Top 4 Gut Health Recommendations

Written By: Founder, Bridget Hoppe

Nutrition plays a HUGE role in our health and vitality! Yet I am baffled how historically doctors are taught incredibly little if any education on the impact certain nutrients have on our microbiome. I can still remember my trip to see a gastroenterologist when I was in college. The only recommendation the "specialist" had for me was to take the probiotic Align, the one you used to see in commercials all the time on TV. Not to mention, this probiotic contained a list of crappy "other ingredients" that eliminated any potential benefits. I can vividly see how powerful the health of our gut is after looking back on my health journey now. After I was prescribed the antibiotic Augmentin for 20 days, not only was my gut a hot mess, but I went on to develop a plethora of other debilitating symptoms, one of them being chronic fatigue that left me bedridden. Today I feel blessed to have my vitality back after discovering the beautiful and powerful world of "alternative" medicine.

• I struggled with extraordinary stomach pain that would often leave me doubled over.
• There were VERY few foods that I could consume that I would not react to.
• My stomach would swell to the point that my body looked like a woman that was pregnant with twins.
• I had episodes where breathing was really hard.
• I had to sleep sitting up because the acid reflux was so bad.
• My nails became very weak and brittle.
• I became incredibly malnourished and slender because my body was unable to absorb nutrients.
• The good bacteria in my gut had been completely wiped out making my digestive system fluctuate between being backed up and the other extreme. There was so much pain and discomfort.
• My personality had changed. Shortly after taking the antibiotic that destroyed my gut, I noticed a shift in my personality! I suddenly would easily become shy, embarrassed, and bashful. I no longer enjoyed giving presentations and speaking in front of others. My previous outgoing personality was out the window.

Know if you are still in the dark, there is hope. Healing takes time but is 100% possible. Now let's dive in and let the healing begin.

Celery Juice

This incredibly nutrient-rich drink is more powerful than any probiotic supplement. Before discovering celery juice, I had taken numerous different probiotics for years with minimal improvement. Celery is one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory foods. This herb "starves unproductive bacteria, yeast, mold, fungus, and viruses that are present in the body and flush their toxins and debris out of the intestinal tract and liver" (William 132). In addition, celery helps good bacteria thrive. I understand juicers can be a pain in the butt to clean. However, I can not stress enough how powerful this tonic is to your health and vitality! For maximum benefits, drink the freshly juiced celery in the morning when you wake up on an empty stomach. If your gut needs serious help, I recommend incorporating this into your regimen at least 4 times a week. The benefits are truly limitless. "Celery raises hydrochloric acid in the stomach so that food digests with ease and doesn't putrefy. This helps prevent a multitude of gastrointestinal disorders" (William 132). As a bonus, celery can help to nourish our adrenal glands and help to eliminate brain fog.

If you do not already own a juicer, the company Breville makes a variety of juicers that we have always enjoyed. Last but not least, make sure the celery is organic, especially when juicing as the tonic is very concentrated. For comparison, if you were to enjoy a celery snack you probably would only consume a few individual stalks. However, yielding 1 glass of juice takes at least 1 whole bundle of celery!

Turmeric

I have always LOVED curry not knowing until the last several years the power of turmeric in this delicious cuisine. Curcumin, the main active ingredient in turmeric, has been used for centuries in traditional Asian medicine for conditions such as abdominal pain, stomach distention, and poor digestion. "The role of gut microbiota in promoting or suppressing disease - hints that curcumin can change our gut microbiome in ways that have positive effects on the entire body and the mind" (Russell 3 - 4). Not all supplements are created equal. Before I discovered Gaia Herbs Turmeric Supreme Extra Strength, I had tried a few other brands that did not settle well with my stomach. This formula I have found to be very gentle on the digestive system and effective.

Digestive Bitters

Taking digestive bitters before you consume a meal can help to prevent gas, bloating, stomach cramping, irritable bowel syndrome, as well as acid reflux. Bitters help to engage and signal different activities in our digestive system to start, including supporting the production of hydrochloric acid, bile, and pancreatic enzymes. I am a big fan of taking digestive bitters before meals. Currently, I take a blend of oregon grape root, gentian, and dandelion from my local apothecary here in Vermont called Grian Herbs. I find this blend to be extra bitter and effective! If you are also interested in this tincture, your local apothecary should be able to formulate this custom formula. Another option is the company Urban Moonshine! They offer 3 different organic digestive bitter tinctures. Their products are available at most health food stores and online. Last but not least, another option is to consume bitter greens like arugula before a meal. However, if your digestive system is impaired at the moment, having a tincture on hand helps with consistency! I used to have severe acid reflux. I am grateful to report this symptom is now a thing of the past. 

CBD & CBG 

Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabigerol (CBG) are two of the 100+ cannabinoids found in hemp and cannabis plants. The sole difference between hemp and cannabis plants boils down to the amount of THC in the plant. Hemp has less than 0.3 percent THC; cannabis, by default, has more than 0.3 percent THC. To understand how the cannabinoids CBD and CBG can help support the digestive system, first we need to look at the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that was discovered by scientists in the 1900s. The endocannabinoid system is made up of CB1 and CB2 receptors that are located throughout our body! CB1 receptors reside primarily in our brain and central nervous system, while CB2 receptors are located throughout the rest of our bodies, including our digestive tract, cardiovascular system, immune system, and liver, among many other locations. CBD and CBG found in hemp communicate with our CB1 and CB2 receptors to help bring homeostasis back to that particular area of the body. "While human research on CBG is limited, preclinical studies show promise in improving inflammatory bowel disease, other inflammatory conditions, glaucoma, mood disorders, and nerve pain" (Dr. Sulak 4). If you are suffering from a compromised gut, consuming CBD : CBG in the form of drops is a better option as opposed to capsules, as tincture form bypasses the digestive system allowing the supplement to be absorbed right into your bloodstream. For best absorption, place the drops directly under your tongue, hold for 30 seconds then swallow. The benefits of CBD : CBG are truly limitless.

Opposed to pharmaceutical medications that often only provide a temporary band-aid, botanicals help your body achieve balance, strength, and resilience again. I am beyond grateful to report I no longer suffer from severe gastrointestinal issues. In addition, I am no longer lactose intolerant, I can consume lots of wonderful foods again without trouble, and I truly feel vibrant, which is one of the greatest gifts. As the saying goes "a healthy person has a thousand wishes, a sick person only one". I can totally relate. Know that you are not alone, and someday you too will have a thousand wishes again.

References

Alger BE. Getting high on the endocannabinoid system. Cerebrum. 2013 Nov 1;2013:14. PMID: 24765232; PMCID: PMC3997295.

Borrelli F, Fasolino I, Romano B, Capasso R, Maiello F, Coppola D, Orlando P, Battista G, Pagano E, Di Marzo V, Izzo AA. Beneficial effect of the non-psychotropic plant cannabinoid cannabigerol on experimental inflammatory bowel disease. Biochem Pharmacol. 2013 May 1;85(9):1306-16. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2013.01.017. Epub 2013 Feb 12. PMID: 23415610.

Bundy R, Walker AF, Middleton RW, Booth J. Turmeric extract may improve irritable bowel syndrome symptomology in otherwise healthy adults: a pilot study. J Altern Complement Med. 2004 Dec;10(6):1015-8. doi: 10.1089/acm.2004.10.1015. PMID: 15673996.

"CBD & The Endocannabinoid System." Project CBD, 5 Sept. 2022, projectcbd.org/science/cbd-the-endocannabinoid-system/. Accessed 13 Jun. 2023.

"Many Benefits Of Turmeric." GI Society Canadian Society Of Intestinal Research, 6 Jul. 2021, badgut.org/information-centre/health-nutrition/many-benefits-turmeric/. Accessed 10 Jun. 2023.

Scazzocchio B, Minghetti L, D'Archivio M. Interaction between Gut Microbiota and Curcumin: A New Key of Understanding for the Health Effects of Curcumin. Nutrients. 2020 Aug 19;12(9):2499. doi: 10.3390/nu12092499. PMID: 32824993; PMCID: PMC7551052.

"What To Know About Digestive Bitters." WebMD, 25 Oct. 2021, www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/what-to-know-about-digestive-bitters#:~:text=Digestive%20bitters%20are%20herbs%20that,in%20lots%20of%20different%20cultures. Accessed 13 Jun. 2023.