The 4 Possible Causes That Are Making You Feel Sick After Eating - Written by Tania Scavone

No one has symptoms to a food because of food itself. Let me repeat that! No one has symptoms to a FOOD because of the food itself.
 
In the early stages of my IBD diagnosis, I knew nothing about digestion or my body for that matter. It wasn’t until years later, that I decided to dive into the human anatomy – specifically the gut. This topic fascinates me, and learning all about the gut has inspired me to take back control of my health. As a Gut Health Nutritionist I am passionate about helping others optimize their digestion because I know what’s it like to suffer from bloating, fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, gas, anxiety, mood swings, depression. Years leading up to my diagnosis and for a great deal of living with my disease, I was contributing to those symptoms mentioned above. [I would say, I actually developed a very unhealthy relationship with food, which I’ll save for another blog post].
 
You eat food, followed by an unpleasant experience right? It is not causation here; it is correlation. There is a third confounding variable. Below is a list of the 4 possible causes of food reactions with the condition of your microbiome being the main one!
 

1. Condition of your microbiome
2. Genetics
3. Hormones (cortisol and estrogen)
4. Excessive consumption of processed, GMO foods

 
You have trillions of bacteria in and on your body. These bacteria regulate and prime the immune system, support brain function, protect us from infection along with many other vital functions.
 
The microbiome describes the genetic capability of microbiota. By the age of 2-3 years old, the intestinal microbiota acquires adult characteristics and is fully formed – called ‘residential bacteria’ This is driven by epigenetic factors and dependent on the extent of diversity in the diet. As we age, the residential bacteria can be altered (the good to bad bacteria ratio) which can lead to food sensitivities among other issues.
 
Alright, so you’ve heard all this and now what? Well, there are many ways you can show your gut more love while trying to balance your microbiota. Here are a few that can help you improve the condition of your microbiome.
 

1. Eat mindfully – Chew your food at least 30 times and avoid eating while stressed
2. Get 7-8 hours of sleep each night
3. Consume more probiotic rich foods like kefir, kombucha, kimchi, saurkraut, fermented vegetables, miso, olives, sourdough bread, tempeh
4. Feed the probiotics with prebiotic foods such as bananas, chicory, asparagus, onions.
5. RELAX! – Give yourself permission to take a time-out and breathe. Practice yoga, meditation or any other relaxation techniques to help calm your nervous system.

 
Written by Tania Christina Scavone from www.yourwaytobliss.com