A 4-step systematic approach to sorting out your digestive issues

A 4-step systematic approach to sorting out your digestive issues

Gastrointestinal complaints are among the leading causes of visits to doctors. The types of conditions range from gastroesophageal reflux to peptic ulcers and irritable bowel disease. Of these the most common is the so-called “functional” disorder of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The reason I’m bringing this to your attention is because of the link between GI dysfunction and other non-localized systemic conditions. The link is likely due to a breach in the intestinal barrier (leaky gut) and it’s this breach that leads to systemic inflammation often linked to conditions like Rheumatoid arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Eczema and liver disease. As a Chiropractor I see loads of arthritic patients and often I talk about diet and I can see that it’s difficult bridge for some patients to make between diet and their arthritis.

The ability of the body to maintain healthy GI function and to heal the GI barrier when its integrity is breached, is integral to protection from chronic inflammation and proliferation of systemic inflammation.

In my studies of Functional Medicine, the method for intervention to normalize and optimizing GI function is referred to as the 4R program. Remove, Replace, Reinoculate and Repair. The specific application of the programme depends on the nature and course of the patient’s condition and should be individualized for maximum benefit. To simplify the process for your ease of use, I’ll outline the 4R programme and make a few easy suggestions so that anyone reading this can implement an effective strategy to overcome systemic inflammation, whether this inflammation is presenting as arthritis or IBS, it doesn’t matter. Inflammation is inflammation and the more your body experiences the more at dis-ease your body will be. Dis-ease leads to disease and the form it takes depends on your specific genetic makeup and what you expose your genes to.

4R In a Nutshell

Remove: Remove the toxins. The toxins present could be in the form of the more obvious offenders like cigarettes and alcohol or they could be a bit more subtle like food additives, fungal overgrowth, yeast or bacteria.

Removing tobacco and alcohol (or at the very least reducing your intake) of these is by far the most simple way to reduce a large component of your toxic load.

Eating more vegetables and staying away from processed foods (especially processed meats) is another fairly simple way to reduce your toxic load.

Sugar feeds yeast so reducing your sugar intake will starve the yeast in your gut. A specific anti-yeast diet is very successful in removing yeast overgrowth in the gut within several weeks, but this would require a proper assessment and eating plan.

Replace: This step in the programme focuses on the replenishment of enzymes and other digestive factors which may be lacking or limited. Food allergies can be caused by intact and poorly digested protein fragments making their way across the gut wall and into circulation. By increasing digestion of protein you are able to decrease the supply of intact proteins that leak into the bloodstream and reduce reactive food allergies.

When taking an Enzyme supplement, look for a formula containing at least:

• Protease 100,000 USP units
• Lipase 20,000 USP units
• Amylase 100, 000 USP units

Reinoculate: This step refers to the reintroduction of desirable bacteria into the gut. The overall balance if these organisms can profoundly influence gut health. The number of bacteria in the large bowel alone is greater than 100 billion and thus constitute a powerful chemical factory inside your gut. These bacteria have metabolic cycles that create toxins and by-products which in turn (when in imbalance) can alter chemical composition of foods, degrade vitamins, inactivate enzymes and bile salts. Simply put, keeping the correct balance of good bacteria in your gut is essential for proper metabolism and gut function.  

In addition to reintroducing the good bacteria we can also boost/stimulate the good bacteria that is already there by taking Pre-Biotics.

Repair: Repair refers to providing nutritional support for regeneration and healing of the GI mucosa. A significant part of the repair job would have already taken place by following steps 1-3 above. Nutrients that play a pivotal role in the repair job of the GI tract are Omega 3 oils, Glutamine, Arganine, Zinc, Slippery Elm Bark and Pantothenic Acid (B6).

 

If you know you suffer with bowel dysfunction of some type, whether it’s IBS or something more severe, by following the above program you have all the tools to reverse a dysfunctional system. For a more detailed approach and specific dietary advice, I would suggest consulting with a Functional Medicine practitioner. Diet diaries and elimination diets are sometimes the best way to assess the way forward, so if you need help with any of this please feel free to give me a call: 021 785 4855, Longbeach Chiropractic.