The 5-R Approach To Your Gut
Approximately 1 out of every 5 people in the US suffers from symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. These symptoms can be debilitating and can include cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation.People experiencing these symptoms on an everyday basis know the difficulties associated with it, embarrassment of smelly gas, constant worry and awareness of the location of the nearest restroom.
A proper investigation in to the cause of these symptoms is necessary and should include an examination of personal history, family history, dietary habits, medications/supplements, stress levels and triggering events. One of the major problems with the conventional medicine approach is that most physicians do not have the time to spend to examine these and other important areas. More often than not that limited amount of time for investigation only allows the clinician time to reach for the prescription pad and offer up an antidiarrheal medication and a recommendation such as “you need to eat more fiber.” The failure in this conventional process is treating symptoms not the cause!
The gastro-intestinal tract is very important to the proper function of our entire body. Besides the fact that it is responsible for breaking down food and absorption of nutrients, it is also home to 80% of our immune system and responsible for the proper production of some of our brain hormones. That’s a pretty profound statistic; let me repeat it. Eighty percent of our immune system is in our GI tract! It is evident that the GI tract can be involved or a major contributor to our health or to the many disorders on the rise such as auto-immunity, skin conditions, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and depression.
Through my functional medicine training by the Institute for Functional Medicine and experience of treating patients, the 5R program is an approach that is very effective and addresses the cause of these symptoms. Below is a brief outline of each step of the program.
Remove:
This step is arguably the most important and it involves alteration of the diet to remove offending agents such as common food allergens and sensitivities, chemicals, additives and disease causing bacteria, yeast or parasites.
Replace:
If your symptoms include bloating, gas or indigestion, replacement of digestive enzymes may be necessary to promote proper digestion. For the body to be able to absorb nutrients it is essential for the food to be broken down into its smaller forms.
Re-inoculate:
The GI tract is home to all different types of bacteria. An imbalance or lack of healthy bacteria can create problems in the GI tract. Supplementation with probiotics may be necessary to promote a healthy gut and immune system.
Repair:
This step is all about supplying the body with the proper nutrients to allow for the repair of the gut lining. Once the gut lining structure has been repaired function can be restored.
Rebalance:
This step is all about lifestyle choices and rebalancing sleep, exercise, and stress – all of which can influence the function of our gut.
One of the first steps you can actively begin today is examination of your dietary habits. Are there any foods that create problems for you? Problems such as heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, gas or bloating. If so, make a list of the foods you think contribute to the problem. The most common food sensitivities that I see are gluten (wheat protein), dairy, eggs, soy, and corn. Perform a brief elimination diet and remove suspected food sensitivities for a few weeks. Keep a log about any changes in your symptoms from the elimination of the food. When you systematically re-introduce the food monitor your symptoms. If they return then you may be on to one of the contributing factors to your symptoms.
If you ever have any questions or would like to learn more contact me at True North Health Center. My approach to chronic conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, is based on the fact that the condition has an underlying cause or causes and once identified that cause can be addressed.
Your Health Detective
Dr Rudy Mueller DC, IFMCP
ELM™ | Maine
