Gut Health

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?

We 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 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?

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.