If you’re like me, you are overwhelmed with the constant interaction, distractions, stimulation, expectations and ever-evolving commitments of our busy lives, including our commitment to our health.  Eating well, working out, being mindful, finding work-life balance, spending time with nature, meditation - none of these wellness achievements have clear parameters, and we must rely on our body to tell us when we need to find balance.  Research has shown that our diet and stress level directly affect the function and composition of our gut microbiome (the collection and balance of bacteria in your intestines). While “the gut” is a term relatively new in popular jargon and recently the focus of new research, scientists have been studying the gut microbiome for ages because of its role in digesting food and producing several vitamins. In addition, gut microbes are active participants in the development of our immune system. Research now supports that our gut is not only influenced by the brain, but also the other way around! The full extent of our gut bacteria’s communication with the brain and the immune system is still not known, but there is now research that shows just how far-reaching the tiny bacteria in our gut really are.

The gut is directly connected to the brain via the vagus nerve and through recently discovered neurons that directly connect to some gut cells.  Over two thirds of the body’s serotonin, a neurotransmitter that increases our sense of well-being, is produced in the gut even though it influences neurons in the brain.  The body’s response to chronic stress is regulated by the hormone cortisol and by the coordinated response of our neuroendocrine system.  Gut bacteria secrete signal molecules that cause specific responses in gut cells, including the production of serotonin and other gut cell hormones that affect the neuroendocrine glands that regulate gut functions and affect immune reactions.  The complex interactions of the gut and its population of microbes with the brain and neuroendocrine system have been termed the gut-brain axis. What we eat can directly affect our mood and health and our gut health can affect our mood through the gut-brain axis.

“You are what you eat” is a phrase often repeated for good reason.  Our entire gut microbiome lives on what we eat, and now you can add “good food, good mood” and “healthy gut, healthy brain”.  What we eat nourishes our gut biome, for good or for bad, and the microbiome in return communicates its health to the brain. Stress also plays a role in how our gut communicates with our brain and body.  While we can’t reduce or avoid stress, we can find healthy ways to manage it and seek ways to reduce its effect. Each person’s gut biome is unique and dynamic, so in order to fully understand how your stress and diet are influencing your brain and body, you’ll need advice from a professional who can evaluate your specific situation. 

I sat down with Dr. Laura Miles, Owner of Vitruvia MD and Functional Medicine physician, to ask her about how stress is related to our gut health and what the relationship of our gut microbiota to health and emotional well-being can mean.  Here is what I learned:  Optimizing gut health may be a relatively new concept to many practitioners, but it is actually a very old way of thinking about overall optimal health.  Dr. Miles, an ophthalmologist by training, went through a period of fatigue in her thirties that led her to functional medicine as a form of personal healing.  It struck me that her practice is unique and unlike any other doctor; she has changed how she approaches the overall health of a patient, allowing her to help each patient achieve complete health control through a blend of alternative medicine and conventional medicine when necessary.

As we discussed healing, optimal health, and what it means to be healthy, and why she decided to open a practice dedicated to functional medicine, almost every single conversation led back to the gut.  The gut is really where our health begins.  Constant fatigue, overstimulation, and lack of variety in our diet really does leave our gut and immune system in a deficient state, which can create a cascade of deficiencies that may be corrected by returning the gut to a healthy state.

So what does gut health mean to the average person struggling to keep up? Gut health means digging deep into your health and asking yourself about nagging and recurring symptoms. Do you have bloating, fatigue, chronic nasal drip, swelling of the hands, sudden weight gain, constipation, insomnia, or an autoimmune disorder? While these may seem relatively unimportant, and you get a little better with medication, you may need to be functionally evaluated. Testing and treatment with a combination of functional and conventional medicine can help. The good news is that medical testing technology is now available and simple. As a curious consumer, I always like to know what testing I really need and what treatments are indicated by the test results. Dr. Miles is very insistent that patients understand the meaning of the tests and the options for treatment. Using evidence-based testing and supporting the patient with guided access to medical information and testing are important components of her practice. She uses specific tests along with her medical training to help narrow down symptoms and actually treat the cause and not just the symptom.

Tests offered most commonly are the ALCAT test, which she has used for 12 years, which tests food intolerances that could be irritating the gut, delaying healing and reaching optimal health; SIBO testing for intestinal bacterial overgrowth; and stool analysis using DNA sequence testing to provide direct information about the state of the gut microbiome. Such tests can provide important information about our lives and reveal how our body is recovering from our daily traumas. If you’re looking for answers to your health, and you need some guidance on how to deconstruct your life and rebuild your gut health, know that Vitruvia MD has an arsenal of tools to help you achieve optimal health.