Could a critter be the reason for your symptoms?

OK, in technical terms the critter is referred to as a parasite.

A parasitic infection could be linked to so many symptoms and can go undiagnosed.

A parasite infection is closely linked to immune health, if the immune system is strong and healthy, it could easily rid the body of the parasite naturally as nature intended. However most immune systems are comprised therefore leaving the body less able to handle such an invasion.

@sonance

 So whilst it may seem like the critter is to blame, it is not really, the real culprit is the health of the gut where 70-90% of immune cells reside, so focusing solely on removal of the parasite is counter productive without looking at the core of the issue which is the gut and immune system in conjunction.

Some warning signs of a parasite infection (but not limited to):

• Chronic digestive issues from top to bottom

  • poor or inconsistent bowel movements

  • vomiting

• Autoimmune disorders

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Body aches

• Headaches

• Eye aches

• Behavioural changes

• General malaise or fatigue

 There are a plethora different species at play most of which can easily be detected via a poo test from your local GP.

 Keeping in mind, whilst removing the parasite may be successful via natural or pharmaceutical methods, the body still requires a level of rebuilding to ensure the problem does not persist or return.

Foods to include which are considered anti-parasitic:

• Garlic – this can even used as a suppository if you are game

• Coconut oil

• Apple cider vinegar

• Hazelnuts

• Pumpkin seeds

The purpose of these foods are to create an environment that the parasites do not want to be in. It is also beneficial to eliminate refined sugars, processed foods to speed up the eliminating process and create an environment for healing.

You quick take away action if suspect there could be a parasite:

1. Clean up the diet

2. Include anti-parasitic foods

3. Remove refined sugar and processed foods

4. If symptoms persist, consult your local GP to do a poo test or work closely with an integrative or functional practitioner.

Chantal is a Certified and Accredited Nutrition & Wellness Coach with a special interest helping stressed and overwhelmed mums and women to fully transform their physical and emotional health.

Gut Healing Foods

Ok, ok, you get it, the health of the gut plays in a humungous role in terms of your physical and mental health.

You also get that you IF you are suffering with any sort of symptom, there is an issue with the gut, and that there is some work to do heal it. From what you’ve seen or heard, it’s all rather complex and just too hard.

The real truth of the matter is that it is not complex.

So what are the gut healing foods?

• Whole and real food is step #1. It really cannot get much simpler than this. Cut out the crap and start eating real and wholefood. This by default will start healing the gut as the body no longer needs to deal with additives, colours and preservatives.

• Bone Broth – this is a liquid containing stewed bones and connective tissues. An assortment of vegetables, herbs and spices can also be added to further boost the nutrient profile.

Benefits of bone broth:

• Highly nutritious as it is rich in calcium, magnesium and phosphorous, collagen. If the bones you are using also contain marrow, then the broth will also be rich in iron, vitamins A and K, fatty acids, selenium, zinc and manganese.

•    Protective to joints – this is due to the gelatin, which breaks down into collagen in the body

•    May help reduce inflammation and heal the gut. This is due to the amino acid glutamine that is present within bone broth

• Helps with a better night sleep. Once again due to the amino acid profile of the broth, in particular glycine. This alone is enough reason to have a copious supply available!

• Probiotic Foods – Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for you, especially your digestive system and typically referred to ‘beneficial’ bacteria. Incorporating probiotic rich into your diet it one of the easiest ways to rebalance your gut bacteria, not to mention far cheaper than probiotic supplements that can be inferior in quality.

  • Types of probiotic foods:

    • Dairy products: such as aged cheeses (cheddar, gouda and mozzarella)

    • Kefir

    • Traditional butter milk

    • Yoghurt

  • Non Dairy:

    • Non diary yoghurts

    • Kimchi

    • Kombucha

    • Miso

    • Natto (fermented soyabean)

    • Sauerkraut

    • Tempeh

    • Water or brined cured olives          

• Prebiotic foods – these are foods that actually feed the “beneficial” live bacteria to promote their growth. This is done via the fermentation process when it reaches the large colon.

  •         Foods rich in prebiotic fibre:

    •         Chicory root

    •         Onions and garlic

    •         Oatmeal

    •         Wheat bran

    •         Asparagras

    •         Dandelion greens

    •         Jerusalem artichoke

    •         Barley

    •         Apple with skin

    •         Foods rich in resistant starch

Depending on your symptoms, it may beneficial to remove a number of other foods for a short period of time to enable faster healing to occur such as:

• Gluten

• Grains

• Dairy

• Sugar

• Nuts

• Eggs

• Fish

Foods containing naturally occurring chemicals such as amines, glutamines, salicylates and oxalates.

When you start removing these types of foods, you start entering the world of therapeutic nutritional protocols such as GAPS, Paleo, AIP, Fodmaps etc

These protocols are not to be entered into lightly and are best performed with specialist assistance and support.

Steps to heal the gut:

1. Remove processed and packaged food and any known trigger foods

2. Replace with real and wholefood

3. Restore with plenty of broth, probiotic and prebiotic foods

 If you are feeling overwhelmed with the concept of healing the gut and unsure where is best to start, then please send me an email to info@chantalkhoury.com.au or send me a message via my contact page to see if any of my programs are fit for you and your family.

Chantal is a Certified and Accredited Nutrition and Wellness Coach with a very special interest helping mums restore the health of their family using healing nutrition and transformational wellness practices.