Are You Really Gluten/Dairy Intolerant?
Chances are you’ve tried cutting out gluten or dairy at some point to try ‘fix’ your gut problems. Did it work? 🤔
While it may have helped, I often find patients cutting out whole food groups for extended periods of time (sometimes years!) and only seeing 30-40% improvement.
I want to get you to 100%
No food group is inherently ‘bad’ and my theory always is if your gut is working how it’s supposed to, you should be able to eat most things in moderation. You might just need to fix the underlying problem first.
Here are a few reasons why your gut health may ACTUALLY be off:
- You have low stomach acidity
- When there isn’t enough acidity, food doesn’t get broken down fully allowing bacteria to feed and ferment it causing symptoms like bloating, gas, indigestion and abdominal discomfort.
- Learn more about stomach acidity and how to improve it here here
- You have SIBO
- Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth (SIBO) is exactly what it sounds like – an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. It’s estimated that 80% of people with IBS are actually suffering from SIBO.
- Common SIBO symptoms are:
- bloating, gassiness, burping, flatulence, heartburn, a sensation of fullness in the abdomen, constipation and/or diarrhea
- Good news – we can fix this! The first key to treating SIBO is to correctly diagnose SIBO (via a non-invasive breath test) and address the root cause. Treatment focuses around bringing bacteria levels down to normal, preventing them from proliferating again and optimizing a healthy microbiome and gut.
- Learn more about SIBO Testing and Treatment here.
- You have a compromised gut lining
- In an unhealthy gut, the lining can weaken leaving the barrier compromised. This can lead to inflammation in the gut (and throughout the body!) causing symptoms such as bloating, gas, cramping, food sensitivities, low energy, headaches, and joint pain.
- Comprehensive Stool Analysis testing can be helpful to get a snapshot picture of your gut health
Does this sound like you? Let’s figure out YOUR gut health ✨
If you are suffering from digestive concerns or interested in optimizing your digestive health, I am a Naturopathic Doctor in Toronto, Mississauga and Vaughan and would love to help you reach your health goals. Feel free to reach out and check out available appointments here!
In health,
Dr. Courtney Ranieri, ND
Always check in with your Naturopathic Doctor or other health care provider before starting any treatments or making changes to your healthcare plan.
