Gut Health

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Inflammatory bowel disease is an umbrella term for inflammation based conditions of the digestive tract, including Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease. Symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease may range from mild to severe, with periods of active disease and remission. Though gastrointestinal symptoms are present (often including constipation or diarrhea, bloating, blood or mucus in the stool, increased frequency, urgency, and pain), systemic manifestations (such as abscesses, fistulas, joint pain, weight loss, fever and severe fatigue) may occur as well. Mental health may also be affected by inflammatory conditions such as IBD, which may be worsened by pain, fear or isolation.

Celiac disease

Celiac Disease is an autoimmune condition. In response to eating gluten, the body mounts an immune reaction which eventually damages the intestinal lining and villi leading to symptoms including extreme bloating and gas, weight loss, diarrhea/constipation, foul-odoured stools, abdominal pain, fatigue, skin changes, changes to stool texture or colour and often results in nutrient deficiencies.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) & Dysbiosis

According to recent theory and research, SIBO may result from (1) an upwards translocation of bacteria from the lower intestine to the (upper) small intestine or (2) when overgrowth of local bacteria occurs. Symptoms may overlap with other gut disorders (including IBS, indigestion, inflammatory or malabsorption disorders) and can range from mild to severe. These bacteria tend to feed off of carbohydrates and sugars, therefore, eating these foods tends to exacerbate symptoms. There’s reason to believe that some individuals suffering from IBS might actually be experiencing bacterial overgrowth or dysbiosis, an imbalance of bacteria in the gut. SIBO and dysbiosis are also more likely to occur in individuals with autoimmune disease, those with poor immunity or other inflammatory conditions of the gut.

Esophageal esophagitis

Esophageal esophagitis is a chronic inflammatory allergy-mediate immune condition of the esophagus. There are genetic and environmental causes and triggers. When eosinophils, a while blood cell that increases in allergic states, build up in the esophagus in response to ingestion of allergenic foods, exposure to environmental allergens, acid buildup or food sensitivities - it can lead to inflammation and damage of the esophageal tissue. Symptoms may include esophageal discomfort, trouble or pain with swallowing, feeling of food getting “stuck” in your throat, symptoms of GERD or acid reflux, centrally-located chest pain that does not usually respond to antacids, nausea or regurgitation and upper abdominal pain. Identifying allergens and triggers is essential - removing them from your diet and environment may help improve symptoms. Adapting to an anti-inflammatory diet is quite helpful for most, but identifying individual sensitivities and triggers is optimal.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome can be broken down into three categories; IBS-C presenting mainly with constipation, IBS-D presenting mainly with diarrhea and IBS-M presenting with a mixture of alternating constipation and diarrhea. Though symptoms may overlap with those of inflammatory bowel disease, mucosal and histopathological changes seen on scopes in IBD are not present in those with IBS. There are several mechanical, biological and environmental triggers of IBS. Symptoms may worsened by irritating foods specific to the individual, stress, hormones, nervous system changes, lifestyle factors, medication use, infections, gastrointestinal microflora or inflammation.

peptic ulcers & h. pylori

Ulcers, which are open sores in the gut lining, may also arise in the upper GI regions. Although there are several factors that may contribute to their development, H. Pylori, a bacteria, may play a large role. Excessive use of NSAIDs may contribute furthers. When H. Pylori infection leads to an ulcer, it can cause abdominal pain, burning, nausea, appetite changes, weight loss, indigestion and more. Testing helps to direct treatment.

candida overgrowth

Candida is a yeast or fungus that is naturally present in the digestive tract in small amounts, aiding in digestion. When it becomes overproduced, it may cause local and/or systemic symptoms. These may include frequent urinary tract infections, skin manifestations (hives, eczema, rashes), rectal or vaginal itching, fungal infections of the skin or nails, mood changes, fatigue, frequent headaches, digestive issues and likely strong cravings for sugar and carbohydrates. Individuals with pre-existing GI disease (such as IBD) may be more likely to experience candida overgrowth, as are individuals on certain medications, diabetics, those with certain environmental exposures or lowered immune states. Inflammation plays a role in susceptibility and may further promote candida overgrowth leading to a vicious cycle of low-level inflammation.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

GERD is often caused by relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a valve between the esophagus and the stomach. When this occurs, acid starts to leak out of the acidic environment of the stomach up into the esophagus, where high acidity should not be, leading to irritation and damage the lining of the mucosa. Protecting the mucosa from damage is important to prevent long term complications. Medications for GERD generally treat acute symptoms, however, they often don’t do much to prevent symptoms which is important since long-term damage to the esophageal tissue may causes scarring or stricture, ulceration, cellular changes involved in pre-cancerous risk and inflammation. There are many risk factors that increase the likelihood of GERD (pregnancy, asthma, motility disorders, autoimmune or inflammatory disorders) and modifiable lifestyle factors (obesity, smoking, diet, alcohol use, etc.) that can be utilized to prevent worsening and lead to improvement.

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