Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Super Focus IQ Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND If you have been on the Invite health website, you may have noticed a formula called Super Focus IQ. If the nutrients inside this formula seem to ring a bell that’s because it is the same fantastic …
GERD and ACID REFLUX Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Next to constipation and diarrhea, one of the most common concerns that people have is stomach acid. This includes GERD or gastroesophageal re-flux disease. Other common concerns that relate to stomach acid include Peptic ulcers, gastritis, and …
Digestive Health Overview
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Digestive health does not just mean diarrhea or constipation. In fact, while diarrhea or constipation can be a concern by themselves, they are often symptoms of other disorders such as SIBO, IBS, IBD and even diverticulitis. The digestive tract is one of the most important systems in our body. Not only does it process the nutrients we need to live, but it also affects our immune system. Our digestive tract is impacted by every part of our daily life from what we eat to stress and even if we are not sleeping enough. Often when we start to feel sick, we feel it in our digestive system first. Stress also has a huge impact on the digestive system. If you’re undergoing stress, treating only the digestive symptoms won’t be helpful in the long term. The same is true if there is any systemic medical concern such as diabetes. I would also like to take the time to mention that some digestive disorders can even be “silent.’ For example, Acid reflux can present with a chronic cough rather than a burning feeling. Speaking with a nutritionist can really help address digestive concerns. When you visit Invite health it can be helpful to bring along some things. For example, feel free to bring along a food log, a list of any and all medications/ supplements that you are taking and any blood work you have. While every individual digestive issue has its own slightly different protocol, there are some things that are important in general.
CASTOR OIL
Castor oil packs are amazing for reducing inflammation and pain in the digestive tract! (1) †
Stress reduction
Herbs and L Glutamine
Healing herbs such as demulcents have been found in studies to help with inflammation, pain, and even healing the digestive tract. These demulcent herbs can include the following:
Probiotics
Probiotics are so important to our overall health! (6) Now I know what you are thinking but Dr. Claire Invite has a million different probiotic blends! Which is the best one for me? Let me do a quick overview for you.
DIGESTIVE ENZYMES
Digestive enzymes have been found to help with gas and bloating and breaking down food. In studies they help with symptoms of constipation among other concerns. (7) Invite has 2 amazing formulas! The first is a capsule called Digestive Hx. But if you do not like pills there is a chewable formula called Prozyme Digest.
If you have any questions regarding digestive health, feel free to reach out to a nutritionist!
SOURCES
Hemorrhoids and Veins Hx Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Many people call telling me they have hemorrhoids and/or anal polyps. I always ask people to be specific as to exactly what is going on in their digestive tract. While to most people, hemorrhoids might seem to …
IBS and IBD Written by Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND A question I am often asked is, “what is the difference between Irritable Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome?” Aren’t they the same? Well not really. While both are digestive conditions involving irritation in our digestive …
SIBO and Diverticulitis
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
In this blog I wanted to talk about 2 conditions that may not seem related at 1st glance but are more closely related than you may think! These conditions are diverticulitis and SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). In both conditions there is an overgrowth of bad bacteria. (1, 2) But just what is diverticulitis? What is SIBO? And what can you do if you are affected by these conditions? It is a lot to cover so let us get into it, shall we?
Let us start with diverticulitis. In diverticulitis there are small bulging pouches in the intestine. These pouches called diverticula are usually found in the lower parts of the intestines and normally the large intestine. In the case of diverticulitis these pockets have become infected or have an overgrowth of bad bacteria. (3) In contrast diverticulosis is where you have the pouches but there is not an overgrowth of bacteria. In this blog I will be concentrating on diverticulosis which is where you get the infection in the pouches. (1)
SIBO is also an overgrowth of bacteria. One of the differences between diverticulitis and SIBO is location. As I stated diverticulitis usually occurs in the large intestine and as the name implies SIBO occurs in the small intestine. (2) Another difference between the 2 disorders is the type of bacteria that are typically the cause of the infection. While in diverticulitis the bacteria found is typically the type thought of as “bad bacteria’ in the case of SIBO we can find the growth of what is typically considered normal or even “good bacteria.” (1, 2)
I know what you are thinking, this is great, but I am still confused! Well to make a long story short both SIBO and diverticulitis involve an overgrowth of bacteria. SIBO occurs in the small intestine and diverticulitis occurs in pouches typically in the large intestine or lower intestine.
Now what are some of the most common symptoms of diverticulitis? The most common symptoms include cramps, gas, bloating, and changes in bowel movements and blood in the stool. (4) You may also experience abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, fever, and chills. Long term there may be a decrease in appetite which can result in weight loss. (5) The symptoms of SIBO are like diverticulitis! To start there typically are changes in bowel movements. With SIBO this change tends to run towards diarrhea more often than constipation. However, constipation does occur more often than you would expect. Therefore, in my professional opinion the presence of constipation should not automatically rule out SIBO. Other symptoms that are also like diverticulitis include gas, bloating, nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain and even loss of appetite and thus weight loss. Those symptoms more strongly associated with SIBO include fatigue, joint pain, insomnia, brain fog and even nutrient deficiencies such as low B12. (6)
When it comes to risk factors for diverticulitis and SIBO once again some of them are the same. For both diverticulitis and SIBO constipation or slow transit time can increase your risk. (7, 8) Anything that can increase the risk of constipation can increase the risk of both digestive concerns. For example, a low fiber diet and even a high meat diet. Other risk factors more linked to diverticulitis include extreme weight loss, advanced age, a genetic predisposition, and a condition called Ehlers Danlos syndrome. (7) There are also some factors that cause food to move more slowly through the small intestine thus they increase the risk of SIBO. These factors include low stomach acid, structural malformations of the small intestine, IBD, immunodeficiency and even certain medications. (8) Lastly as we all know stress and anxiety can lead to constipation thus increasing the risk of diverticulitis and SIBO. (7, 8)
What can you do to help with the symptoms of diverticulitis and SIBO?
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