07
MAY
2025

Why Gut Health Is the Foundation of Everything

Your gut is more than a digestive system—it’s your body’s command center for energy, immunity, and mood. At Root Cause Nurse, we start every healing journey by evaluating the gut because the health of your microbiome affects everything from your hormones to your skin. Let’s explore why your gut might be the missing link in your wellness plan.

🌿 Your Gut Does More Than Digest Food

Most people think gut health is only about digestion—bloating, gas, or constipation. But your gut actually plays a vital role in:

Nutrient absorption
Immune function
Hormonal balance
Mental clarity
Skin health

If your gut isn’t functioning properly, you can’t absorb the nutrients your body needs. This leads to symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, breakouts, and chronic inflammation.

At Root Cause Nurse, we help you get to the root cause of these symptoms by starting where true wellness begins: the gut.

🧬 Why We Start with the Gut

Even if someone comes in asking for general wellness, hormonal support, or skin clarity, labs often reveal underlying gut imbalances such as:

Bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
Parasites or protozoa
Low secretory IgA (immune function)
Digestive insufficiency

These imbalances often go undetected in traditional labs. That’s why gut testing is foundational at Root Cause Nurse—even if you don’t have digestive symptoms.

🔬 The GI-MAP: Your Gut Health Snapshot

We use the GI-MAP test by Diagnostic Solutions, a DNA-based stool analysis that provides powerful insights into:

Microbial diversity and balance
Inflammatory markers (e.g., calprotectin)
Digestive enzyme output
Intestinal immune function (Secretory IgA)
Pathogens (parasites, bacteria, yeast)

When needed, we also integrate the OAT (Organic Acids Test) and Adrenal Stress Profile to understand the full gut-brain-hormone connection.

🥦 Healing the Gut Naturally

There’s no one-size-fits-all gut protocol. Each plan is custom, but we always start with foundational steps like:

✅ Nutrition First

Anti-inflammatory foods (leafy greens, berries, turmeric, olive oil)
Prebiotic fibers (leeks, garlic, oats, asparagus)
Fermented foods (sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir—added slowly)
Optional elimination of gluten and dairy for 4–6 weeks

💊 Targeted Supplements

While individualized, common gut-healing tools include:

Probiotics: Rebalance flora and support gut lining
L-Glutamine: Heal the intestinal lining
Digestive enzymes: Improve nutrient breakdown and absorption
Adaptogens: Support the gut-brain axis by managing stress

Every supplement is chosen based on your labs, symptoms, and lifestyle—and recommended through our Fullscript shop for quality assurance.

🌴 Why Gut Health Matters in SWFL

In Southwest Florida, our environment, pace, and stress levels affect gut health more than you may think. Factors like:

Poor sleep
Busy schedules
High stress
Processed convenience foods

…can all contribute to gut dysfunction, even without GI symptoms. That’s why education, testing, and consistent care are core to our nurse-led model.

💚 Want to Take the First Step?

If you’ve been told “your labs look normal” but you still don’t feel well, it’s time to look deeper.

📞 Schedule a Consult
🛍️ Explore My Fullscript Shop
🧬 Complete Intake Forms

We’re here to guide you with compassion, clarity, and science-backed support.

📚 References

Slavin, J. L. (2013). Fiber and prebiotics: mechanisms and health benefits. Nutrients, 5(4), 1417–1435. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu5041417

De Meij, T. G. J., Budding, A. E., et al. (2015). Composition and stability of intestinal microbiota. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 91(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiu013

Mayer, E. A., Tillisch, K., & Gupta, A. (2015). Gut/brain axis and the microbiota. The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 125(3), 926–938. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI76304

Hutkins, R. W., et al. (2016). Prebiotics and the health benefits of fiber. Current Opinion in Gastroenterology, 32(2), 110–119.

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07MAY2025