Gut dysfunction can be linked to virtually every disease and can cause conditions like autoimmunity, fatigue, depression, anxiety and panic attacks, food sensitivities, chronic pain, allergies and many more. These conditions are by and large preventable.
Gut issues and anxiety often go hand-in hand and my interview addresses Healing Anxiety through the Gut:
Can you relate to the following phrases? “I have butterflies in my stomach,” “I can feel it in my gut,” or “I just have this awful feeling in the pit of my stomach.” These aren’t just figures of speech.
It can be difficult to assess which came first. Is the anxiety affecting your digestion, or did poor digestion lead to anxiety or make anxiety worse? Sometimes it’s a mixture of both, and both need to be addressed.
Digestive disorders are very common in the United States. Over a third of all adults are affected by some kind of digestive disorder, and each year forty-five million people visit the doctor for reflux, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), liver disease, and other digestive complaints.
Studies have found that people with digestive complaints such IBS, food allergies and sensitivities, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and ulcerative colitis frequently suffer from anxiety and also depression too.
One study found that 50 to 90 percent of people with IBS who visited a doctor for treatment also suffered from various anxiety disorders (panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, and post-traumatic stress disorder) and major depression.
There are many factors that can be considered when it comes to anxiety and gut health: the microbiome and psychobiotics (or good bacteria), low serotonin and an amino acid like tryptophan, low levels of stomach acid, low zinc, food sensitivities and much more.
Join us for this fabulous upcoming online event that is being hosted by 3 of my favorite people: Dr. Josh Axe, who specializes in functional medicine and is on a mission to transform the health of millions all across the world; Donna Gates, the international best-selling author of The Body Ecology Diet and Dr. Eric L. Zielinski, a sought-after natural health educator, motivational speaker and author, and host of the well-known Essential Oils Summit.
I’m honored to have been invited to present with this excellent line-up of speakers that include:
- Josh Axe, DNM, DC, CNS: 5 Steps to Heal Leaky Gut
- Leo Galland, MD: Why Allergies Could Be Signaling Bigger Problems
- David Perlmutter, MD: Heal Your Gut by Going Grain Free
- Ty Bollinger: Boost Immunity with Gut-Immune-Cancer Connection
Here are some of the great speakers who I’ll be presenting with on day 5 of the summit:
I hope you can join us! You can register here https://ju127.isrefer.com/go/healyourgutreg/trudyscottcn/
Would you share you primary sources for the connection of gut dysbiosis and constipation specifically please.
Hi Helen
Here is one 2013 paper: Update on irritable bowel syndrome program of research – “IBS is a chronic, functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of abdominal pain and alterations in bowel habit (diarrhea, constipation, mixed). It is a condition for which adults, particularly women ages 20-45, seek health care services in both the United States and South Korea…. Multiple mechanisms are believed to participate in the development and maintenance of IBS symptoms including autonomic nervous system dysregulation, intestinal inflammation, intestinal dysbiosis, dietary intolerances, alterations in emotion regulation, heightened visceral pain sensitivity, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal dysregulation, and dysmotility.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24351989
Thank you Trudy, It seems that constipation (dysmotility) is only one symptom in dysbiosis. Does this prove a connection between dysbiosis and constipation which is what my thesis is addressing? Can constipation cause dysbiosis? If you have any other ideas I would appreciate it.
To Your Health,
Helen Dinerman
MNT Candidate at NTI (Denver CO)
Helen
You’re going to have to gather more information and read more studies as I think all the above can apply and it varies by individual
Hi Trudy, please help – this is me 100% after a parasite in Janurary this year. I now suffer from anxiety of not being near a loo at any time and feel like I can’t eat anything without suffering the next day. I’ve been following every single IBS, anxiety doctor possible and I am at my wits end. I’ve found if I drink L-glutamine I suffer from massive brain fog and even more anxiety. Please can you tell me what diet I should be doing. I take zinc, b12 and a probiotic at night. I don’t want to suffer anymore
Jodie
I’m sorry to hear this. I encourage you to tune in to this summit and listen and learn from the excellent line-up of speakers!
I can’t offer you specific advice via the blog but can suggest the following in the meantime: the parasite needs to be eliminated; SCD and FODMAPs diets are often helpful for IBS; SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) needs to be tested for and addressed. Here is the SIBO questionnaire I created based on Dr Alison Siebecker’s work https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/sibo-small-intestinal-bacterial-overgrowth-questionnaire/
While you are addressing the bigger underlying causes the amino acids GABA and/or tryptophan may help with the anxiety. The amino acid questionnaire, precautions and supp info can be found here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-pyroluria-supplements/
Great presentation Trudy, as always! Thank you. One question: are there any side effects of tryptophan or possible complications? I battle leaky gut, several food intolerances, sugar and carb cravings, adrenal fatigue, and have low serotonin and extremely low melatonin, which cause occasional sleep issues and low mood. Wondering if that is “too much going on” to try the tryptophan?
Hi Deborah
Thanks for the positive feedback and great to “see you here” on the blog. I find that when there is so much going on, using one (or more) of the amino acids is perfect because it gives you hope and relief right away while you are dealing with all the underlying issues (which can take longer to address).
As with any of the amino acids too much can cause opposite/reverse effects and for this reason I recommend doing a trial and starting low. Here is info on doing a trial https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/how-to-do-an-amino-acid-trial-for-anxiety/ (just replace anxiety with low mood or sleep issues)
Also, some people do better on tryptophan and some do better on 5-HTP. A trial will help you figure it out.
Also, do the amino acid questionnaire as it’s often be more than only low serotonin https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-mood-questionnaire-from-the-antianxiety-food-solution/
If you feel you need more help my homestudy program is excellent https://www.everywomanover29.com/aminosforanxietyhs/
Hi Trudy and hi every body,
I need your help with the frustration fact that every Probiotic I take I feel very bad. The side effects I have are intestinal pain and rumbling noises, gas and paste like sticky stools. My problem is that I suffer from many symptoms feeling anxiety and discomfort. I did the comprehensive stool test and the urine Acid test and it shows I’m very deficient with the good bacteria. Unfortunately, all my trials to take Probiotics were not successful. Even the expensive ones I bought from known brand names for practitioners. I guess my body can’t assimilate something in it – but why? and what can I do? Thanks, every help will be appreciated : )
If your probiotics contain prebiotics too this may be the issue
hi Trudy, the ones I tried lately where Metagenics. I took Ultra Flora Spectrum in the morning and Ultra Flora Restore at night. They don’t say they have Prebiotics so I guess they are only Probiotics.
Can there be other reasons for my reactions? My friend which is also a nutritionist says it might be “die off” the bad bacteria and I should continue until it will improve. Can it be so?
Rachel
Yes these only contain probiotics. It could be one of the strains but it’s more than likely die-off from pathogenic bacteria or possibly candida. I have my clients back off when this happens
Do you mean to back off from these products for good? and what else can I do to recolonize the gut? I already tried a few brand names probiotics.Also tried some fermented foods. when using more then a sample of it i have symptoms. Thank you very much for your help Trudy 🙂
I mean use less of the probiotic and small amounts of fermented foods.
o.k thanks a lot. I’ll try that