By: Adam Renelt, DC
Updated 5/28/24
Millions of Americans experience problems with digestion. For some it is an everyday struggle and others it only occurs intermittently. Other people may struggle with more severe symptoms and have and it may cause disruptions to their daily life and schedule. Problems such as gas, constipation or diarrhea can be caused by a variety of factors such as diet, foot sensitivities or even spinal misalignment. People of all ages, from infants to geriatrics can struggle with this. In this article we will discuss some causes of digestive issues and also some tips to try to improve your digestion.
Dietary Considerations
Whenever someone suffers from digestive problems, it is important to look at one of the factors that they can control…their diet. The standard American diet is short on whole foods and contains too much processed food, refined sugars and saturated fat. Also, people can have food sensitivities in which their body is unable to process certain types of food such as gluten, dairy or egg products. One way to be checked for food sensitivities (or allergies) is to visit an allergy specialist for testing. An at home option to see what food may be affecting you is to try an elimination diet.
What is an Elimination Diet?
An elimination diet consists of removing dairy, eggs, gluten and alcohol from your diet for approximately 30 days. During this time only whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes and unprocessed protein (such as fish, chicken or lean beef) are consumed. After the 30-day clean (or elimination) period, you then add foods back into your diet one at a time. For example, on day 31 you would eat a small amount of a food that contains gluten and then give your body 2 days to see if you react poorly to the food. Do this with each previously eliminated food type, one at a time, to determine what your body is sensitive to. If you find you react poorly to a reintroduced food, then you know that it is best not to eat that type of food.
Chiropractic Care and Digestive Problems
Another potential factor in digestion is the nervous system and spinal subluxation, or misalignment. Throughout my years of chiropractic practice in Sioux Falls I have had multiple patients report improvement in their digestion after starting chiropractic care. This is most commonly seen with pediatric patients but may benefit chiropractic patients of all ages. The nervous system is composed of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. The brain sends and receives signals to all parts of the body through the spinal cord and nerves. If the spine misaligns and disrupts the signals to the stomach or intestines, this can result in digestive issues. In these cases, chiropractic adjustments may help to improve digestion. If you would like an evaluation to see if chiropractic care may be able to help you, please contact our office. Our chiropractors would welcome the opportunity to try to improve your life with chiropractic care.