Digestion is the core of great health. Poor digestion, diseases of the digestive system or eating foods that have toxic effects in the body are the top reasons that people have chronic health problems that ruin enjoyment of life.
The chart that appears on this page gives you an appreciation for the far reaching affects of poor digestion. Digestion affects moods like depression and anxiety, it affects sleep and calmness, it affects mental clarity and brain fog, along with skin appearance and itchy sensations. Digestion, along with its partner sleep, are the twin foundations that make it possible to be healthy.
Poor digestion can directly cause auto-immune problems, sleep disturbances, and skin problems like eczema, acne and psoriasis.
Few people know that the digestive tract makes the chemicals that support sleeping well and feeling calm, like serotonin. It is also little known that the digestive tract directly affects mood, including feelings of depression, optimism, focus, and mental clarity. Much of what people refer to as "brain fog" is caused by toxic reactions in the digestive tract.
The gut makes or mediates serotonin and dopamine, two important chemicals called neurotransmitters, that numerous pharmaceutical drugs manipulate or interact with. These key chemicals that affect mood and alertness, serotonin and dopamine, come from the gut. A healthy gut produces a healthful balance of serotonin and dopamine and sets the stage for good mental health. Poor digestion is the #1 reason that people suffer from chronic, seemingly intractable depression and anxiety. Numerous patients that I've seen over the years have reported that they've used prescription drugs for years to treat their chronic depression, with little benefit and far too many unwanted side effects. Time after time it has been my experience that treating previously hidden digestive problems has resulted in reversal of the person's chronic depression and anxiety.
Case Study #1.
A 54 year old woman came to get help with her depression, feeling overwhelmed by her life and upset about her obesity. She did not really enjoy her work and was very worried about losing her job, as her moods were all over the place much of the time, especially at work where "acting out" was a real problem. When at work, she felt out of control, and would at times burst into to tears for no apparent reason, or experience intense feelings of rage. Realizing that her situation was only getting worse and was not sustainable, she came to me for help. First I did some specific lab testing with her to identify what was out of balance. As we worked together to identify the specific pieces of her health puzzle, it was clear that improving her digestive function was a key to regaining her mental balance and getting her to a healthy weight. Treatment was straightforward, and over time she achieved her health goals and has maintained them to date. An added benefit is that now things are going well at work and she recently received a raise, something she did not think would be in her future before working with me on her health.