Why Your Doctor Probably Won’t Solve Your Inflammation and Gut Health Issues
If you’ve been dealing with chronic inflammation, gut discomfort, or symptoms like psoriasis, joint pain, or other skin issues, you might have already made the rounds to various doctors. More often than not, these visits end with a prescription to manage symptoms, but you leave the office wondering why no one is asking why your body is reacting this way in the first place.
This isn’t entirely the doctor’s fault. The current medical model is structured around treating symptoms rather than addressing root causes. And when it comes to gut health and inflammation, the root cause is often hiding in plain sight—but largely ignored.
Physicians and the Lack of Nutritional Training
It's well-documented that most doctors receive minimal nutrition training during medical school. A 2018 study found that, on average, U.S. medical students received just 19.6 hours of nutrition education over their entire training period. That's less time spent learning about how food impacts the body than most of us spend watching TV in a week.
Hippocrates said it best over 2,000 years ago: “All disease begins in the gut.” Modern research is finally catching up with this ancient wisdom, yet the current healthcare system hasn’t integrated these findings into everyday medical practice. Physicians are often so far removed from nutritional and microbiome science that many wouldn’t recognize terms like “nightshade vegetables,” “Lipopolysaccharides (LPS),” or even “small intestinal permeability.”
This gap in knowledge is significant when you consider the massive role the gut plays in overall health. From inflammation to autoimmune conditions, mental health, and even weight management, the gut microbiome is at the core of it all.
The Gut Microbiome Crisis: Decreased Diversity, Increased Disease
Over the last few decades, gut bacterial diversity has plummeted. The overuse of antibiotics, highly processed foods, artificial sweeteners, and emulsifiers are wreaking havoc on the gut microbiota. Today, the average gut microbiome is much less diverse than it was just a few generations ago. In fact, research suggests that the diversity of gut bacteria in Western populations is about 30% lower than in non-Westernized societies.
At the same time, diseases like autoimmune conditions, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and even neurological disorders are skyrocketing. Is it a coincidence that, as our gut health deteriorates, chronic disease is on the rise? Probably not.
In Super Gut, Dr. William Davis points out how critical the gut microbiome is to your entire body’s functioning. Many diseases—including skin issues like psoriasis and joint pain—can often be traced back to disruptions in the gut microbiome. But instead of addressing these underlying issues, many doctors prescribe medications that only treat the symptoms, leaving the root cause untouched.
SIBO: The Unseen Culprit
One common but under-recognized condition is Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). SIBO occurs when bacteria that normally reside in the large intestine migrate into the small intestine, where they don’t belong. This can lead to bloating, gas, nutrient malabsorption, and, eventually, systemic inflammation that manifests in skin issues, joint pain, and more.
The problem? Many doctors either don’t recognize SIBO as a legitimate issue or fail to treat it effectively. Instead, patients are often left to deal with the symptoms—whether through medication or lifestyle advice that doesn’t address the bacterial imbalance in their gut.
This is where a more holistic, functional approach comes in. As a Human Microbiome Specialist and Primal Health Coach, I understand that healing the gut requires more than symptom management. It requires a complete reset of the microbiome, starting with clearing out the harmful overgrowth and repopulating the gut with beneficial keystone species like Akkermansia muciniphila, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and Bifidobacterium longum.
Healing the Gut Naturally: A Systematic Approach
My system focuses on these key steps:
- Clearing the Gut: Addressing SIBO and other bacterial imbalances requires a careful and strategic plan to remove harmful overgrowth. This involves diet changes and natural antimicrobials that target unwanted bacteria without the side effects of conventional antibiotics.
- Rebuilding with Keystone Species: Once the gut is cleared, it's essential to repopulate it with beneficial bacteria, especially keystone species that play critical roles in maintaining gut health. For example, Akkermansia muciniphila helps to strengthen the gut lining and reduce inflammation, while Faecalibacterium prausnitzii produces butyrate, a fatty acid that feeds the cells of the colon and promotes gut healing.
- Feeding the Good Bacteria: A diverse diet rich in Microbiota-Accessible Carbohydrates (MACs)—like those found in fibrous vegetables, resistant starches, and fermented foods—is crucial. These fibers feed the beneficial bacteria, helping them to thrive and keep harmful microbes in check.
- Maintaining Gut Health Long-Term: Gut health isn’t a “one-and-done” fix. It requires consistent lifestyle changes, stress management, and an ongoing commitment to nourishing your body with the right foods. With the right guidance, you can support your microbiome for the long haul.
The Hidden Struggles of Physicians
Here’s the ironic part: many doctors suffer from the same issues they’re treating in their patients. Chronic fatigue, gut issues, and autoimmune diseases are common among medical professionals, too. Unfortunately, many of them are unaware of the gut’s role in their own health struggles. This is why it's critical to seek advice from specialists who understand the interconnectedness of gut health, inflammation, and systemic well-being.
You Don’t Have to Accept Chronic Symptoms
It’s easy to feel like you’ve exhausted all your options after endless trips to the doctor. But there is another way. By addressing the root cause—your gut—you can take charge of your health and find relief from the symptoms you’ve been struggling with for so long.
I’m not here to diagnose or treat disease, but with my background in microbiome science and primal health, I can help guide you toward natural, effective strategies to heal your gut and reduce inflammation. Doctors are crucial for acute care and emergencies, but when it comes to long-term, sustainable health, addressing your microbiome may be the missing link.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’re ready to explore how gut health can transform your well-being, let’s work together. I offer a system that addresses the root cause of your symptoms by supporting your gut health, naturally. Contact me to learn more and start your journey to healing from the inside out.
Physicians’ Lack of Nutritional Training:
- Adams, K. M., Kohlmeier, M., Powell, M., & Zeisel, S. H. (2010). Nutrition in medicine: Nutrition education for medical students and residents. Nutrition in Clinical Practice, 25(5), 471-480.
- Worsfold, L., & Simpson, E. (2018). Nutrition education in medical school: A review of the effectiveness of online modules in improving medical students' knowledge. Journal of Biomedical Education, 2018.
Gut Microbiome Diversity Decline:
- Smits, S. A., Leach, J., Sonnenburg, E. D., et al. (2017). Seasonal cycling in the gut microbiome of the Hadza hunter-gatherers of Tanzania. Science, 357(6353), 802-806.
- Sonnenburg, J. L., & Sonnenburg, E. D. (2019). The ancestral microbiome and our missing microbes: What modern humans have lost through our evolution. Nature, 574(7780), 35-39.
Rise in Autoimmune and Chronic Diseases:
- Bach, J. F. (2002). The effect of infections on susceptibility to autoimmune and allergic diseases. The New England Journal of Medicine, 347(12), 911-920.
- Fasano, A. (2012). Leaky gut and autoimmune diseases. Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology, 42(1), 71-78.
SIBO:
- Rezaie, A., Buresi, M., Lembo, A., et al. (2017). Hydrogen and methane-based breath testing in gastrointestinal disorders: The North American consensus. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 112(5), 775-784.