In one of my previous posts about starting healthy goals for the new decade I briefly scratched the surface on gut health. Part of this cleanse I’m on (Day 20, whoop whoop!) deals with “resetting” my gut flora. Your gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) is full of bacteria that is collectively called your microbiome. They help break down the nutrients so it gets EVERYTHING it can out of the food you put into your body. The remnants, or unusable portions, are turned into feces (aka: poop) and excreted out of your body as waste. Now why did I just give you guys another quick lesson on your gut? Because it is SO IMPORTANT to more than we ever thought before.
This article, which was posted online to the Journal of “Pain” in July of 2019, shows what scientists believe to be the “first evidence” linked to gut health and difference types of neurological pain disorders, like Fibromyalgia. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/915403?src=soc_fb_190713_mscpedt_news_mdscp_fibromyalgia&faf=1#vp_1
What is Fibromyalgia?
“Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals. Symptoms sometimes begin after a physical trauma, surgery, infection or significant psychological stress. In other cases, symptoms gradually accumulate over time with no single triggering event. Women are more likely to develop fibromyalgia than are men. Many people who have fibromyalgia also have tension headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression.” https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fibromyalgia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354780
How does this relate to what I do with chiropractic?
First off, fibromyalgia is a neurologic pain disorder brought about by “stressors” in and around our body. These stressors can include: Physical, Mental/Emotional, and Bio-Chemical origins! Ever see something and feel sick to your stomach? Ever get sad and everything hurts? Ever start a workout or exercise and your body hates you for it? The crazy thing is, ALL these things have one common outcome: they change your gut microbiome. So, if these external stressors can cause non-descript pain disorders, it only makes sense that we can also affect it by the fuel we put inside our bodies! FOOD IS FUEL.
Furthermore, this is stuff I see every day in practice. People come in with hypersensitive areas in their spines, some of which they never knew existed, and they get counseled on proper nutrition, movement, and #GetAdjusted. Getting adjusted is one of the EASIEST things you can do to benefit your health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22314714
The next best thing you can do is find a great Probiotic. I have Xymogen products in my practice and they are the BEST. (Transparency: NONE of my posts are sponsored by Xymogen, or ANY other person or entity other than myself. I wholly trust Xymogen products and receive no compensation from them by talking about them.) I have choices with 30 and 100 billion cultures for my patients. A good probiotic will help promote a good environment for your gut microbiome to thrive and deliver you the best nutrients. Does that sound like something that’s been missing in your life? If so, head over to your chiropractor (or nearest healthcare professional) and ask them about Xymogen Probiotics for your gut health and wellness!
Dr. Jonathan Marshall, DC 