If you want to get rid of those extra pounds naturally, Camachile can help you. This fruit is loaded with fiber and saponins, which aid digestion and weight loss. According to one study, saponins, which are bitter-tasting organic chemicals derived from plants, can reduce weight by about 20% to 30% in people following a regular, high-fat diet. Traditionally, chamomile has been used for centuries to treat various intestinal problems. Packed with powerful antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it helps you fight pathogens like E. coli and Shigella that are harmful to the gut. Additionally, this lesser-known fruit contains oleanolic acid in the seeds, which helps maintain intestinal function. Manila tamarind is known for its anti-diabetic properties, making it a suitable fruit to add to your daily diet. The bark contains an abundance of phytochemicals, including proteins, saponins, tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids, which help reduce cholesterol levels in the body. Research shows that a dose of 200-400 mg/kg of body weight can prevent diabetes by lowering cholesterol and controlling glucose levels.
Excessive consumption of artificial sugar, especially fructose, is a risk factor for obesity and increased intestinal permeability. Both are also closely associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. How can sugar promote intestinal permeability? Some experts think it has something to do with yeast. The gut contains thousands of different types of bacteria, including yeast. Each of them has its respective role to ensure the harmony and balance of the organ. Yeast likes sugar, so eating more of it means these fungi are getting bigger. In turn, they can develop long branches that can eventually penetrate or destroy the wall. Do you know that one of the best ways to cure leaky gut is to eat bone broth? This soup base contains an essential ingredient called collagen. Collagen is a structural protein that provides strength and integrity to many parts of the body like the skin and connective tissues like the intestines. Think of it as scaffolding holding the frame together. When the gut becomes leaky, it means the structural integrity is also weakened. Consuming bone broth can help replenish tissue with more collagen.
For patients with a history of digestive issues and other unexplained medical conditions, I like to put them on a restrictive elimination diet for 4-6 weeks. This diet is designed to eliminate major foods known to trigger an allergic or inflammatory reaction in the body. The idea behind the elimination diet is to naturally reduce inflammation in the gut by eliminating common triggers. This allows the gut to heal and repair itself naturally. After 4-6 weeks on the diet, the patient is re-examined to determine which symptoms still require treatment. How restrictive the diet should be depends largely on the patient’s concerns. If a patient has inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis or joint pain, then we may also want to cut out all inflammatory foods. If the symptoms are not so severe, we can try a slightly less restrictive diet that only eliminates dairy and gluten. The patient began this diet, eliminating inflammatory foods and reducing her carbohydrate intake, especially those derived from grains. She has also worked on managing her work stress with cognitive behavioral therapy and meditation. In a short time, the joint pain disappeared. This gave me a clue that inflammation in the gut might have been the underlying cause of the joint pain. The intestine can heal very quickly with the right protocol. While not every case is that simple, starting with the diet can yield great results without wasting a lot of time or money on expensive testing. I am very aware of the price of extensive testing for patients. Rather than start testing, I prefer to use a natural elimination diet strategy first. If there are still problems after trying the elimination diet, I can order specific tests based on the patient’s remaining concerns. For example, I might consider a SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) test or other stool tests if digestive symptoms persist.
