Healing Begins With The Gut
Your gut is the foundation of your health! Did you know that research connects imbalances in the gut to everything from inflammation throughout the body, to brain and mood disorders, skin issues and menstrual cycle issues? Even autoimmune conditions may only exist in the context of a gut health disruption known as intestinal permeability or leaky gut. Whether you have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), reflux/GERD, indigestion, gas, bloating, irregular bowels or autoimmune disease, we help you get to the bottom of your gut health issues!
But What Does That Mean?
The microbiome is impacted throughout life, but key immune-microbiome programming occurs early, within the first 3 years of life.
While there is likely some microbial transfer to a baby as a fetus, the main starter for our microbiome starts at our birth -either from our mother’s vaginal canal or through the hands that deliver us through c-section.
Also, the immune, nervous (brain) and endocrine (hormone) systems are not separate, but communicate and coordinate as one system. Imbalances or disturbances in any part of these systems will create imbalances in the others if not rectified.
This early programming of our microbe-immune superorganism sets up our predisposition to many health conditions later in life including IBS, IBD, mood, cognition, autoimmunity, Type II diabetes, metabolism, and influences conditions such as autism.
The gut microbiome is part of the “main frame” of your health. The microbiome has a major impact on human metabolism, the immune system, our brain, behavior and disease development. 75-80% of our immune system is in our gut!In the “gut associated lymphatic tissue” or GALT. This means that our gut microbiome-immune system is actually one system, and inflammation and even autoimmunity are likely significantly controlled by this system. Dr Alessio Fassano, the discoverer of zonulin, the molecule that mediates “leaky gut” (intestinal permeability) believes that leaky gut is a foundational aspect of developing autoimmune disease. Our microbiome-immune system is programmed early in life and has significant impacts on health throughout our life.
Since so much of the immune system (75-80%) is in our gut, addressing diet, digestion, and the gut microbiome is foundational to treating inflammation amd overall health anywhere in our body. In recent years, we are learning that the metabolomics of the gut may be more important than the types of species in our gut.
Reclaim Your Health and Vitality with Personalized Care for Your Digestive System
At InHealthRVA, we understand how gut health is foundational to your overall well-being. From digestive issues like IBS to nutrient absorption, immune function, and mental health, a well-functioning digestive system plays a crucial role.
Our comprehensive, Functional and Integrative health approach focuses on identifying the root causes of digestive imbalances to create a personalized treatment plan that optimizes wellness & brings lasting relief.
Why Gut Health Matters
Your digestive system is complex, and its health affects nearly every aspect of your life. When your gut is out of balance, symptoms like bloating, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, and even brain fog can arise.
Traditional medicine often treats these symptoms in isolation. Our clinic considers the entire digestive process—from the stomach to the microbiome in leaky gut—to create a holistic approach for lasting health.
The Role of the Microbiome in Gut Health
The 100 trillion microbes, including mostly bacteria but also fungi, and viruses, that live in your gut form a unique ecosystem essential to your health. An imbalance in the types or amount of various microbes, called dysbiosis, can lead to gut immune reactivity and symptoms such as food reactivities, IBS, abdominal discomfort, reflux or GERD, bowel changes and inflammation throughout the whole body.
Common Gut Health Conditions We Treat
We support patients experiencing a range of digestive challenges, including but not limited to:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, and irregular bowel movements, IBS can drastically impact your quality of life. We work to identify food sensitivities, gut microbiome imbalances, lifestyle factors and other underlying causes to help manage and relieve symptoms.
Intestinal Permeability: Also called “leaky gut,” this condition occurs when the intestinal lining becomes overly porous, allowing toxins and undigested food particles to enter the bloodstream. Our treatments focus on healing the leaking gut and restoring a balanced microbiome.
Chronic Constipation & Diarrhea: These common issues are often symptoms of more profound imbalances. We investigate potential causes—like dietary habits, stress, and microbial imbalances—and tailor a plan to bring relief.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): For those dealing with persistent heartburn and acid reflux, our approach looks beyond quick fixes to discover and address the root causes.
IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease is an autoimmune condition that involves an autoimmune attack on your intestines. It is caused by inherited predispositions and can be triggered and/or exacerbated by environmental conditions. Identifying and addressing any environmental triggers while optimizing gut health and the gut immune system and microbiome can lead to improved resolution and overall wellness.
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO): SIBO can cause bloating, pain, and irregular digestion. We determine the best path to lead to long-lasting relief and restore balance through targeted testing.
Our Approach: A Functional Path to Digestive Health
1. In-Depth Assessment
We begin with thoroughly evaluating your health history, lifestyle, and diet. This comprehensive look lets us understand how various factors impact your digestive health. Advanced testing, including microbiome analysis, cellular health and inflammation markers, may be recommended.
2. Root Cause Identification
Functional medicine aims to uncover and address the underlying causes of your symptoms. By identifying factors like imbalanced gut flora, food intolerances, stress, and environmental influences, we can begin to restore digestive harmony.
3. Personalized Treatment Plan
Your customized plan may include nutrition therapy, probiotics, prebiotics, antimicrobials as well as lifestyle adjustments and stress management techniques. For some, we may suggest elimination diets or other therapeutic dietary approaches to reduce inflammation and improve digestive health.
4. Ongoing Support & Adjustments
As your digestive health improves, we’ll continue to adjust your plan to ensure lasting resolution. Our team provides guidance, education, and support to help you sustain your progress and prevent future digestive issues.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Functional Medicine
IBS is a common yet highly diverse condition that affects millions. Symptoms like cramping, abdominal pain, and changes in bowel movements often go barely managed with standard treatments. Our Functional medicine approach to IBS considers factors like the gut microbiome, stress and food intolerances. By addressing these factors, we can not just relieve symptoms but resolve IBS, improve digestive function, and restore your quality of life.
Benefits of Choosing Our Clinic for Digestive Health
Holistic, Patient-Centered Care: We combine an in-depth understanding of your health history as well as advanced labs and response to individualized therapies to work with you through your health journey. We work with the whole person, not just a collection of symptoms.
Root-Cause Solutions: We identify the underlying drivers of your health conditions, which are often connected and work with you to create health journeys that provide long-term relief and optimal health, not temporary fixes.
Advanced Testing and Technologies: We utilize advanced testing to gain a clear picture of your unique gut health needs.
Personalized Treatment Plans: Each treatment plan is tailored to your needs, lifestyle, and health goals. We practice “personalized-personalized” medicine by creating health journeys based not just on your unique health history and labs but also your ability and bandwidth to heal.
Support and Education: We empower you with knowledge and resources to take control of your digestive health.
Start Your Journey to Better Digestive Health
Taking control of your gut health can transform your life. Our clinic is dedicated to providing compassionate, individualized care that addresses the root causes of your digestive issues. Let us partner with you to create a clear path to optimal health and well-being.
We look forward to hearing from you!
InHealthRVA would be delighted to help you address your health concerns and support your long-term wellness. A premier Functional Medicine and integrative health center in Virginia, we are committed to serving our community and providing the highest level of care available.
Serving: Richmond, Ashland, Mechanicsville, Goochland, Midlothian, Chester, Glen Allen, & New Kent
Frequently Asked Questions
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Fun facts!
The gut is home to 75% of our entire immune system, know as the GALT (gut associated lymphatic tissue).
It is also has the second most dense part of our nervous system, after our brain.
The gut also homes the complex gut microbiome, which is comprised of approximately 100 trillion (that’s right, trillion) microbes, mostly bacteria but also viruses and yes, even parasites are normal parts of the human gut microbiome!
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Because the vast majority of our immune system and nervous system is intimately involved with our gut, almost all other health symptoms and diseases can be affected by our gut health and what we eat. Of course gut symptoms and gut diseases are affected by our gut microbiome, gut nervous system what we eat.
But we now know that almost all other conditions can have roots in a disrupted gut. Everything from heart disease and diabetes, mental health issues and hormone issues, autoimmune diseases and other inflammation-related conditions, skin conditions, brain fog and conditions such as POTS/dysautonomia, CFS/ME/FM can be created or influenced by our gut.
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Of course any gut symptom, including, most commonly IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) and reflux.
It’s important to note that IBS isn’t any one condition, but an umbrella term for most gut and digestive ailments that are not autoimmune-inflammatory bowel disease. Symptoms can range from constipation to diarrhea, and include bloating, abdominal pain and reflux. But remember, this term is descriptive of your gut having symptoms (it’s irritable!), not diagnostic of any underlying pattern of symptoms or causes.
If further testing such as a colonoscopy or small bowel imaging study show you have inflammation in your small or large intestine, then you would be diagnosed with IBD (Inflammatory bowel disease). IBD includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and a broader spectrum of inflammatory bowel conditions in-between.
These are autoimmune diseases, where our immune system mistakenly attacks our own gut tissue. Imbalances in the gut microbiome, to foods and with the gut nervous system can be both triggers and exacerbators of IBD.
Unlike IBS where addressing the gut microbiome, diet and stress almost always are able to resolve the condition, if you have IBD, you will always have autoimmune antibodies against your gut. Though in Functional medicine, the aim is to get you as close to symptom free as possible.
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Leaky gut, or more formally called “intestinal permeability,” is when the junctions between the cells of our intestine get wider (or “leaky”) in order to allow in more immune molecules in order to address a perceived threat.
Importantly: If you have leaky gut, it is due to other causes. So don’t just treat leaky gut with supplements and regimens, get to the root causes!
Causes of leaky gut include:
• Gut microbiome imbalances (too many bad microbes, too few good ones)
• Gut microbiome infections
• Food reactivities (both intolerances and/or allergies)
• Stress. The gut is the 2nd most innervated place in the body after the brain, and directly communicates with the brain! Stress involves molecular responses from the hormone, immune and nervous system, and these greatly affect the gut in many people, though some of us are more sensitive to this than others, we are just wired that way, and so it becomes even more important to work on stress reactivity, trauma and stress resilience.
Besides gut conditions, intestinal permeability is linked to many other health conditions. Researcher Alessio Fasano, pioneered research to identify the molecule, zonulin, that is responsible for cueing intestinal permeability. His further research demonstrates that leaky gut is either or both the cause or a result of possibly every other health condition.
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InHealthRVA is all about working to figure out what is going on in your body as a whole working system, how that is contributing to your health issues and what we can do to resolve these issues and allow your body to restore to full wellness.
For the gut, this means we do advanced gut microbiome studies to look at the gut microbiome, functional gut health markers, inflammation and digestion. We primarily use Genova’s GI Effects, SIBO tests and organic acids tests.
We combine testing with a full nutrition, lifestyle and stress questionnaire to determine what is contributing to any possible gut dysregulations and design personalized protocols utilizing nutrition, herbs, supplements, stress management. Then we follow you through your journey, making amendments based on your response, and peeling back the layers until we get you to your full health potential!
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Rarely. Despite its popularity, we do not find food sensitivity testing to be particularly useful.
First, if you have food sensitivities, it is due leaky gut aka intestinal permeability which is caused by gut microbiome imbalances or outright infections or gut nervous system issues. Identify and resolve these issues in order to address food sensitivities.
Second, anyone who has gut or inflammation-related health issues (anywhere in the body), benefits from being on a hypoallergenic, whole foods diet, such as Ancestral eating or Paleo. We expand, as the gut and body have healed, by rotating in foods one at a time to test tolerance. No testing needed.
We have found almost universally that by testing and treating gut and digestive imbalances, healing the gut through a whole foods diet and addressing underlying stress and trauma is the best method to healing food intolerances and leaky gut.
