A Multifaceted Approach to a Healthy, Happy Gut


By Antonio Reale, ND, MS I


t has been said that inflammation is the cause of almost every disease and this is especially true when it comes to disorders of the gut. Intestinal inflammation not only causes GI upset and symptoms of discomfort but can also make it difficult to absorb nutrients from foods and supplements. If your GI tract is not functioning properly, it's likely you're not getting all the nutrients from your diet or supplement plan, which is why GI health is an essential part of whole body wellness. Without a happy, healthy, functioning gut, it can be difficult to achieve optimal health. For- tunately, naturopathic medicine has much to offer in this area and the approach to GI health is multifaceted, with a conversation on everything from probiotics and digestive enzymes to anti-inflam- matory herbs and herbal antibiotics.


Demulcents & Anti-inflammatory Herbs


Whether you're suffering from acid reflux, IBS, or frequent bloating, it's important to use herbs that have soothing and anti- inflammatory properties but also work to heal the intestinal lining. In herbal medicine, we often categorize herbs based on their medicinal properties and this is where the "demulcents" come into play - herbs that are calming to the mucous membranes. I like to tell patients demulcents are to the GI tract what emollients are to the skin; just as you might apply a moisturizing cream to soothe cracked, irritated skin on a cold day, demulcents are ideal for irritat- ed and inflamed intestinal tissue. If you can imagine the gelatinous fluid that oozes from the Aloe leaf, you have a good understanding of how these herbs can calm and soothe irritated tissue. Marshmal- low, the name for the candy used to make s'mores, comes from the herb that most certainly came first. Although these herbs are useful in reducing inflammation, most GI protocols would be incomplete without a glutamine supplement to restore and regenerate new tissue. Glutamine, an amino acid, helps to promote healthy growth of the intestinal lining, serving as "fuel" for the enterocytes, cells that line the gut.


Enzymes & Digestion


When it comes to GI health, it isn't all about the herbs. One of the most common symptoms I see in practice is bloating, and if they're pay- ing attention, most patients can pinpoint the foods that are the biggest culprits. When patients remove problematic foods like dairy and gluten but experience little relief, it becomes clear that something else is going on. Enzymes released from the pancreas help to break down foods, especially carbohydrates, and move the digestive process along. If these enzymes are not released properly or are insufficient, this can quickly lead


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to gas and bloating. I like to ask a lot of questions about the timing of symptoms and specifically which foods are causing the most problems because not all digestive support supplements are created equal. In some cases, patients will benefit from a formula that com- bines pancreatic enzymes with other natural agents, such as bile to improve fat digestion and Betaine HCl to increase stomach acid protein breakdown. An in-depth discussion on diet can help your doctor to choose the best formula for you.


Probiotics / "Commensal" Flora You've probably heard about probiotics and the wonders these


living bacteria can do for our digestive tracts, but most people are understandably unfamiliar with the term "commensal." I like to start my conversation on probiotics by defining the term because I think it helps to put the importance of gut bacteria into perspec-


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