Digestive Disorders

Digestive disorders affect more than 20 million Canadians every year.  Symptoms can range from discomfort and irritation to severe or and even fatal.

When we eat, our body breaks food down to a form it can use to nourish cells and provide energy.  The digestive system is made up of hollow tubes that join a long, twisting tube.  It includes your mouth, esophagus, stomach and small and large intestines.  The gallbladder and pancreas also play a role by producing juices to aid in digestion.

When the digestive system is upset by diet, disease or stress, these more common symptoms may arise:  stomach pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and cramps.  The leading causes of digestive disorder are:

• Chronic dehydration – the body needs pure water every day.  Coffee, tea, juice and other beverages mixed with water don’t count.
• Dysbiosis – when the intestinal bacteria are out of balance, nothing will help until the root cause has been found.  Probiotic supplements support good bacteria.  Eliminate whatever is killing the good bacteria.
• Nutritional Deficiancies – typically we eat too much protein and carbs and fat (macronutrients), and not enough micronutrients (vitamins, minerals essential fatty acids, leafy-green vegetables, etc)
• Nutritional Excess – Too much food: too much protein, refined carbohydrates and fat.  Too much junk food stresses the digestive system.
• Stress – too many negative stress factors in our lifestyle and diet.

If you experience the following symptoms, you should see a health care practitioner:

• Severe abdominal pain
• Severe heartburn (not helped by antacids)
• Changes in bowel habits
• Blood in your stool
• Unintentional weight loss

Canada has the highest rate of gastrointestinal ulcers and Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the world.  Next to lung cancer, digestive cancers are the next leading cause of death for Canadians.

Celiac’s Disease, Crohn’s Disease, Barrett’s Esophagus, Digestive Cancer, Diverticular Disease, Gastric Ulcer, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, are just a few of the digestive disorders that lead to the death of nearly 30,000 Canadians each year.

Naturopathic physicians receive extensive training around the complexities of digestive wellness.  They offer natural health approaches to many digestive disorders such as heartburn, ulcers, irritable bowel disease, indigestive, gas, bloating, Celiac disease, and diverticulosis or diverticulitis.  Diet changes, IV therapy, herbal and nutritive supplements are all part of the approach naturopaths take to treat the symptoms and fix the cause of the digestive problem. 

Visit a naturopathic physician, digestive wellness counselor, or nutritionist for help and treatment of digestive disorders.