Gut Health

What is gut health?

Gut health involves the health of your digestive system, including your stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. Having a healthy gut reduces your risk of gastrointestinal (GI) disorder symptoms, such as bloating, gas, heartburn, constipation, diarrhea, and bloody stool. 

Main contributors to a healthy gut include stomach acidity balance, gut immunity, and healthy gut bacteria (microbiome).

Which conditions are linked to gut health imbalances?

Health conditions related to gut microbiome imbalance may include:

• Infections
• Diarrhea
• Constipation 
• Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
• Crohn's disease
• Ulcerative colitis 
• Poor digestion
• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Gas

Amber determines the underlying cause of gut problems to establish how to best treat your condition and reduce the risk of further concerns.

How are gut health problems diagnosed?

Diagnosing gut health problems at Amber Functional Medicine, LLC, requires a review of your symptoms, assessment of your medical history, and diagnostic testing. Examples of tests include blood tests, urine testing, stool tests, and breath tests. You might also complete an elimination diet to determine if specific foods are the cause of problematic symptoms.

How can I optimize my gut health?

Consider the following methods that can optimize gut microbiota and your overall gut health:

• Eat a balanced diet 
• Stay active
• Get enough sleep
• Minimize stress and anxiety
• Take dietary supplements as directed
• Eliminate foods that cause distressing symptoms
• Undergo periodic functional lab testing

The human gut contains trillions of microorganisms that balance bad GI bacteria and keep your gut health in check. Lab testing allows Amber to identify potential gut imbalances to determine if you’re a candidate for lifestyle medicine or other treatments.

It’s helpful to eat foods rich in probiotics or take a probiotic supplement and consume fruits, vegetables, and other fiber-rich options. If you’re sensitive to gluten, dairy, or fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides and polyols (FODMAPS), you may need to limit or avoid certain foods. 

Drink plenty of water and eliminate highly processed foods. Avoid taking antibiotics unless necessary, and follow up with Amber to ensure you maintain a healthy gut long term.

Schedule a gut health evaluation at Amber Functional Medicine, LLC, by calling the office or booking an in-person or telehealth visit online today.