Have a Gut instinct that something is wrong with your digestion?
Routine health checks include monitoring temperature, pulse and blood pressure, as well as examining blood and urine specimens. While helpful, these tests overlook the gastrointestinal system, an area that can deliver crucial information about whether your body is functioning properly. The comprehensive testing that’s available today provides detailed information about whether your gut operates effectively to deliver the nutrients you need to thrive. Regular examination of stool samples provides an even more comprehensive picture of your health.
The cellular function of every organ in your body is dependent on nourishing substances obtained through digestion. Before discomfort or disease develops, it is possible to determine whether food breaks down into usable substances, whether you absorb certain nutrients, and whether you properly eliminate waste. A healthy body also has beneficial bacteria to counteract the impact of “bad” bacteria, and produces and secretes enzymes, hormones and digestive chemicals.
Food allergies, toxins, sugar, antibiotics, parasites and stress can wreak havoc with your gastrointestinal system, upsetting the balance in your intestine as well as allowing harmful substances to enter the system. Gas, bloating, diarrhoea, constipation or abdominal discomfort may be the first clue that something is wrong. You may associate problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis with the digestive tract, but did you know allergies or simple lack of energy and fatigue can often be traced to digestive problems as well?
Chronic vaginal infections may result from similar flora imbalances as in the intestine. Laboratory examination of vaginal secretions can help you to identify the exact cause of chronic itching, discomfort, or discharge, and establish a treatment program to get you back on track.
Willow Farm Clinic has tests that reveal important clinical information about:
- Maldigestion and the cause of symptoms such as gas and bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and constipation.
- Chronic dysbiosis (altered bacterial balance) and inflammation that can impair absorption, leading to deficiencies of nutrients, proteins, carbohydrates and fats.
- Lactose intolerance and its relationship to gas, bloating, cramping, and diarrhoea.
- Excess bacterial enzyme activity in the intestine that can promote hormonal imbalances and gastrointestinal irritation.
- Short chain fatty acid inadequacy linked to increased incidence of colon cancer and ulcerative colitis.
- Bacterial and yeast overgrowth underlying gastrointestinal symptoms, chronic fatigue, mood shifts and weakened immune function.
- Chronic digestive dysfunction that can set the stage for the development of leaky gut, food allergies, toxic stress and systemic autoimmune reactions.
- Increased toxic burden, small bowel bacteria over growth and severe inflammation.
- The presence of parasites.
