Why is Gut Health Important? An Integrative Gastrologist Explains What You Need to Know
By: Suzanne Kvilhaug
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In the past few years, gut health has become a megatrend. Why? One reason is likely because medical research shows that a healthy gut is the foundation of overall wellness. The emergence of scientific evidence on the role of the human microbiome, and the importance of a healthy gut, caught people’s attention and continues to do so. According to Euromonitor International’s Health and Nutrition Survey 2020, about one-quarter of consumers globally suffer from lower digestive health issues. As a result, gut health has quickly become a new lifestyle approach that affects food and beverages, vitamins and supplements, and beauty.
Gut health is expected to gain even further traction in 2021 and beyond. To learn more about all things gut health-related, I spoke with Dr.Tamerisa. Dr.Tamerisa is a Board Certified Gastroenterologist and the Clinic Director of Katy Gastroenterology. Dr. Tamerisa seeks to improve their patients’ health through a multidisciplinary approach that accounts for the very essence of being by integrating conventional with proven alternative medicine, also known as Functional Medicine. Functional Medicine is an individualized and patient-centric approach to treatment. The scientific methods involved take into consideration patients’ unique genome, biochemical, and environmental factors in understanding the complexity of illness. In her practice, this knowledge is harnessed to provide specific treatment plans, including wellness and nutrition education, to achieve superior overall and gastroenterological health outcomes.
What inspired you to become a Gastroenterologist?
The Digestive tract is comprised of multiple organs each of which has a crucial role in digestion and immunity. I was intrigued by the subject matter of the liver which is what drew me to the specialty of gastroenterology. I enjoy the ability to be in different settings such as in the clinic seeing patients as well as in the procedure room performing procedures. I am also excited about new developments that have shown that the GI tract is crucial to multiple disease processes.
Gut health has become an increasingly popular topic and microbiome research has increased dramatically in recent years. Why do you think there is such a growing interest?
We are increasingly aware of how the microbiome affects us in multiple ways. For example, the microbiome is connected to obesity as well as neurological disease processes. Our ability to learn more about the microbiome of an individual has allowed us to connect other disease processes to particular microbiome disruption. These developments have had a huge impact on my practice and my ability to help patients improve their overall health.
Do you believe that the gut is the foundation of your overall health?
Absolutely! The gut is our first line of defense against pathogens that are constantly entering our GI tract in the way of food or other particles that may enter our mouth. The lining of our digestive tract has the ability to illuminate dangerous organisms in toxic elements from invading our bloodstream. The immune system housed within the lining of the GI tract is immensely important to our immune health.
What are the advantages of having a healthy gut that may surprise people?
A healthy gut allows us to maintain optimal immune systems. It also allows us to maintain ideal body weight. The absorption of nutrients to nourish our cells is dependent on a healthy GI tract.
Are there other health problems that can be triggered by poor gut health?
We know that poor gut health leads to inflammation not only in our intestinal tract but also in our neurological systems along with our skeletal system. For example, certain autoimmune diseases are triggered by an imbalance in the GI tract that leads to inflammation in other areas of our body.
What are some main indications that someone has an unhealthy gut?
Often times we will see various GI complaints such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, gas, or bloating. We may also see fatigue, skin rashes, joint pains, muscle pains, issues with weight control, anemia, and problems absorbing nutrients.
What if someone doesn’t experience any common signs like bloating or pain, could they still have an unhealthy gut?
Absolutely an unhealthy gut can also cause acne or skin rashes, fatigue, and brain fog.
Do you have any favorite tools for restoring gut health naturally?
The key to restoring a healthy GI tract is understanding dietary influence on the GI tract. I am a huge believer in using food as medicine. Within 24 hours of eating certain foods, we may shift the microbiome in different directions. We may often use various supplements for improving intestinal health such as digestive enzymes to help break down our food more easily or certain plant extracts that help us improve gut motility.
Even if someone isn’t experiencing any obvious gut problems, could seeing a gastrologist for a yearly visit be beneficial?
There are many screening tools that we utilize in optimizing overall health. At the age of 45 we start screening colonoscopies which are immensely beneficial in reducing the risk of colon cancer even if there are no symptoms.
IBS affects between 25 and 45 million people in the United States. Do you perceive IBS as a condition someone will live with forever or is it a condition someone can heal?
Interestingly enough irritable bowel syndrome actually has a variety of potential ideologies. We now understand that over 60% of irritable bowel syndrome may actually be an issue with dysbiosis or imbalanced bacteria in the gut. Understanding this allows us to heal many patients who have suffered with IBS symptoms their whole lives. Often patients have been falsely diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome and they take a variety of medications that are not always effective. In my practice, we attempt to identify the root cause of symptoms so that we may have a more lasting impact.
Do you believe there is an emotional component to autoimmune disorders?
Our emotional state has a huge impact on our health and our ability to cope with outside stressors. When we are stressed or emotionally disturbed our immune system may not be capable of protecting us. There may actually be a point where the immune system is so stressed that we may evoke an exaggerated immune response at which point normal tissue may be damaged. This may start the snowball effect of provoking autoimmune conditions that cause inflammation of the intestinal tract.
People are worried that taking antibiotics can do a lot of harm to their gut but there are times when taking them are necessary. Do you personally come across issues with patients after they’ve taken antibiotics?
We often see various problems stemming from the use of antibiotics. For example, we may see issues with yeast overgrowth. We often also encounter a condition called small intestinal bacterial overgrowth which results from the eradication of the good bacteria from the gut. This process often presents many years after antibiotics were used. We now also understand that early antibiotic exposure may put a person at risk for inflammatory bowel disease later on in life. Oftentimes recognizing that there are long-term effects of using antibiotics allows us to make certain diagnoses that can be treated. There is also a bacteria called clostridium difficile that we can develop after use of certain antibiotics. This bacteria can cause a form of colitis.
What foods do you recommend for better overall gut health?
Whole foods are always better than processed foods. The more added ingredients in our foods the harder our digestive tract may have to work to process these foods and detoxify our system from harmful chemicals in our food. Grass-fed meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains are the preferred sources of nutrition.
Are there certain foods that people should avoid to keep their gut healthy?
Avoid processed foods much as possible. Artificial sweeteners such as high fructose corn syrup, sucralose, and saccharin should be avoided as much as possible.
I had a personal interest in candida overgrowth in the gut which motivated me to learn more about it. Now I wonder if this could be causing a lot of health problems for people without them ever realizing it. Do you diagnose a lot of people with candida overgrowth? Are there any symptoms that can usually indicate this is happening? What treatment do you see the most success in helping this condition?
We actually see quite a bit of Candida overgrowth which can be the cause of very common gastrointestinal symptoms. Obviously, there is a lot of overlap in these symptoms which can make the diagnosis difficult. We have some advanced stool and urine testing capabilities that allow us to detect Candida overgrowth. Symptoms once again may include gas, bloating, altered bowel patterns, and fatigue or brain fog. The treatment for Candida overgrowth can be challenging due to the fact that this condition often is ignored for many years. Our mainstay in treatment is often dietary modifications. Along with that, we may use antifungal agents which may include prescription products and botanical supplements such as oregano and berberine.
Can you explain the second brain in the gut and its importance? And how can someone make sure to keep it healthy and functioning optimally?
The enteric nervous system uses over 30 neurotransmitters, like the brain, and 95 percent of the body's serotonin is found in the bowels. Certain antidepressant medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) increase serotonin levels, therefore medications meant to cause chemical changes in the mind may provoke GI issues as a side effect. Irritable bowel syndrome—which affects more than two million Americans—also arises in part from too much serotonin in our intestines and could perhaps be regarded as a "mental illness" of our second brain.
Your gut is also where up to 95% of your serotonin (the primary neurotransmitter responsible for your mood) is produced. How can people naturally ensure this is functioning optimally?
Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that can affect mood. Eating certain foods that contain an essential amino acid called tryptophan can help the body produce more serotonin. Foods, including eggs, salmon, spinach, and seeds are among those that help boost serotonin naturally.
If someone tells you that they want to lose weight, what would your general advice be?
75% of weight loss can be achieved with dietary modifications. 25% is achieved with exercise. I emphasize to people that you can’t out-exercise a bad diet. Eating unprocessed whole foods is key to weight loss.
Can exercising regularly benefit your gut?
Studies show that cardiovascular exercise improves the transport of oxygen within the body and through the digestive tract promoting the presence, diversity, and activity of gut organisms —especially the ones bacteria that produce a gut-healing fatty acid called n-butyrate.
What supplements do you recommend to support gut health?
As previously stated, diet is always our number one intervention for good gut health. We may additionally use a variety of digestive enzymes and botanical antimicrobials along with probiotics to restore gut health. These recommendations are very individualized based on a person’s condition.
To find out more about Dr. Tamersa and her practice, check out her site at Katy Integrative Gastroenterology.
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