Have you ever wondered why you’re feeling exhausted? Why do you have brain fog? Why are you struggling through each day or even having trouble getting a good night’s sleep? Does this resonate with you?
If it does, the answer to these symptoms could lie within your digestive system.
It’s all about the effectiveness and efficiency of your digestion. As someone who has worked with women just like you for 30 years, I’ve seen firsthand how poor digestion can turn your life upside down.
Poor digestion can prevent you from feeling your best and living your best life. But don’t worry, I’m here to help you understand the connection and guide you back to feeling your best.
Let’s imagine the digestive system as a car. You take your car to the mechanic to check the fuel, oil, and air filters. Imagine your digestion as one of those filters, probably the fuel filter. I’m not a mechanic, but let’s consider it this way: if that fuel filter is clogged, the fuel can’t get to the engine to drive the car efficiently. Think about your digestion along the same lines.
If your digestion isn’t functioning optimally – digesting food and extracting nutrients from your diet – then it is harder to absorb essential nutrients necessary for energy production.
This leaves you feeling tired, sluggish, rundown, and far from optimal. I’ve seen this countless times in my clients: they eat all the right foods but still feel exhausted and sluggish. When I examine their meal plans and food diary, the issue often lies in their digestion.
So, how can you support your digestion?
Picture this: the digestive process starts when you chew your food. Imagine a sandwich, a carrot, or a banana. You take a bite and chew it, breaking it into smaller sections. This chewing action is crucial because it prepares the food for the next step – digestion by your digestive enzymes.
Chewing your food thoroughly is about eating mindfully.
When you chew properly, you’re not only making it easier for your digestive system but also ensuring that your body can effectively break down the food and absorb the nutrients it needs. This simple act of mindful eating can significantly impact your overall digestion and energy levels.
So many times I see women eating on the run. It’s not just women; lots of people, including kids, do it too. Kids often shovel food down quickly during their lunch break to get back to playing or move on to the next fun activity.
However, as busy women, we tend to eat while multitasking—cleaning the kitchen, doing the washing, or driving the kids to school. We’re not concentrating on what we’re eating. When that happens, the brain doesn’t prioritise digestion.
As a result, the brain fails to signal to the stomach, liver and pancreas to produce digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid needed for digestion. Without these enzymes, your body can’t break down the food properly, and you won’t absorb those key nutrients
Let me ask you, do you feel bloated? Do you feel uncomfortable? Do you feel tired and fatigued? Suffering from heartburn or reflux?
These could be symptoms of poor digestion and can also contribute to food intolerances, like intolerances to gluten or dairy. Food intolerance and poor digestion can create inflammation in your body, sapping your energy and leaving you feeling tired, rundown, and foggy in the brain. As part of the digestive process, we need to consider the gut microbiome.
The gut is home to trillions of microbes that play a crucial role in the digestion process and nutrient absorption. When there’s an imbalance in the gut flora, known as dysbiosis, your energy levels can plummet, your nutritional levels can be compromised, and you can feel constantly run down.
Understanding this connection between digestion and overall well-being is essential. We can significantly improve our energy levels and overall health by paying attention to how we eat and ensuring that our digestive system is functioning optimally.
Another question: Have you ever suffered from diarrhoea or constipation?
These could be signs that you’re not absorbing vital nutrients properly, which can leave you feeling tired and run down. An imbalance in digestion can also manifest as bloating, irregular blood sugar levels, or discomfort.
For instance, if you need a sugar fix at 2 p.m. to lift your energy, it might be due to fluctuating blood sugar levels.
Or perhaps you struggle with restless sleep, tossing and turning, and waking up in the early hours. This could be related to low blood sugar levels disrupting your sleep patterns and leaving you feeling exhausted throughout the day.
Maybe you experience brain fog – difficulty concentrating, forgetting where you put your keys, or struggling to remember tasks. All of these symptoms can trace back to digestion and nutrient absorption issues.
The first step…
To address these concerns, identify if your digestion is the culprit behind your fatigue and other symptoms. I’ve created a specific questionnaire to help determine if digestion could be one of the triggers and to pinpoint where you might need to start.
If you’re interested in getting a copy of my digestion questionnaire or checklist, click this:
This will allow you to review and check if digestion might contribute to your tiredness symptoms and feeling run down. Taking the first step is crucial for moving forward and reclaiming your vitality.
I would love to work with you to find the next steps towards a more vibrant and energetic
life.
Ready to kick start Gut Health? Book a Call!
This is how gut microbes can influence weight!
Probiotics can help you gain weight or lose weight by interacting with our genetics, food and metabolism.
And yes, I did say lose or gain weight……..
Firstly, let me explain that the trillions of microbes in the gut need to be varied, meaning that there should be a large variety of species. There are many different species (or breeds) of microbes, and they all have their place in aiding health — the more variety and balance, the better health results.
Back to the weight loss or weight gain issue….
Do you eat yogurt and berries for breakfast? Thinking that it’s helping you lose weight?
Well, Lactobacillus acidophilus (like the species found in yoghurt) has been connected to weight gain.
I am not saying throw your yoghurt and berries in the bin. Instead, I am suggesting looking at the overall picture. If Lactobacillus acidophilus is the predominant micro-organism of the gut, then weight gain can result.
It is about the variety of species of gut microbes. Imagine if we only have trained german shepherd guard dogs in the world. It may be a safe world, but I am sure that other breeds may be more suitable as a family pet.
While Lactobacillus acidophilus is associated with weight gain, other Lactobacillus species correlate with weight loss.
Species like Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus gasseri, and Bifidobacteria animalis have been found to support weight loss.
Want to lose weight?
Look at your gut flora to support your goal.
Tests can be performed to identify the predominant species of the gut, and specific species can be utilised to support weight changes.
Want more information about your gut health?
Or want to look at all the factors contributing to weight gain, I’d love to be able to help.
