In this episode, Tom and Brittany review "irritable bowel syndrome" and how the mainstream diagnosis and management of IBS leaves a lot to be desired.

IBS is an area where Functional Medicine and Integrative Gastroenterology really outshine the conventional approach by focusing on root causes and personalized approaches.

We discuss how "IBS" which is really just a list of symptoms, can be caused by many factors including dysbiosis and SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), celiac, food intolerances and sensitivities, stress and disrupted nervous system of the gut. IBS falls under a category of conditions getting relabeled as DGBI- disorders of gut-brain interaction which is very telling. With a good personal history and the right diagnostic tests, many people are now finding that the functional medicine approach to their IBS provides the answers they have been looking for.

This is a chance to learn about IBS from a combined gastroenterology and functional medicine perspective.

#IBS, #irritablebowel, #functionalmedicine, #gastroenterology

In this episode, Tom interviews Brittany on her Functional Medicine approach to Women's Health, more specifically looking at Perimenopause and Menopause.

We review the hormonal changes that are occurring with estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, and what symptoms and biological effects this may have and how she approaches this as a Functional Medicine and DPC primary care provider.

This period of life can affect every body system of a woman, and she explains why it is important to work with a provider that understands the process and how best to support their body during this time. Risks for certain diseases also increase during this period of a woman's life, including heart disease, osteoporosis, urologic and cognitive/mental health issues which speaks to the importance of upstream preventive care for this population.

#perimenopause, #menopause, #functionalmedicine, #hormones, #womenshealth

Brittany and Tom review constipation from a Functional Medicine perspective.

They discuss their experiences as healthcare providers treating poop issues- Brittany from a Women's health perspective as well as Tom's experience as a Pediatric Gastroenterologist treating LOTS of cases of constipation.

What defines constipation and how big of a problem is it?

How often should we be pooping and what does it mean when things aren't "coming out right"?

This episode covers the basics of what we need to have good daily BM, known as "The 5 Things for a Good Number Two."

We discuss the impact of fiber, the gut microbiome, hydration, movement and good bathroom habits on your gut health and poop routine.

We also mention some of our favorite supplements to keep things moving and why you might not want to be relying on one of the most popular laxatives long term.