General Wellness

What is the Precautionary Poop? I thought you'd never ask. If you force yourself to try to go #2 out of fear before leaving the house or if you have thought "I'll just try to get rid of all the diarrhea so that I'm safe", I call that The Precautionary Poop - and I did it for years. This indicates a digestive problem (obviously) and may be more concerning, an issue with the mental "wiring" surrounding your digestion. 

You may notice I don't often write about research studies or complicated scientific analysis. It's not because it's unimportant, but for most of my audience, data and research articles only add to the overwhelm.  However, I do want to discuss a recent study on the effects of Glyphosate, an herbicide (definition: a chemical agent that destroys plants or inhibits their growth ) used on crops such as wheat and corn. This herbicide most commonly goes by the name Roundup and is now the most used agricultural chemical ever. Since its inception in 1974, 10 million tons have been sprayed on the crops used for your food and the food eaten by all the animals you eat. It's pervasive even in organic crops due to runoff and over-spraying. It's even been found consistently in breast milk. Simple fact, it's everywhere.Why is this such a big deal? Because a new study has found that glyphosate disrupts our gut microbiome and blood chemistry...at levels regulators claim to be safe. So we all know too much of anything can be harmful but this study proves that even small amounts of this stuff IS harmful.

While I have gotten some recent compliments about my quarantine beard, my rugged handsomeness is not really what I'm talking about here.Through the years there have been multiple instances in which doctors, friends, family, and others underestimated the extent of my digestive issues - because I “looked” OK. I remember going to my pediatrician and sharing with him how frequently my stomach hurt. He looked me up and down and in all his medical knowledge, declared “well you’re taller than me, you don’t look sick!”  Thanks.

If you were doubling over in gut pain or having multiple bowel movements per day and some digestive “guru” simply told you not to think about your digestion, you would write that “guru” off pretty quick.Well, I’m no guru but I am telling you to minimize your focus on your bowel movements. Easier said than done, sure, but hear me out… As Dr. Thurman Fleet said in his book, Rays of the Dawn, “ Any part or function of the body is apt to become disordered if too much attention is centered on it. Body processes that are controlled by the innate mind are best performed when left undisturbed by the educated mind.  In the case of sleep and digestion, we cannot pay too LITTLE attention.” 

I used to toss and turn all night long…either half asleep or fully awake most of the night. I’d glance at the clock with increasing anxiety as another 15 minutes would tick by and I was STILL awake. I knew I’d finally doze off 10 minutes before my alarm went off (never failed!!). I eventually even started to dread going to bed!I was tired all day long…my body ached, I suffered from brain fog, and I just felt like I was just trying to get through my day with absolutely no energy. Not a good combo from someone who also suffers from Crohn’s Disease.

Vitamin D deficiency plays a significant role in autoimmune disease, gut health, and digestion. In fact, there is strong evidence that Vitamin D deficiency may even be a contributor to autoimmune disease.Your body synthesizes Vitamin D in response to absorption of UVB radiation from the sun. It is a type of steroid hormone that controls the expression of more than 200 genes and the proteins those genes regulate.  WHY DO YOU NEED VITAMIN D?

One of the silver linings of the Coronavirus shutdown for me is that I’ve been able to spend more quality time with my family. Recently, we rediscovered our trampoline which has hardly gotten any use the past few years. My two youngest kids egged me on to jump with them and all I could think about was how it was going to bother my knees or hurt my back. But instead, we spent an amazing 20 minutes jumping together- laughing hysterically and then having meaningful conversations as we laid on our backs, exhausted and happy.

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?

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. 

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.