Nutrition

Can you digest your food?

There is plenty of information that you can find by hitting Google and visiting page after page until you locate the advice you are looking for. You can even find pages that will list your symptoms and provide you with a number of solutions in the way of supplements or dietary advice. But why are we still unwell?

The use of all these supplements by individuals may be required, as a possible depletion of a vitamin or mineral could be evident. The use of these supplements is not the issue, the ability to digest and absorb is.

What if your body is unable to absorb the very vitamin or mineral that you require so it can function correctly? Many are under the impression that just because they take the required supplements or reach the daily recommended intake they should be healthy. Often these people are still unwell in one form or another. Just because you pop that pill does not mean that (a) that is the right supplement for you (b) that your body is able / capable of digesting and absorbing the nutrients.

Through the use of BioSET and Kinesiology we are able to assist in determining if your body is functioning correctly and able to utilise the vitamins and minerals that are taken in daily from foods and supplements. If your body is not functioning then we can correct this condition allowing full function of the digestive system and processing of foods and supplements. By knowing what your body can and cannot tolerate will allow you to choose a path that is most suitable to a lifestyle of health and happiness that you want to achieve.

PALEO, SIBO, FODMAPS, GAPS....... WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

Ok, Ok – are you swearing at me? What are all these words – I have no clue what they mean. So my GP/naturopath/nutritionist/homeopath/dietician/insert practitioner modality here……… has told me I need to go on a specialised eating plan. I don’t even know what it stands for! Fodmaps???? They told me I was reactive to (something, anything, everything)……… and now I need to change my eating.

How do I begin? If this seems so very overwhelming, bring it back to basics.

The reason why you have to do this

That is: something is not working properly in your digestive tract so you need to take away the foods (for the time being) that are causing the issue. Don’t be frightened of the funny names they have. The next big thing to do is RESEARCH. Also note that you can over research. Knowing too much can be just as detrimental as not knowing anything. You can get bogged down in the details. Fear of what is wrong with you or what you can and can’t eat can something rule your life. As I said bring it back to basics.

I am doing this so I can feel better

There are so many different diets or eating plans out there who knows what is the right one. The interesting thing is that one size doesn’t fit all. For example you may have been told to follow the Fodmaps diet (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides And Polyols) as you have trouble with excessive fermentation of short chain carbohydrates such as lactose or fructose – you do this, however you may still have tummy disturbance after eating, say, sweet potato, which is a legal fodmaps food. Or you may be following the paleo way of eating, but you get stomach cramps after eating anything that contains cocoa. WHY!!!! As frustrating as this is, you need to work out within the particular style of eating that you have chosen (or it may have chosen you!) what foods are ok for you to eat and which ones aren’t.

This is where food sensitivity testing comes in handy. We can go through as many foods as we need to so we can tailor an eating plan to suit you. If you are having trouble with your digestion and you have been told to follow a strict eating regime and it is sometimes still not working for you, make an appointment with Sharyn, so she can tailor and eating plan for you!

There is the possibility that you have a mix of these and trial and error can take a very long time to be able to eliminate the problematic food/s. Sharyn is able to work with you and perform testing allowing you to see and recognise where you need the help, and work with you to create a plan that is sustainable and effective to combat your individual requirements.

Terminology…..

Below are the descriptions of Paleo, SIBO, Fodmaps, Gaps. sibo bloating

Paleo – a diet based on the types of foods presumed to have been eaten by early humans, consisting chiefly of meat, fish, vegetables, and fruit and excluding dairy or cereal products and processed food.

SIBO – Small intestine bacterial Overgrowth

In healthy people, the small intestine contains low levels of friendly bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, especially in the upper part of the small intestine where our own critical digestion takes place. SIBO involves the invasion of the small intestine with much greater numbers of bacteria from the large intestine. The official definition of SIBO is “the presence of an abnormally high number of bacteria (more than 100,000 bacteria per milliliter) in the upper part of the small intestine”.

At this level, the normally harmless bacteria that live in our gut can become harmful. They produce toxins, enzymes, and intestinal gases, including hydrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide that can disrupt digestion, cause intense physical discomfort and even damage the small intestine.

The symptoms of SIBO include abdominal pain or cramps, diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, acid reflux, flatulence, nausea, dehydration and fatigue. More severe symptoms related to SIBO can include weight loss and “failure to thrive,” steatorrhea (the body’s failure to digest fats), anemia, bleeding or bruising, night blindness, bone pain and fractures, leaky gut syndrome, and autoimmune reactions, among others.

FODMAP is an acronym that stands for:

Fermentable – meaning they are broken down (fermented) by bacteria in the large bowel

Oligosaccharides – “oligo” means “few” and “saccharide” means sugar. These molecules made up of individual sugars joined together in a chain

Disaccharides – “di” means two. This is a double sugar molecule.

Monosaccharides – “mono” means single. This is a single-sugar molecule.

And

Polyols – these are sugar alcohols (however don’t lead to intoxication!)

FODMAPs are a collection of short chain carbohydrates and sugar alcohols found in foods naturally or as food additives. FODMAPs include fructose (when in excess of glucose), fructans, galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), lactose and polyols (eg. sorbitol and mannitol).

GAPS – Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAP Syndrome or GAPS) is a condition which establishes a connection between the functions of the digestive system and the brain. This term was created by Dr Natasha Campbell–McBride, MD, MMedSci (neurology), MMedSci (human nutrition) in 2004 after working with hundreds of children and adults with neurological and psychiatric conditions, such as autistic spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD⁄ADD), schizophrenia, dyslexia, dyspraxia, depression, obsessive –compulsive disorder, bi-polar disorder and other neuro-psychological and psychiatric problems.

Unravelling the Puzzle

We can evaluate what eating plan is right for you by doing a thorough client history, diet diary and symptom intake, functional medicine stool testing and tailoring a diet just for you using the BioSET program and food testing.

Phone the clinic and speak to Sharyn for more information or to make an appointment time.

Food Sensitivity Testing

Food sensitivities are becoming more and more evident in this day and age. This is mainly due to the types of chemicals and preservatives used to make food look better, taste better and last longer. Also food is over processed, making it vitamin deficient and basically dead food.

Bacterial imbalance in the gut is another major cause of food sensitivities. Bacterial imbalance can arise from antibiotic use, birth control pill, excess consumption of sugar, and stress.

By eliminating the foods that your body is sensitive to and by addressing bacterial imbalance (if present), you will stop the physical symptoms.

By using Kinesiology and BioSET we can identify foods that are:

  • Biogenic – essentially good for you
  • Biostatic – neutral
  • Biocidic – bad for your body

Foods that are commonly known as “good foods” such as fruits or vegetables, may not be necessarily good for you.

By continually eating foods that your body may be sensitive to can cause physical symptoms or reactions such as: headaches, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, eczema, fatigue, muscle aches and pains just to name a few.

The good news is that you can find out which foods are best for and which ones are best to avoid.

“The modalities BioSET, Kinesiology and Homeopathy are all very effective in the treatment of food related symptoms. To discuss which course of treatment best suits your individual need, please contact our clinic for a quick chat, or make an appointment to start relief of these symptoms.

See page “two very important points”

The difference between food allergy & intolerance / sensitivity.

Food allergy is an immune response while food intolerance is a chemical reaction, and not an allergic reaction to food. Symptoms of food allergy include wheezing, stomach upsets and skin rashes. Symptoms of food intolerance are similar to food allergy, but can be associated with conditions including asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Some food allergens include nuts, shellfish, milk, egg and soy products. Anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock is an extreme allergic reaction and can be life threatening.

Food intolerance is an inability to properly digest certain foods. In some cases food passes right through the body before digestion is complete – so is being eliminated only partially processed (like milk products causing diarrhea). In other cases some foods have components which actually attack the lining of the gut and damage it every time that food is eaten (like gluten intolerance). Fortunately most food intolerant people recover fully when the offending food is avoided.

Direct problems such as severe abdominal cramps, bloating, flatulence, diarrhoea and hemorrhoids are common. However the indirect problems associated with poor absorption can be much more harmful. When food leaves the body only partially processed many vital nutrients are lost too. People with food intolerance typically catch viruses easily, may have dry skin, hair and nail problems and tire easily.

Some become deficient in iron or calcium and suffer a further series of health issues like anaemia or osteoporosis.

Many food intolerant people are underweight due to their inability to get full nutrient value from foods. Of course with diarrhoea there is the constant risk of dehydration especially among children and elderly people.

Others can be overweight often from an interference with the thyroid gland causing a disruption to normal metabolism.

Signs and Symptoms of Food Allergy:

  • Itching in mouth and or skin
  • Hives, rashes, eczema, redness and soreness of skin
  • Swelling of fingers, lips, neck and tracheal passage
  • Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Wheezing and shortness of breath
  • Anaphylaxis

Signs and Symptoms of Food Intolerance:

  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
  • Headaches
  • Skin rashes
  • Constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Nasal congestion
  • Respiratory and/or abdominal discomfort

Australian Statistics:

Among the developed countries. There’s been a marked increase in food allergies and food intolerance’s in the western countries. Australia is one of the countries with highest prevalence of food allergies. Usually children suffer more from food allergies. According to 2008 WHO statistics, 1 in every 20 children suffers from food allergies in Australia. According to Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2007; 120:878-84), there is 5 1/2-fold increase in the rate of Australian hospital admissions between 1994 and 2005 for food-related anaphylaxis in the under-fives.

Food allergies are specified to certain protein and certain foods in particular. Eggs, nuts (especially peanuts), milk, sesame seeds, gluten, seafood, grains, soy, some berries, tomato, cucumber, white potato and mustard are the commonly known foods that act as allergens. Yeast and certain food additives are also potential allergens. Milk, egg, peanut, tree nut (walnut, cashew, etc.), fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat are the main allergen foods that account almost 90% of all the food allergies. All these food allergies have common signs and symptoms, which definitely resembles that of a food intolerance.

The common cause of food intolerance is due to the absence of certain enzymes and chemicals, which help to digest a particular food.