Dr. Troy's Takes...

Did you know that regular exercise not only affects your heart health and overall strength but can also have an impact on your gut health?BENEFICIAL BACTERIAWe know that exercise lowers stress levels, releases feel-good endorphins, and is good for both mental and physical health. But the benefits don’t stop there. Recent studies show that people who exercise regularly have healthier guts! One study in particular revealed that participants with healthier cardiorespiratory systems had more beneficial bacteria in their digestive systems and, as we know, a balanced gut means more energy, fewer digestive problems, better sleep and less stress.THE GUT/BRAIN CONNECTION

The road to gut health isn’t always a straightforward one. It might seem like this is easy for me to say since I’ve found a path that works for me, but I know what it’s like to see the doctors who don’t seem to understand, read the books with conflicting information, and look for the “magic pill”.  I’ve dealt with the stress of socializing, wondering where the closest bathroom is. I know what it’s like to make decisions from a place of fear and I know what it’s like to be angry and discouraged. If you’ve been facing uncomfortable, even painful digestive symptoms for any length of time, it can be easy to lose heart.I get it. I’ve been there. I understand.Does any of this sound familiar?

I talk with my clients a lot about the puzzle pieces that all need to come together for good overall health. A balanced diet, restorative sleep, appropriate movement, and stress management are key components when considering a person’s gut healing journey.But did you know that these components that are so vital to gut health might look different as the seasons change?

Did you know that your gut talks to your brain? No, seriously. Your digestive system contains millions of neurons that communicate with your brain in order to keep things running smoothly—or not so smoothly. In fact, the gut is often referred to as “the second brain”.

By now you know my personal experience with Crohn's disease.Healing my Crohn's was way harder, took longer,  and was quite honestly more dangerous that it needed to be—all because I made it that way.  In the early days of my disease I was waiting for a pill to fix me and for too long I relied on a medical model that quite frankly didn’t have answers for me.  I bought into the idea that I was just unlucky and was destined to deal with Crohn's until they found a cure. This mindset kept me isolated and stuck without health or hope.I made things harder on myself because I was determined to "suffer" my way to health. I restricted my diet in unhelpful ways, only to realize that the physical and emotional stress of this approach and lack of nutrients made me even more sick. 

The impact of diet on gut health is well-established but did you know that your sleep habits themselves may be wreaking havoc on your gut as well? Or…that poor gut health may interfere with your sleep quality?We’ve talked about how important a well-balanced combination of beneficial bacteria is to overall health and how stress can negatively impact that balance.  But research shows that sleep may be just as important for a healthy gut. When our sleep is disrupted, stressful, or not plentiful enough it can disrupt the gut microbiome in several ways. 

Choosing supplements can be overwhelming, but I’d like to share with you what I consider my “go to” supplement for overall health: Humic and Fulvic. I consider it a foundational necessity.Dr. Troy Willis: Supplements for Digestive HealthWhile it is a very safe supplement, there is a method its use and it is important to work with someone who is experienced so that a proper dosage can be decided upon. An experienced professional can also walk you through any side effects that might come up. 

How is it already April? Time for rain showers and spring cleaning, right? This year though is different. Many of us are working from home right now and haven’t spent this much time at home well, ever. Others are on the frontlines—those working in the medical field, law enforcement and grocery stores (THANK YOU!).  Whether you’re home more often or not, it’s important for all of us to have a Home Sanctuary—especially when facing so much stress and fear. Recharging the mind, body, and soul is vital to our health and overall wellness and our living space can help or hinder us.

In times of high stress, it can be easy to be carried from one chaotic moment or thought to the next. This seems to be especially true right now. For many of us, the news is on in the background constantly and we scroll through the headlines looking for the latest updates on what is happening in the world around us.Creating a quiet space in the midst of all of this information overload can be a challenge but being mindful is vital to our well-being.

Research has shown that your digestive tract—commonly referred to as “the gut”— can affect everything from your ability to absorb nutrients from food to seasonal allergies to y