I must admit being intrigued by a New York Times article earlier this month entitled, “How a Gastroenterologist Cares for Her Gut”, because, let’s face it, we do a lot of “gut rehab” work here at WholeHealth Chicago. I was curious about the conventional recommendations. In fact, all of us pretty much agree with the naturopathic mantra, “All illness begins in the gut.”
Since that gastroenterologist, Olufemi Kassim, M.D. (who is over at Loyola), clearly has the best of intentions for her intestines, making a consultation with one of our Functional Medicine physicians, Kristen Halland, D.C., for example, and reviewing a comprehensive tests like the GI Effects or the Gut Zoomer, might really be helpful for her.
Dr. Kassim starts by bemoaning that, “Even I don’t eat the recommended 25-30 grams of fiber every day”, so she pops several fiber 500 gm capsules (probably Metamucil), apparently between colonoscopies. One consultation with our nutrition provider, Tam Dickson Meyer, will teach the doctor how to easily reach the recommended fiber amount without pill popping. It can even be accomplished in the fiber-free mush of a hospital cafeteria.
Dr. K. also recommends staying well hydrated but doesn’t give any guidelines. I wrote about this recently and want to remind you that you simply take your body weight and convert to ounces of water, then cut that number in half. If you weigh 150 lbs., then you need 75 oz. of water a day.
Physical activity is important, she says, and I fully agree. This is easy being a hospital-based physician (you walk constantly!), and she adds yoga on her off days. It can be a real challenge for those of us stuck on an expressway for two hours a day or sit in front of a computer. My suggestion would be to literally walk at every opportunity and buy a treadmill or elliptical for your home, using it for more than hanging up your wardrobe.
Some of Dr. Kassim’s recommendations are well intended but don’t make a lot of sense considering our busy lifestyles. She warns against “eating large meals” and recommends “multiple small meals throughout the day”. I don’t know anyone who eats “large meals” anymore (especially for breakfast or lunch), and that “small meal” suggestion seems a path to weight gain.
