Functional Medicine for Digestion and Gut Health

Digestion includes the entire digestive tract from our mouth through the stomach and small and large intestines. Our gut decides what our body will do with the foods we eat. When a person is experiencing gut or digestive symptoms it can wreak havoc on every system in the body including the digestive, endocrine, neurological, and even the cardiovascular systems. Find out more about how these systems are affected by gut and digestive issues.

How F8 helps with Gut and Digestion Issues

Digestion issues can occur due to anything from an imbalanced diet, to a need to drink more water, or something considerably more serious. F8 Well Centers will work with you to find the problem and the solution so you can get back to feeling better than before. If you believe you are experiencing any of the following digestion problems, contact us today for an appointment so we can help you get back to the life you deserve!


What Are Common Digestive Issues?

Digestion is the process of breaking down food into energy that can be used by the body. This includes the entire process of the alimentary canal from taking food in, breaking it down in the stomach as well as processing it in the intestines, and extracting nutrients from the food for the body to use.

Common digestive problems can include stomach pain, bloating, cramps, gas, and diarrhea, headaches, brain fog, excessive fatigue, skin conditions like rosacea or eczema, depression, anxiety, joint pain, and more. The gut is the barrier between the foods we eat and the rest of our body. When there are imbalances or gut permeability, the foods we eat can affect our entire body.

Symptoms can span every organ system causing conditions related to the neurological system, cardiovascular system, hormone-producing glands, digestive tract, metabolism, skeletal system, and more.


What Are The Symptoms of a Bad Digestive System?

The most common signs of a bad digestive system are an upset stomach which can involve bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, and even heartburn.

We have had several patients who had to alter their lifestyle because they had to go to the bathroom 20 times a day. A few months into treatment they were looking for a new job because their issues had been reversed.

What Causes Digestive Issues?

Digestive problems can be caused by a poor, unhealthy lifestyle in terms of poor nutrition and little to no exercise, a food sensitivity or even an infection. More specifically, digestive issues may be caused by:

  • Blood sugar spikes and crashes
  • A high-sugar diet
  • Food intolerances
  • Autoimmune conditions

Autoimmune Conditions That Cause Digestive Problems

There are many autoimmune disorders which can contribute to digestive issues. This may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation and sores (ulcers) in the digestive tract, specifically the innermost lining of the large intestine, colon, and rectum.

Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is another IBD that causes inflammation of the digestive tract. It can lead to fatigue, weight loss, malnutrition, abdominal pain, and severe diarrhea.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is common and affects the large intestine. Only a small number of people have severe signs and symptoms which include bloating, pain in the abdomen, cramping, gas, and diarrhea or constipation, or both.

How Can I Heal My Gut Naturally?

The functional medicine approach is patient centered and highly individualized. It’s far from just treating symptoms and summarizing those symptoms as a diagnosis. Instead, it’s about partnering with patients to investigate what is really happening under the surface of their bodies. It’s about treating the patient, and not the symptoms.

F8 Well Center’s mission is to help individuals enjoy an optimal state of health in order to live the life they were meant to live. We do this using the Galyardt Method of Functional Medicine and by creating a comprehensive, individualized plan tailored to each person’s needs. 

If you are looking for help with any digestive issues, here are some functional medicine solutions to improve your body’s gut health.

Eat Real Food

Avoid processed foods or anything you might look at and think “Why is the good stuff always the worst for you?” Odds are, anything like that isn’t really good for you to begin with, and it’s especially not good for your digestion. Take care to eat a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables, proteins, and even sugars to do what’s best for your body!

Plenty of Fiber

It’s common knowledge that fiber is beneficial for good digestion. Fiber rich foods can make all the difference if you are experiencing digestion problems and want a more natural approach first. Foods with plenty of fiber include, but are not limited to: avocados, pears, broccoli, bananas, prunes, artichokes, pistachios, and even popcorn! Minus the heavy butter of course. These foods can be worked into your daily diet to help your digestion easily.

Add Healthy Fats to Your Diet

That’s right! Some fats are in fact healthy for you. They’re important for your body’s balance and can help with any issues you may be experiencing like digestion troubles. Some foods with healthy fats are cheese, eggs, fatty fish, nuts, olive oil, and dark chocolate. Take some time to do your research or consult your physician about which healthy fats may be right for your diet.

Stay Hydrated

Water is everything! We humans need water to help support so many of our body’s important functions. Water helps keep you cool and replenish fluids after a sweaty workout. It keeps your skin clear and your organs running smoothly. And it most definitely helps with digestion and keeping things moving!

Manage Your Stress

The relationship between your head and your gut affect your body’s health more than you may realize. It’s true that when you are experiencing larger bouts of stress and anxiety, you can give yourself an upset stomach. If you are experiencing digestion issues and feel like what you are eating is not causing the problem, take a look holistically at what is going on in your life right now, and consider other factors which may be causing your body to be in distress. If you are feeling particularly stressed or have been for some time, your upset stomach may be a sign you need to reduce and or manage the amount of stress you are experiencing instead.

Contact F8 WellCenters to get to the root cause of your digestive issues

Are you ready to stop dealing with digestive issues?

Start Your F8 Well Centers Journey Today!