Digestive Health Plan Toronto
Digestive Health Plan in Toronto
Every serious disease or chronic ailment begins in the gut. The balance and variety of the trillions of microorganisms that live in our digestive tract also known as our microbiome is crucial for our health. Unfortunately, increasing rates of caesarean sections, overuse of antibiotics and medications, chlorination of our water, microbe-depleting pesticides, chemicals and hormones in processed foods we eat caused suffering to our microbiome by diminishing the numbers and variety of species necessary for health and well-being.
What do good gut bacteria do?
- Convert sugar to short chain fatty acids for energy
- Crowd out pathogens
- Digest food
- Help absorption of nutrients like calcium and iron
- Keep PH balance
- Maintain integrity of gut lining
- Metabolize drugs
- Modulate genes by turning them on and off
- Neutralize cancer causing compounds
- Produce digestive enzymes
- Synthesize B vitamins
- Synthesize fat soluble vitamins
- Synthesize hormones
- Train immune system to distinguish friend from enemy
Who is this digestive health plan for?
- Anyone with symptoms of food cravings, weight gain, bloating, acid reflux, abdominal pain, smelly gas, loose or hard stools, diarrhea during foreign travel
- Anyone that has been given the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), irritable bowel disease (IBD) or Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
- Anyone with celiac or gluten sensitivity, food allergies or intolerances
- Anyone with skin conditions (Acne, rashes, eczema, rosacea)
- Anyone with recurring infections such as yeast overgrowth, vaginosis or thrush in the mouth
- Anyone that has been on numerous antibiotic treatments for acne, sinus infections etc.
- Anyone that has been on long-term Proton pump inhibitors or antacids, NSAIDs or anti-inflammatory drugs, birth control pills or hormones, Steroids or chemotherapy
- Anyone that suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, brain fog or fatigue
- Anyone that uses artificial sweeteners, eats too much sugar and fat, not enough fibre and consumes too much alcohol
How does diet help?
Nutritional therapy should be the first line of defense against the symptoms and diseases mentioned above now that we know the relationship between an imbalanced microbiome and these conditions.
Learning how to feed the good bacteria in your gut to crowd out the bad and reducing toxin exposure and food triggers are life skills that everyone can benefit from especially those that are struggling with debilitating symptoms.
What is included in our Digestive Health Plan in Toronto?
- 10 sessions (45 min initial assessment and 9 follow up sessions-20 min each spread out over 90 days)
- Nutrition and lifestyle assessment including anthropometric measurements
- Scored symptoms questionnaire to assess improvements before and after digestive health program
- Personalized nutrition, lifestyle and supplement recommendations
- Individualized menu planner to provide meal choices in amounts based on your macronutrient requirements
- Support and accountability
- Blood work and relevant biomarkers testing and/or review
- Educational tools and resources
Nutrition and Lifestyle Assessment
- During your initial 45 min assessment, Nadine will review your health goals, lifestyle, previous health or medical interventions, medical history, blood work, medications, supplement use, eating patterns, portion sizes, food preferences and any food intolerances/allergies you may know about, activity/exercise regimen and any restaurants frequented. A scored symptoms questionnaire will be completed to establish a baseline for later improvements. Body measurements can be taken (weight, waist and hip circumference) and more detailed anthropometric testing can be ordered.
- Based on your assessment, Nadine will determine your nutritional needs and provide you with a nutrition plan that outlines the best types of foods, portions, supplements (if needed), food combinations and meal timing to optimize your digestive health and minimize symptoms.
- After your assessment, Nadine will provide you with valuable feedback on your diet and lifestyle and review options of practical strategies for improving your eating habits and nutritional status to help you reach your goals. This can include an elimination and reintroduction protocol for finding food triggers to your symptoms. Strategies to meeting nutritional requirements, managing weight and/or changing your body composition; managing hunger, cravings or emotional eating; boosting energy; improving exercise performance and recovery; and managing specific health condition/s will be provided throughout the digestive health plan.
Personalized Menu and Grocery List
- During your first 4 follow-up sessions (weekly after your assessment), Nadine can help you create a personalized menu and grocery list based on your nutritional needs, food preferences, schedule and lifestyle. Your plan will be structured, easy to follow and will outline options for all meals and snacks.
- During your remaining follow-up sessions (bi-weekly), Nadine can review your food diary, review symptoms improvements and overall progress and reintroduce foods eliminated one at a time to liberalize your diet and avoid unnecessary restrictions once trigger foods and trigger portions are identified.
- During your remaining follow-up sessions (bi-weekly), Nadine can review your food diary, review symptoms improvements and overall progress and reintroduce foods eliminated one at a time to liberalize your diet and avoid unnecessary restrictions once trigger foods and trigger portions are identified.
- Nadine will also take your body measurements (if appropriate) and help you overcome challenges. You can learn about ideal meal timing for you, how to read food labels, eat healthy at restaurants, manage food cravings, modify unhealthy behavior, eat mindfully, improve your relationship with food, and remain motivated.
- By the end of the program, a 2nd scored symptoms questionnaire will be completed to establish improvements in digestive symptoms.
- You will feel empowered with the ability to manage symptoms by implementing lifestyle strategies and by avoiding trigger foods while eating a nutrient dense and satisfyingly balanced diet that supports your digestive health.
To know more about our Toronto digestive health plan, contact us today.