Category: gut-health

Gut health describes how well your digestive system breaks down food, absorbs nutrients and moves waste. Bloating, pain and bowel changes can have different causes. A useful plan starts with the pattern of symptoms and an appropriate assessment, rather than assuming that every digestive problem is an infection or the cause of a skin condition.

Intestinal permeability describes how substances pass through the gut lining. Increased permeability is a real finding studied in several conditions, but “leaky gut syndrome” is not a single established diagnosis that explains every symptom. Food allergy, intolerance and celiac disease also need to be distinguished from one another.

Parasitic infections and Candida infections are different problems. A parasite such as Giardia can cause intestinal illness. Candida is a yeast that may cause infection at particular body sites. Bloating, fatigue or acne alone cannot identify either infection, and a general “cleanse” is not a substitute for diagnosis.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or SIBO, means an abnormal increase or imbalance of bacteria in the small intestine. It can cause digestive symptoms and affect nutrient absorption. Bloating alone is not a diagnosis. Assessment considers symptoms, risk factors and appropriate testing.

Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, involves recurring abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits. Symptoms may include constipation, diarrhea or both. IBS is a disorder of gut–brain interaction; it is not the same as inflammatory bowel disease. A diagnosis helps distinguish IBS from other causes of digestive symptoms.

Gastroesophageal reflux happens when stomach contents flow back into the esophagus, the tube connecting the mouth and stomach. GERD is reflux that causes ongoing symptoms or complications. Heartburn and regurgitation are common symptoms, but persistent symptoms should be assessed rather than treated as proof of low stomach acid.