What is “gut repair?” (And do you need it?)

Think of your gut as a small town. Just as that town is full of people doing various jobs, bacteria and other microorganisms — which make up your gut microbiome — also have specialized roles. They influence a range of health functions, including the immune system, hormones, brain function and metabolism. They even help us make some vitamins.

But this community can get out of balance for a number of reasons. Infections or overgrowth of certain microbes are common culprits, as are the use of antibiotics and acid blockers, drinking alcohol and chronic stress.

Diet also makes a huge difference in our overall gut health. Healthy gut flora depend on fiber, brightly colored compounds found in fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats, while bad actors in the gut thrive on sugar and other processed foods. Plus, how well we digest our food affects both our ability to absorb nutrients and the overall health of our microbiome.  

Fermented foods like yogurt and brightly colored plants like berries support a healthy gut.

Get more digestive tips here.

An unhealthy gut is often inflamed. So the gut lining can become “leaky,” which means viruses, food proteins and other compounds can enter the bloodstream, prompting an immune response, which may lead to inflammatory problems in other areas of the body.

Do I need gut repair?

Well… I imagine some of you reading this have a gut feeling the answer is “yes.” 😬 You have one or more digestive symptoms, such as heartburn, reflux, bloating, cramping, diarrhea or constipation. Maybe you’ve been diagnosed GERD or IBS.

However, gut repair may be beneficial for other conditions as well. Nourishing the gut supports hormone balance, blood sugar balance, autoimmune disease, skin conditions and mental health concerns including anxiety, depression and brain fog.

The gut has been called “the gateway to health” because, when we work on gut health, we’re affecting many systems at once. For example, the gut and the brain have two-way communication by way of hormones, inflammatory messengers and the nervous system. (Think of how you get butterflies when you’re nervous.)

How does gut repair work?

1.  When we start working together, I’ll learn about your health history, symptoms and current diet — all clues for what may be out of balance. If I think that gut repair would help you, I suggest it.

2. Often, I recommend clients take a “comprehensive stool test” that measures a range of microorganisms along your digestive tract and provides insights as to how well you break down your food and absorb nutrients, and whether or not your GI tract is inflamed. 

3. We make your plan and dig in! Gut repair may sound like a major undertaking, but we keep things simple — making changes that easily integrate into your daily routines.

• We start by temporarily tweaking your food and eating routines — limiting inflammatory foods and increasing foods that feed beneficial bacteria in your belly, and that nourish your gut lining

• I will suggest nutritional supplements specific to your symptoms, diagnoses (if applicable) and test results. These support digestion, a healthy gut lining and microbial balance. What is microbial balance? Think of our small town example – if we have an excessive number of accountants in our town but not enough teachers, we have a problem. It doesn’t make the accountants bad people, but we need fewer of them. And more teachers need to move in!

• Lastly, we hone in on lifestyle factors that can impact gut health. These include managing stress and supporting healthy sleep and exercise routines

• Sometimes, stool test results warrant a medical opinion and I’ll suggest you involve your doctor. I often work with other providers to create the right plan for you

4. We meet every few weeks through your gut repair plan, and I’m reachable between visits. I help you with menu planning and provide recipes so that food prep is a snap.

5. You start to feel better! My clients experience improvements in a range of areas, depending on the person. These include reduced/resolved digestive symptoms; better poops, improved focus, energy and mood; desired weight loss; and clearer skin.

6. We reintroduce foods (one at a time) that you had limited or avoided. Oftentimes, you can easily eat foods that were problematic before gut repair. However, some foods may continue to cause symptoms, so we leave those out and try again at a later date.