
By implementing these solutions and following our customized protocol, you're taking significant steps towards nurturing your gut and reclaiming your well-being. Remember, healing is a journey. Make these super simple and effective changes and get ready to unlock a life of gut harmony, vibrant health, and renewed vitality.
Remember, this information is for educational purposes only and doesn't replace personalized medical advice. It's always best to consult with a qualified healthcare professional for a thorough evaluation and individualized guidance based on your specific needs.
Here's what some of my one-on-one clients have to say about these exact strategies and tips I'm sharing here:
Don’t have your own Symptom Burden Assessment yet? Grab yours HERE and gain exclusive access to my in-depth symptom assessment, unveiling the areas where your body needs the utmost support.
Meet your Functional Nutritionist
