Healing Begins in the Gut: What You Should Know

Gut health has been getting a lot of attention lately, and for good reason. Digestion does more than just break down the food you eat. The health of your gut influences many aspects of your overall well-being. From energy levels and immune function to mood, skin health, and even joint comfort, the gut plays a central role in how you feel each day.

Despite growing awareness, many people continue to struggle with digestive symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, constipation, reflux, and food sensitivities, often without clear answers or lasting relief.

What Does a Healthy Gut Look Like?

Understanding what “normal” digestion looks like is a helpful place to start. A healthy digestive system should produce at least one complete and well-formed bowel movement each day. Ideally, this would be smooth, soft, and shaped like a banana. If bowel movements are pellet-like, overly loose, watery, or difficult to pass, it may indicate that your gut needs some extra support.

Occasional bloating or discomfort can be expected, such as after a very large meal or before menstruation, but if you’re feeling bloated after most meals or struggling with irregular bowel movements daily, it is worth paying closer attention to how your gut is functioning.

How the Gut Influences Your Overall Health

Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria and microorganisms that make up your microbiome. These organisms do more than help digest food. They play an important role in regulating your immune system, hormone levels, inflammation, and even neurotransmitters that influence mood.

When gut health is compromised, it can show up in many ways that may not seem directly related to digestion. For example, you may experience:

• Fatigue even with enough sleep
• Brain fog or trouble concentrating
• Mood swings, anxiety, or depression
• Joint pain or stiffness
• Skin issues like acne, eczema, or rosacea
• Frequent colds or low immunity

Many people do not immediately link these symptoms to their gut, but improving digestive health often leads to noticeable improvements across multiple systems in the body.

Digestive Symptoms That Deserve Attention

If you’re constantly dealing with digestive issues, know that it’s not something you have to just put up with. Just because these symptoms are common doesn’t mean they should be ignored.

Common digestive issues that are worth exploring further include:

• Bloating or fullness after most meals
• Chronic gas or abdominal discomfort
• Irregular bowel movements
• Loose or watery stools
• Straining or infrequent bowel movements
• Undigested food in stool
• Acid reflux or heartburn
• Reactions to common foods

These symptoms are often signs that the digestive system is under stress and not functioning at its best.

How Digestive Imbalances Affect Daily Life

When the gut isn’t functioning well, it can affect more than just digestion. Some people may avoid eating in public or skip meals to prevent discomfort, and social events that involve food can start to feel stressful. Over time, this can impact nutrient intake, lower energy levels, and contribute to feelings of isolation.

Digestive imbalances can also affect mental and emotional well-being. Ongoing inflammation and poor absorption of key nutrients like B vitamins, magnesium, and iron can lead to fatigue, irritability, or low mood.

The good news is that the gut is highly responsive to care. With the right support, it’s possible to restore balance and start feeling more like yourself again.

Why Self-Treatment Often Falls Short

Understandably, many people try to resolve their gut symptoms using over the counter options like probiotics, fiber, or digestive enzymes. Sometimes these can help, but they are not always the right fit and can even make symptoms worse in certain cases.

For example, certain types of fiber can be too irritating for an already inflamed digestive system. Probiotics contain various strains of bacteria, and some people are sensitive to specific strains or need a more targeted approach. Digestive enzymes with betaine hydrochloride can increase stomach acid, which may worsen symptoms for someone with inflammation or stomach ulcers.

Without knowing what’s really going on in the gut, it’s easy to get stuck in a cycle of trial and error. A customized plan based on proper assessment is the most effective and efficient way to support gut healing.

How to Start Healing Your Gut

Supporting your gut starts with understanding it. Functional testing can offer valuable insights into what’s really happening in your digestive system. Two of the most useful tests include:

GI MAP Test: A comprehensive stool test that analyzes your microbiome, inflammation markers, digestive function, and the presence of harmful bacteria, parasites, or yeast.

Food Sensitivity Test: Identifies specific foods that trigger immune responses, helping to guide dietary adjustments and reduce inflammation.

These tests help identify the underlying causes of your digestive issues, allowing for a treatment plan tailored to your individual health needs. Rather than guessing, you can save time, avoid unnecessary dietary changes or trial of different supplements, and often see noticeable improvements sooner.

Based on your test results, gut healing strategies may include:

• Removing inflammatory trigger foods identified through food sensitivity testing
• Repairing the gut lining using therapeutic nutrients, herbs and supplements
• Targeting harmful bacterial overgrowth or pathogens identified in stool testing with appropriate antimicrobials or natural therapies
• Supporting enzyme or stomach acid production when needed to improve digestion and absorption
• Rebalancing the microbiome through tailored probiotics
• Developing a meal plan that works with your digestive system and meets your nutritional goals
• Addressing lifestyle factors such as stress, sleep, and physical activity
• Practicing mindful eating to enhance the digestive process

Healing the gut takes time and consistency, but with the right support, many people experience meaningful improvements in digestion, mood, energy, and overall health.

If you’re dealing with frustrating digestive symptoms, this video will help you better understand what’s going on and what to do next.

[Watch the Video Now!]

Ready to support your gut health?

Dr. Irina Chan is a naturopathic doctor who takes a personalized and holistic approach to uncovering the root causes of digestive concerns. Using advanced tests like GI MAP and food sensitivity panels, she works closely with patients experiencing chronic digestive symptoms to help them better understand their health and achieve lasting relief.