Why should your Physical Therapist care about your gut health?
How on earth is my gut related to my arthritis?
Many of my patients understand how gut problems can affect digestion but don’t always understand the connection between gut health and other issues such as joint pain, weight gain, fatigue, muscle soreness, headaches and mood swings.
An imbalance in the microflora of your GI tract can lead to inflammation throughout your body and in turn can result in the conditions listed above.
Let’s dive a bit deeper…shall we?
Your gut keeps a solid and highly selective barrier between your digestive tract and your internal environment. This allows essential nutrients to pass through the barrier but keeps everything unwanted out. It is crucial to maintain the strength and integrity of this barrier in order to keeps out foreign invaders like bacteria, toxins, and large undigested food particles. When this barrier is compromised and becomes inflamed and porous, those foreign invaders can easily slip through and wreak havoc on our system.
Ever heard of the phrase “leaky gut”?…The process just mentioned is exactly what they’re talking about when they mention leaky gut. Leaky gut is a big problem because it means we aren’t getting the nutrients that we need and those foreign invaders that slip through cause an immune reaction. Our immune system responds by sending out antibodies to attack those foreign invaders….sounds good but wait….the immune complex that occurs during this process becomes systemic when it circulates around our body and affects various organs, muscles and joints, causing inflammation in whatever it touches. Ding, ding, ding….joint pain and muscle soreness have entered the room.
How can we put out this fire (systemic inflammation)?: Follow an anti-inflammatory diet, reduce stress, stay hydrated and exercise. Guidance from a health coach can help you navigate this process and assist you in finding which lifestyle modifications and habits work best for you and your body.
In addition to physical therapy services, Plus Forte offers health and nutrition coaching because we believe in the power of a holistic approach to health care. If you are looking for a comprehensive assessment of your wellbeing, contact Plus Forte today!
Email: courtney@plusforte.co
Phone: 978-590-6951
Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation with Dr. L’Hussier: Contact Us — Plus Forte Physical Therapy
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