gut Archives - Damron Chiropractic & Wellness

Health Hazards with H Pylori

February 21, 2017 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

Bacteria surrounds us both inside and out. To minimize our exposure to it we know we should wash our hands, cook food properly, rinse produce, and not share a drink. Yet, despite our best efforts, bacteria does find its ways into our bodies. Helicobacter pylori, or H pylori as it is commonly called, is a bacteria that resides in our stomach. This bacteria was discovered in 1982 by Australian scientists, Barry Marshall and Robin Warren, as they conducted research on patients who suffered from gastritis and ulcers. While bacteria was known to inhabit the stomach, it was believed that it came about from contaminated food. Not so.

H pylori is found in more than half of the world’s population; however, a vast majority never experience any symptoms or complications. However, how would you know if you were suffering from this type of bacterial infection? Below are several symptoms associated with an H pylori infection:

Bloating
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Frequent burping
Abdominal pain that becomes worse when your stomach is empty
Weight loss
An ache or burning in your abdomen

To determine if you have an infection, a simple stool test can provide the answers. Unfortunately, most medical doctors will prescribe antibiotics which destroy the delicate balance of the gut. They will also be given prescription acid reducers because of the heartburn. This, too, is a problem, as it creates an environment that allows the H pylori to thrive. At Damron Chiropractic & Wellness (DCW), after conducting the stool test, a course of natural/herbal supplements is recommended to help kill the bacteria.

In addition to an infection, studies are correlating H pylori with an increased chance of developing ulcers, gastritis, and even cancer. A recent study also found a connection with the heart condition atrial fibrillation, or AF. This disorder affects over 2 million Americans and causes the chambers of the heart to flutter or quiver rather than beat. Blood then pools in the chamber, increasing the potential for clots to develop. If the clot finds itself lodged in a brain artery, a stroke can occur. In this particular study, individuals were 20 times more likely to show levels of H pylori.

Commit to Your Health

September 22, 2016 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

Bringing a child to the grocery store is challenging. A battle typically ensues that is a balancing act between food that promotes good health and food that does not. When we grow up things are no different. We battle ourselves over how much we should indulge ourselves and how well we should eat. As an adult the difference is there is no one telling us ‘no.’ We are left to make decisions for ourselves; countless ones, each and every day.

We can face making too many bad choices over a long period of time. Things like too much fast food, not enough water or exercise, eating processed foods, and skimping on sleep. At some point in our life we second guess our bad choices. We want to change, but change can be difficult and it take time to see results.

However, change can happen if we are committed to ourselves. After awhile, poor lifestyle choices ultimately have a domino effect on our bodies from weight gain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. It can even then lead to conditions like chronic pain in places like our back, neck, and legs.

A healthier life means surrounding yourself with others that have the same wellness goals as you. That doesn’t necessarily mean joining a health club (although those are fantastic places to find those people) but rather doing simple things like:

walking with a friend.
heading to the local farmer’s market and talking to the farmers about their produce.
packing a lunch for you and a co-worker instead of going out to eat.

It’s amazing how surrounding yourself with the right people in the right environment can inspire you. At Damron Chiropractic & Wellness (DCW) we work hard to create an environment of wellness. We work hard to be a positive influence in people’s lives through weight loss, alleviating pain, strength training and healing gut issues. We are committed to your health, but are you committed too?

Your Gut and Weight Loss

December 1, 2015 By Pam Rezai

We know that burning more calories than we consume each day contributes to weight loss. But, did you know that is only part of the story? The actual process of burning calories is due to what resides in our gut. Surprisingly, it is the bacteria, yeasts, and fungi (of all things) that do the burning. This collection of microorganisms is called microbiome, and it is only with a healthy balance that our metabolism is optimized and weight loss can occur.

It is ideal that a healthy balance of microbiomes exist within our gut. If this balance does not exist, then we experience conditions like bloating, stomach aches, puffiness, infrequent bowel movements, and excess weight. All are signs that our body is not happy with how we are treating it, whether with antibiotics, poor nutrition, or environmental toxins. We cannot expect a different outcome if we continually choose to ignore the needs of our body. When it comes to good health and overall wellness, we will inevitable reap what we sow, especially as we age.

So what exactly to these microorganisms do, these microbiomes? Well, first and foremost they take the food we eat and extract the energy and calories from it. If our gut contains a healthy balance of microbiomes, then they will literally eat more than half of our daily caloric intake. Being gut healthy promotes weight loss, metabolism, vitality, energy use, and energy storage.

To help improve your internal situation, consider testing your microbiota balance to identify which of your bacteria needs support. Once the imbalance has been determined, steps can be taken to correct it from targeted foods, probiotic supplements, moderating stress, and getting sufficient sleep each night. Just as you are physically unique, so too is how you are designed on the inside. Tailoring a weight loss program that meets the needs of your gut will not only bring you closer to your ideal weight, but will significantly improve your quality of life. You will look and feel good, both inside and out.

What Exactly Is a Leaky Gut?

April 22, 2015 By Damron Chiropractic

It seems the term “leaky gut” is being heard more and more these days. And while we may hear the term, many of us still aren’t sure what exactly leaky gut means? It certainly doesn’t sound good, because anything leaking from our gut can’t be good, but it also sounds like if we had it we would know it. The reality is that leaky gut affects many people but they simply don’t know it. The other reality is that this condition causes many other health problems, from allergies, colitis, Crohn disease, to irritable bowel syndrome. How does this happen?

Leaky gut refers to what is happening in the small intestine. The small intestine plays an important role in delivering vitamins and minerals to the other parts of the body through the microscopic pores that line its surface. These pores allow the small intestine to be semipermeable, which means only certain things are allowed to pass through while others are not. To remain healthy, the body needs the nutrients to pass through but not the toxins or undigested food particles. Leaky gut happens when those undesirable elements do pass through the small intestine and enter the body through the bloodstream. But what happens to the small intestine that causes these microscopic pores to open larger than they should to let this occur?

Inflammation.

The two most common causes of leaky gut are:

Constipation
A flora imbalance in the gut

If chronic constipation is something you continually face, inevitably those “stopped” toxins will begin to irritate the lining of the small intestine. This irritation leads to inflammation which in turn cause those microscopic pores to enlarge. If left untreated, this constant inflammation can lead to IBS, colitis, or Crohn disease.

Gut flora, also known as gut microbiota, is the cluster of bacteria found in your intestines. In a healthy gut, there is a balance between both the good and the bad bacteria. The good bacteria aids in digestion, helps in the production of some vitamins (B and K), and prevents harmful microorganisms from taking over the body. The bad bacteria are those that can cause illness or chronic condition if allowed to take over the gut. This imbalance between the good and bad bacteria (or flora) in our gut can also cause those pores to expand if left untreated due to chronic inflammation, just like with constipation. This imbalance is caused by a diet high in fat, processed foods, alcohol, stress, and medications.

What can a person do to ensure there is a healthy balance of bacteria in their intestines?

Take the amino acid glutamine because of its ability to heal soft tissue, like the lining of the intestines.
Eat foods that contain probiotics like yogurt, kefir, or sauerkraut due to their high levels of good bacteria which help to restore balance.
Increase Omega-3 rich foods in your diet – salmon, edamame, and walnuts, or take a fish oil supplement.
Eliminate sugar from your diet, or other common irritants like soy, gluten, dairy, and additives found in processed foods. Reintroducing foods after two weeks will help you identify the culprits.
Limit consumption of alcohol and pain relievers like ibuprofen and aspirin.
Stick with whole foods – organic fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.

Help your body function as it should – in balance.

Health Hazards with H Pylori

Commit to Your Health

Your Gut and Weight Loss

What Exactly Is a Leaky Gut?

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