Gut Health

Good gut health is essential for your general well-being. Your gut digests food, but it also plays a vital role in mental health and immune system function. At 2nd Kings Integrative Health in Homestead, Iowa, advanced registered nurse practitioner Nichole Caroll, ARNP, emphasizes the importance of gut health. You may improve gut health with holistic treatments, like nutrition counseling, intravenous (IV therapy), and detoxification. Call 2nd Kings Integrative Health today to schedule a gut health appointment, or book your visit online. 

Why is gut health important?

Gut health is important because it impacts nearly every other area of your body. When your gut is healthy, it functions optimally and supports your brain, immune system, and heart.

The gut includes your stomach, large intestine, and small intestine. These organs are home to more than 200 types of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, which break down food and extract vital nutrients. However, if there’s a gut imbalance, you’re more likely to experience certain health problems.

By focusing on improved gut health, 2nd Kings Integrative Health may keep chronic health problems in check, improve the outcomes of therapies, and help patients improve their quality of life.

Can lifestyle factors affect my gut health?

Yes. Gut health is influenced by various lifestyle factors, including:

• Stress
• Too little sleep
• Lack of exercise
• Poor diet
• Smoking and drinking alcohol
• Taking certain prescription medications, like antibiotics

Over time, these things may affect your gut’s ability to digest food and communicate with the other areas of your body. Left untreated, you may even develop digestive symptoms, like gas and diarrhea, or experience changes in your energy levels, mood, and emotional state.

Thankfully, improved gut health may relieve these symptoms and enhance your gut’s function. 

What services improve gut health?

2nd Kings Integrative Health uses functional medicine to improve gut health. Your provider might suggest:

Nutrition counseling

Nutrition counseling teaches you how to eat a healthier and more balanced diet. It educates you on the importance of good nutrition and explains how to give your body the fuel it needs to thrive. 

No two people’s dietary needs are exactly alike, but the providers typically recommend a healthy mix of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats. 

IV therapy

IV therapy administers nutrients directly into your bloodstream. It can address vitamin and nutrient deficiencies, but it can also support your gut health. 

For instance, an IV drip containing nutrients like zinc, selenium, and glycine can bolster your intestinal lining and support the growth of healthy gut bacteria. 

Detoxification

The gut is considered the “second brain,” but harmful organisms can keep it from functioning properly. Detoxification uses holistic therapies to support your liver and kidney function. This enhances your body’s ability to eliminate parasites, heavy metals, and environmental toxins.

Call 2nd Kings Integrative Health today to schedule a gut health appointment, or book your visit online.