“Normal” vs. “Common” Health Conditions

“You’ve GOT to be kidding me,” he said, in disbelief.  “Those are just normal conditions.”

This was a comment from an audience member at one of my recent presentations.  He was responding to a point I was making on the connection between gut health and brain health, that chronic digestive issues are connected with conditions of the brain.  

I find that the general population accepts that certain health conditions are “normal” and not a major concern.  

Digestive conditions like abdominal pain, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome … those common but often little talked about conditions, can lead to serious cognitive problems.  

Consider the conclusions from these studies, all published in one of the most reliable and trustworthy libraries of medical studies, The National Center for Biotechnology Information:

• 24.5% of Parkinson’s disease patients experienced constipation before the onset of motor symptoms. Link:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5766597/

• Constipation was present in 43% of patients with multiple sclerosis. Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2338192

• Disturbances along the brain-gut-microbiota axis may significantly contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and dementia. Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326209/

• IBS is associated with an increased risk of dementia, and this effect is obvious only in patients who are ≥50 years old. Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4701489/

Digestive issues have become normalized in our society, making people less likely to consider these symptoms as potentially serious.  

Yes, problematic digestive conditions are common.  An analysis conducted by the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation concluded that the national prevalence of IBS is estimated to be between 6.2% and 25.2%, affecting approximately five million Canadians.  Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3352839/

Common? Yes.  

Normal? Absolutely not.  

It is not normal to have abdominal pain, excessive gas, bloating, chronic constipation, or chronic diarrhea.  These symptoms are signs of gastrointestinal inflammation and distress. 

Numerous studies in the last decade strongly support the connection between the gut and the brain and that therapeutically targeting the gut microbiome - that collection of microorganisms in the gut - can target brain conditions including autism spectrum disorders, Parkinson’s disease, anxiety, depression, and many others. Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6047317/ 

While the interactions between the gut and brain are not fully understood, ongoing research supports the effectiveness of addressing gut issues as a means of treating brain conditions.  

Our society has also normalized cognitive issues, which may very likely be related to gut health.  Things like brain fog, forgetfulness, mood swings, anxiety, depression, dizziness, and ADD/ADHD.  

Increasingly, evidence is suggesting that a healthy gut microbiome is critical to brain health as well as overall health.  

Of course, what we eat has an enormous impact on the gut microbiome.  What can you do to cultivate a good balance of bacteria in the gut?  Here are some suggestions for you to consider:

• Drink enough water. Half your body weight in pounds as ounces is a good guideline. For example, if you weigh 150 lbs, then 75 ounces would be the recommendation. Gradually build up to this if you don’t drink much water.

• Eat real food. Chose real food, rather than packaged and processed foods. Start with just one meal per week and build up.

• Avoid GMO foods. The most common GMO crops are soy, corn, and canola. Avoid those crops, products made from those (corn syrup, for example), and animals fed those foods (factory-farmed animals, including farmed fish). Roughly 60-70% of processed foods in grocery stores contain at least some GMO ingredients, so eating real food will go a long way in reducing your exposure to GMOs. Link: https://www.vox.com/2014/11/3/18092748/how-widespread-are-gm-foods

• Eat organic produce. Sprayed produce has pesticides, which does not bode well for our gut microorganisms. Especially avoid the most heavily sprayed produce on the Dirty Dozen list. Link: https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php

• Avoid medications. If possible, avoid medications such as acid-blockers, antibiotics, birth control pills, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS … Advil, for example) and prednisone. Consult your medical practitioner before making any changes to current prescribed medications.

Ready to take some action?  Try one or more of these suggestions for a week and see how you feel.  Keep a diary of foods you eat, and monitor your gastrointestinal symptoms and mood.  

You may be surprised at the result!  And your brain will thank you. 

A great way to help your digestion is choosing to create peace and calm while you are eating. HOW you eat can be as important as WHAT you eat. I have a great resource for you to implement TODAY to help your genes express more positively. Click on the image below to receive it.