To avoid digestive issues that may exacerbate your scoliosis, make healthy eating and lifestyle choices.

A phrase that (seems to have) been around for decades is, "You are what you eat." It's real, as a matter of fact. You feel better and have more energy when you eat nutritious, nutrient-dense foods. That seems like a easy task, doesn't it? So if it was that easy, why do people still get sick? Why are individuals apprehensive, fatigued, and stressed? There are a variety of factors at play. Maybe it's because you're overscheduled or live in a "food desert," so eating fast food and skipping the workout is easier. Maybe you've got scoliosis, and even though the scoliosis discomfort is tolerable today, you can't get out of bed or prepare a nourishing supper. Your digestive system has to process nutrition, or the lack thereof that you consume. Your ability to live your best life with scoliosis depends on your body's capacity to transform the nutrients you consume into healing and life-giving energy. The food you eat and the lifestyle choices you make affect your digestive system in a big way.

What is gut health so important?

The health of your body is determined by your digestive system, or "gut." Its sole job is to ensure that the nutrients you consume are processed and distributed throughout your body for optimal functioning. It is known as the "second brain." The gut microflora and immune cells that fight invading flora and viruses are also present in those who are healthy. Most importantly, by converting neurotransmitters and hormones directly and indirectly, your gut helps to maintain general health and well-being. Your health, mood, strength, and ability to live happily every day are undoubtedly influenced by the food you put into your body.

What is "Leaky Gut Syndrome"?

The concept of leaky gut syndrome is that increased intestinal permeability is not just a result of gastrointestinal illness but an underlying problem. It's possible that toxins are entering your bloodstream if your digestive tract is damaged. These compounds may cause inflammation, which may lead to a variety of illnesses. Leaky gut has merit as a hypothesis for explaining conditions that we haven't been able to fully explain yet, but the evidence is lacking. We know that having leaky intestines is real, but we don't know if it's a disease or whether it causes other diseases. It isn't yet a recognized medical term.

Many inflammatory and autoimmune disorders of the digestive system, such as inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease, have been recognized to have a leaky gut. In most cases, scientists consider it to be a symptom rather than a cause. Chronic inflammation in the intestines leads to the erosion of the intestinal barrier over time, which is characteristic of these illnesses. In certain instances, scientists have discovered elevated intestinal permeability in individuals who had not yet been diagnosed with these illnesses. This has sparked a lot of curiosity about whether leaky gut syndrome is a causal or contributing factor in these illnesses. However, scientists determined that these situations' leaky gut wasn't sufficient to cause illness. It was more likely to be a symptom of illness.

Systematic erosion of the intestinal lining is one of the known causes of leaky gut syndrome. It's not as simple as it sounds. Several layers of defense exist in your intestinal lining. It is, nevertheless, intended to constantly repair and replace itself, even if it may be harmed temporarily. It takes a serious attack to wear it down enough to penetrate the lining. Chronic illness, chronic medications, or alcohol abuse or radiation therapy are all common reasons for this.

Anything that damages your gut lining, according to the leaky gut syndrome hypothesis, might cause intestinal permeability if it is severe enough. As a result, your intestinal lining may be worn down by cumulative everyday elements such as diet and stress. These common variables might cause inflammation in your gut lining and unpleasant GI symptoms (including constipation), according to scientists.

How does a leaky gut affect your body?

One thing is intestinal lining erosion, while another is intestinal permeability. The majority of individuals who believe they have a leaky gut suffer from similar gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal discomfort, food allergies, bloating, and indigestion. These symptoms are frequent, and many of them may damage your intestinal lining. They may have a variety of causes. Those effects can occur even if your gut is not leaky.

Signs of an Unhealthy Gut

How do you know if you have leaky gut syndrome? There are a number of common signs that may indicate leaky gut.

Moodiness, Irritability and Brain Fog

We usually tell them that our feelings and emotions are strongly linked to the GI system when we discuss the link between mental health and gut health. The nerves that stimulate the brain, for example, are constantly firing when our brain is in overdrive from anxiety or depression. In the GI system, this occurs as well. As a result of the nerves that stimulate the gut firing, this cycle has been formed. The GI symptoms exacerbate the psychological symptoms, and the psychological symptoms exacerbate the GI. Medications, changes in lifestyle, and/or dietary adjustments may be used to stop the cycle at any time.

Studies show substantial evidence of the impact of gut health on our mental condition, despite the fact that the precise link between the gut and brain is not fully established. In the end, depression, anxiety, or sleep difficulties are common in patients with irritable bowel disease, and depression and generalized anxiety disorder are commonly coexistent with gastrointestinal concerns. Although further study on this link is needed, it is evident that the gastrointestinal system and brain communicate; in fact, evidence-based behavioral therapy for irritable bowel syndrome may be found in the Journal of Gastroenterology. Many patients with brain fog benefit from a neurotransmitter support supplement like FOCUS.

Fatigue or Insomnia

Do you struggle to drift off or are you sleeping too much? Your gut health may have an impact on your life in other ways as well. Serotonin, which affects mood and sleep, is produced in large amounts by the gut. Our sleep/eating rhythms and emotions are influenced by functions of the gut and its activity. The relationship between sleep and gut health is a two-way street, as we saw with the link between the mind and digestive health. Getting a good night's sleep helps maintain a healthy gut flora, according to researchers. Digestive difficulties can be caused by lack of sleep, and they may spin into a vicious cycle. Many patients improve the quality of their sleep with the RENEW supplement or ZZZ's supplement.

Skin Problems

When you eat certain foods, such as those high in refined sugar or saturated fat, your skin may breakout, which is due to the bacteria in your gut. Those kinds of diets may lead to a gut bacteria imbalance, which might cause a range of skin disorders, such as acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, and dandruff, according to one 2021 research. When we look at the microbiome of individuals who have and do not have these types of inflammatory skin diseases, the relationship between our gut and our skin becomes more apparent. Individuals with rosacea, for example, are also likely to have gastrointestinal problems, according to the same research. While just 2% to 3% of the general population has psoriasis, that number climbs to 7% to 11% among persons with irritable bowel disease

Unintentional Weight Changes

When your gut is healthy, it easily processes your food and eliminates waste in a normal way, so it's not that big of a stretch to see how your gut health might impact your weight. Your weight is most likely to fluctuate when there is a substantial change in eating patterns or physical activity, so you can continue to eat your normal diet. The link between gut health and weight, however, goes deeper. Microbial richness has been linked to adult BMI and metabolism, and certain gut bacteria have an effect on the number of calories you can extract from your meal. To put it another way, the gut microbiome has the potential to influence weight gain and loss. Therefore, poor gut health and a lack of diversity in your microbiome might be to blame if you're eating normally but seem to be slowly gaining or losing weight. Another important point is that weight loss or gain can indicate several serious health problems, such as cancer, so if you're experiencing either one, you should contact your doctor right away.

Gas, Bloating and Other Stomach Issues

Symptoms of poor digestion, discomfort and stomach pain may stem from problems with bacteria in the gut due to the DAO genetic variant (also linked to idiopathic scoliosis). It's vital to note that food intolerances/sensitivities and allergies or autoimmune disease aren't the same thing. You might get shortness of breath, hives, swelling in your mouth or tongue, or itchiness as a result of a food reaction; this is not just unpleasant, but can be deadly. In contrast to food reactions, food intolerances afflict up to 20% of the population and lead to similar gastrointestinal symptoms, which are unpleasant and may be life-threatening but aren't identical to an allergy. Some people may even be able to eat tiny amounts of a food they are allergic to without suffering any symptoms. This may be an indication that the bacteria in your gut isn't breaking down those foods the way it should, which can cause side effects like gas after eating them.

What type of digestive problems can affect scoliosis?

Everyone has digestive issues at some point in their life. Your digestive system, along with the halting of spinal curvature, is crucial to your health and well-being when you have scoliosis. Abdominal pain and other digestive issues can be caused by conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, or gluten sensitivity. Gut permeability, also known as "leaky gut," may cause abdominal discomfort or have no symptoms. When tiny holes in the gastrointestinal system allow small particles of food to enter the bloodstream, this occurs. This causes food sensitivities and other inflammatory illnesses in your body, which is triggered by an immune system response. 

You might be deficient in important nutrients and/or hormones if you have scoliosis, which may make your body function incorrectly. According to new study, persons with scoliosis have 28 genetic differences that predispose them to the condition. Changes and imbalances in your neurotransmitter, hormone, and bone health are caused by these genetic variants. 

How neurotransmitters and hormones contribute to a healthy spine.

Neurotransmitters and hormones are your body’s communication system with the brain, and are affected by the scoliosis condition. When your neurotransmitters and hormones aren’t functioning properly, they may cause: 

• mood swings
• brain fog 
• decreased energy
• increased irritability

Your digestive system is responsible for the majority of neurotransmitters. Your neurotransmitter levels are impacted when your digestive system isn't working properly. According to proven study, balanced neurotransmitters may also help prevent additional spinal curvature in individuals with scoliosis.

Healthy neurotransmitter and hormone levels, as well as balanced neurotransmitters/hormones, may help to halt curve progression by making sure your digestive system is working properly. Furthermore, having a healthy gut improves your general health! 

How can I take care of my gut?

The advantages of several therapies for improving the general health and integrity of the gut wall are being studied by scientists. These treatments may help treat the consequences of everyday circumstances such as diet, stress, and bacterial overgrowth on your intestinal lining, but they may not be able to cure a pathological condition. They might also help with your stomach's general symptoms. Among the treatments offered are:

• Probiotics. The capacity of certain probiotics to repair gut barrier function is being examined individually. Probiotics, on the other hand, may help prevent overgrowth of the wrong bacteria in your gut, particularly in your small intestine. They may also help maintain the health of your gut lining. The probiotic supplement ENHANCE is recommended for people with idiopathic scoliosis.

• Prebiotics. Prebiotics help give the beneficial bacteria in your intestines an advantage in their struggle. Plant fibers are often used, which is another reason to consume your veggies.
• Reduce dietary fats and sugars. They cause the release of harmful dietary emulsifiers that may irritate your gut and encourage the development of incorrect gut bacteria.
• Nutrition. Your gut may be fortified by eating a nutritious diet that contains all of the required macronutrients and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). Vitamin D and an amino acid called L-glutamine may help promote gut repair in specific ways and improve overall immunity.
• Anti inflammatory foods Diet. Since it removes the majority of common food triggers (including dairy and gluten), this particular diet is often recommended for individuals with IBS and specific food sensitivities. While also informing you of which foods make you sensitive to, using it briefly may give your gut the rest it needs to recover.
• Avoid Aspirin, NSAIDS, and Antibiotics

How good nutrition and lifestyle choices prevent digestive problems.

You may improve your gut health by making adjustments to your diet. These options may also help reduce scoliosis symptoms including irritability, mood swings, and depression by increasing neurotransmitter levels. Foods that have been restricted in processing. Limit or avoid packaged items with an expiration date that are located in the “outer” sections of your grocery store (e.g. fruits, veggies, lean proteins). Add sauerkraut, coconut kefir, miso, and kombucha to your diet, which are all rich in probiotics. Use fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, rather than canned varieties. Avocado oil, olive oil, and grass-fed butter are all excellent sources of healthy fats. Wild salmon, grass-fed beef, and anchovies are some of the foods that you can eat to boost your Omega-3 intake. Bone broth, which is high in collagen and bolstering the walls of your digestive system, may be eaten or drunk. Talk to a digestive system healing specialist about treatments and nutrients to help you recover your gastrointestinal system. A good place to start may include digestive enzymes, probiotics, and L-glutamine.

Scoliosis is more than just a spinal curve, it's a condition that affects many different things. You may modify your diet and make healthy lifestyle choices that aid your gut health. With scoliosis, a healthy digestion system helps you live your best life!