Charlotte Functional Medicine Specialists at Integrity Wellness MD use a variety of treatments for balancing gut microbiomes and restoring sustainable optimal health to patients in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Did you know that digestive symptoms are not normal? Our digestive system is designed to fully digest our food, absorbing all the nutrients and eliminating indigestible components. Heartburn, indigestion, nausea, bloating, gas, constipation and loose stools are not normal! If you have any of these symptoms on a regular basis, something is not right with your gut, and you probably have “leaky gut.”

What is leaky gut? It is a term that simply means there is inflammation of the cells that line your intestinal tract, and they are not maintaining a healthy barrier. Only nutrients are supposed to be absorbed, but if you have inflammation, the cells “leak” and undigested food and toxins are absorbed directly into your bloodstream. This not only causes gastrointestinal symptoms, but it triggers the immune system, and you can get systemic symptoms such as joint pain or brain fog.

If you have digestive issues, the Gut Health Program provided by Gretchen Reis, M.D. of Integrity Wellness MD will get to the root of the issue and give you practical ways to heal your gut. Sadly, traditional gastroenterologists will not be able to do this. They prescribe antacid medications and will do endoscopies, but beyond that, they are either unwilling or unable to get to the root of your symptoms and truly heal your gut.

Call (980) 701-9228 to speak with local Charlotte gut health experts at Integrity Wellness MD. Schedule your consultation and discover how a balanced gut can improve your life!

Common factors in gut issues:

  • Medications, including proton pump inhibitors (PPI’s)
  • Stress
  • Nutrient-poor food
  • Diet high in sugar
  • Diet high in seed oils
  • Diet low in fiber
  • Not drinking enough water
  • Decreased pancreatic digestive enzymes
  • Toxins (in food, water, air)
  • Food sensitivities: eating the wrong foods for your body right now
  • Frequent antibiotic use causing dysbiosis (a change in the types of bacteria in your
    colon)

Functional Medicine Solutions at Integrity Wellness MD

Experience the comprehensive benefits of functional medicine at Integrity Wellness MD, where our focus is on personalized treatment strategies tailored to your unique health needs. Our approach combines advanced hormone testing, bioidentical hormone therapy, targeted supplementation, and lifestyle modifications to help you achieve optimal health and vitality. Take advantage of our extensive resources, including a free health quiz, detailed guides, engaging webinars, and schedule a personal call with Dr. Gretchen Reis. Discover how our precise, targeted approaches can enhance your overall health and vitality, even in cases where conventional tests may fail to reveal the full picture. Begin your journey to lasting wellness with us today!

Get Started with Integrity Wellness MD’s Free Resources

Symptoms of Poor Gut Health

Serotonin is the hormone that regulates your sleeping cycles, and the majority of it is a product of your gut. When there is an imbalance in the bacteria of your gut or so much inflammation it isn’t able to produce hormones regularly, you experience a dip in this sleep aid.

Many of us as children heard our parents say “no sugar/caffeine before bed”, turns out they might have been onto something, because those quick acting substances like caffeine and sugar can quickly throw off your gut biome and prevent you from the restful sleep you need.

Are you familiar with the experience of a “gut feeling”? When something isn’t quite right and your gut knows it before your head, only then are you able to act on it? Maybe it’s felt like butterflies in the stomach when you’ve held hands for the first time, or a knot in the pit of your stomach before meeting with your boss. These are ways that your gut and brain are connected. Whether it’s your brain wrapping itself around a stressful situation, or your gut telling you something before you’ve figured it out, they work in tandem.

It stands to reason, then, that your gut would be responsive to the feelings in your headspace and, vice versa, your psychological well being would be altered by imbalanced or unhealthy gut bacterium. It’s a vicious cycle, but it can be helped.

When particularly harmful bacteria enter our gut through foods or liquids that we’ve consumed, we are open to any number of illnesses: some of these are acute and go away quickly, such as food poisoning or gastroenteritis. These illnesses usually go away on their own, though, in rare severe cases, may require antibiotics. Whether you’ve received medication, or it has run its course naturally, you can trust that your gut biome has been altered.

In very serious cases, gut health can have detrimental long-term effects on our body and produce a chronic condition such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBS), diabetes, and cancer. Having a comprehensive test done to navigate the bacterium in your gut will allow our experts to help you create a plan to rebalance your gut biome and can help you restore your health in a natural and safe way.

Do you ever get the feeling like no matter what you eat or how hard you work out, you aren’t seeing the weight changes that you were hoping for? There may be more to it than just a calorie deficit and weightlifting!

Researchers from all over are dedicating their careers to studying the intricacies of the gut biome and its effect on what foods and nutrients are being absorbed and how that may change from person to person. While there is still a lot left to be investigated, we do see that there are correlations between gut bacteria and weight.

There is a solid link that connects atopic dermatitis to unhealthy gut microbiomes. There are a number of factors that may influence which bacteria are present and lacking, such as antibiotics and medications, lifestyle behaviors like diet, whether or not you smoke, and how much sun you receive. Your gut works with your immune responses to eliminate threats.

When your gut is imbalanced, your immune system also begins to fail, so when bad bacteria make their way into your system, when your body can’t fight them off, they may appear as acne, eczema, and other skin irritations.

The bacteria in your gut can be the cause of mild bowel irritations such as diarrhea or constipation, but may also factor into more major health concerns such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome. When harmful bacteria enter your gut, they are usually pushed out, but too much and your gut will begin to have difficulty in digesting and expelling the waste, making the problem worse.

One poor trip to the restroom isn’t a big cause for concern, but when you begin to notice a serious disruption in your body’s typical cycle, it may be time to start looking at your gut.

Bloating and gas are normal on occasion, but if it persists, it can be a cause for concern. Indigestion, heartburn, poor digestion and bloating can indicate an issue with your diet, your stomach, or your digestive enzymes. Functional testing can determine the cause and help alleviate your symptoms.

Poor gut health can also cause heartburn and acid reflux, which create burning sensations in the stomach, chest, and throat. These feelings can be painful and create embarrassing, awkward situations.

As recently as 2019 a team of researchers discovered evidence demonstrating a positive effect of probiotics on the symptoms of migraines. It was shown that the severity, frequency, and duration of migraines could be alleviated by the introduction of more gut-friendly probiotics.

Who would have guessed that sauerkraut and kimchi would help a headache better than dark chocolate and a coffee?

It should come as no surprise that what you eat and how your gut responds can have a hefty impact on your mental health. Research has shown a clear link between gut bacteria and your feelings of depression and anxiety and, likewise, your depression and anxiety can further stress out your gut.
While it may be a struggle, it is also an opportunity to look at your gut health. Your low moods and fear responses can be alleviated with a few simple and sustainable lifestyle changes. Your doctor can help run tests regarding your gut and discover what foods are causing the inflammation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gut Health:

The Gut Health Program includes:

  • GI-MAP stool test
  • KBMO food sensitivity test
  • KBMO zonulin test

Supplements include:

  • Two week course of Inflammacore to reduce inflammation
  • Orthobiotic 100 (high dose probiotic), 2 month supply
  • Digestzymes (digestive enzymes), 2 month supply
  • SBI Protect (immunoglobulins to improve immune response), 2 month supply
  • Glutashield (L-glutamine and other ingredients to heal gut inflammation), 2 month
    supply

Provider visits:

  • 30 minute initial consultation to discuss symptoms, review testing and implement
    treatment plan
  • 15 minute follow up phone visit at 4 weeks
  • 30 minute final visit at 10 weeks

Cost: $1995

What Are The Benefits Of A Balanced Gut?

Balancing the biome of your gut creates a domino effect that can promote total health and wellness for multiple functions in your body. Patients who have healed their gut biomes can experience the benefits of:

  • A stronger immune system
  • Elevated mood and energy
  • Boosted digestion and metabolism
  • Improved cognitive function
  • Better brain and heart health
  • More restful sleep
  • Clearer skin
  • Diminished cravings
  • Fewer stomach upsets
  • Feeling less bloated

Some of the added benefits are long term and preventative such as:

  • Better blood sugar regulation and lower risk of diabetes
  • Lowering the risk of certain cancers

The trend today seems to be living healthier, more active lifestyles which can not only help your gut health, but can be improved by a balanced gut. If you’re looking to drastically change how you look and feel, then the gut health experts at Integrity Wellness MD can help you discover sustainable changes for enhancing your overall vitality!

How Do I Know If I Have Poor Gut Health?

The best way to understand your gut health is by discussing your options with a medical professional. They may recommend a microbiome test using a stool sample or another method. However, key indicators of poor gut health can be tracked by taking note of:

  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Sugar Cravings
  • Constipation or diarrhea
  • Frequent or painful bloating
  • Skin irritations
  • Food allergies
  • Unexplained fatigue or lethargy
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Unexplained weight fluctuations

Another indicator of poor gut health could be a chronic autoimmune disorder such as thyroid imbalances, type 1 diabetes and arthritis or a functional bowel disorder such as irritable bowel syndrome.

Generally, if you are feeling less than your best, or know you could be performing better, then diet and gut health is a great place to start. Our experts at Integrity Wellness MD provide education and plans for sustainable lifestyle alterations to help Charlotte men and women smash through the barriers of poor gut health and get them back to feeling their best.

What Can I Do To Improve My Gut Health?

Beginning to heal your gut’s microbiome can be an easy and fulfilling way to begin your journey back to a healthier lifestyle. Some easy changes you can make today are:

Eat a healthy diet: focusing on eating nutritious foods like whole grains, fruits and vegetables and avoiding processed foods, artificial sweeteners, and refined carbs. Your gut also loves healthy fermented foods such as sauerkraut and kimchi, and, of course, yogurt with lots of probiotics.

Practice good dental hygiene: your mouth is the gateway to your stomach, and bad bacteria that are found in your pearly whites can make their way to your gut and wreak havoc. Keeping your teeth clean by brushing and flossing and scheduling regular cleanings can do wonders for your gut and, as an added bonus, for your smile!

Staying hydrated: your body is composed of 50-60% water so it stands to reason that your body operates best when it has plenty to work with. A healthy amount of water is wonderful for flushing toxins, improving bowel functions, keeping your mouth clean, and boosting your digestive and organ functions, all of which are helpful to your gut’s biome.

Exercising regularly: even if it’s only getting in your daily steps, a healthy workout routine can do wonders for your gut by helping with the digestion of your meals, releasing toxins through your sweat, fighting off inflammation, and more. It’s not bad for your waistline either!

Testing: Specialized functional testing can be very helpful in determining any imbalances in your digestion. Food sensitivity testing (see sample report) can show any foods that may seem to be very healthy and good for you, but may be causing significant inflammation of your intestine. Toxins, stress, and nutrient deficiencies can create inflammation which is then worsened by certain foods. Testing can help you adjust your diet to avoid these foods until your gut heals. Testing is also available for stool analysis, which shows deficiencies of digestive enzymes, inflammation, and even parasites. These tests are rarely done in traditional gastroenterology practices, but can be life changing by showing you exactly what you can do to improve your digestion.

Integrity Wellness Reis Gretchen Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Functional Medicine Gut Health Treatment

Click thumbnail above to view a sample food sensitivity report

Feeling off? Go with your gut!

Our specialists at Integrity Wellness MD are helping Charlotte men and women restore balance and return to optimal health in Charlotte. Call (980) 701-9228 to speak with the digestive health and wellness experts at Integrity Wellness MD and schedule your consultation today!