The CSIRO reports that up to 50% of the Australian population experience gut health issues, with 1 in 7 severely affected by their symptoms.
Many of us experience occasional episodes of constipation, diarrhoea, bloating or gas, but if these occur frequently, they have a serious impact on quality of life. Patients come to us for help with these issues as well as diagnosed conditions like Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Looking beyond symptoms to identify root causes
Your microbiome – the millions of bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms which coexist in your gut – is closely related to digestive help. In a healthy individual, the microbiome is full of ‘good’ bacteria which assist with breaking food down so the body can absorb it. For patients with digestive disorders, microbiome mapping is often useful. It can identify dysbiosis (imbalance in your microbiome), which affects your ability to digest food.
We also often recommend food intolerance testing. If you are more than usually sensitive to a particular substance in your diet, your body’s reactions will cause symptoms. While allergic reactions usually appear quickly, symptoms from intolerances may take a few days to emerge, so testing is helpful in identifying the trigger.
Testing may identify causes, or eliminate possible causes. Either is useful for planning treatment.
Moving from diagnosis to treatment
Your treatment plan depends on what we have discovered about the root causes of your digestive issues.
A nutritional consultation with Dr Nikole Grbin is often part of our recommendation. Dr Grbin develops meal plans which address your dietary needs, your food preferences and your lifestyle.
We may also suggest supplements or other treatments, depending on your specific circumstances.