Interested in learning more about the gastrointestinal system and how you can help your clients improve their response to training and overall wellbeing?

The Holistic Approaches to a Fully Functional Gut course is a two-day, in-depth workshop on the functions and dysfunctions of the digestive tract and the different approaches that will bring it back to full health.

The course is full of tricks and tips that will transform the way you consider GI health. Here’s a little taster of what you’ll learn…

Reflux misconceptions

Within the medical field, acid reflux is thought to be caused by excessive amounts of acid in your stomach, which is why acid-blocking drugs are typically prescribed or recommended. In most cases, however, this is a misconception as the problem often results from having too little acid in the stomach.

After food passes through your oesophagus into your stomach, a muscular valve called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) closes, preventing food or acid from moving back up.

Acid reflux occurs when the LES relaxes inappropriately, allowing acid from your stomach to flow backward into your oesophagus.

It’s important to understand that acid reflux is a symptom commonly related to factors that cause the LES to relax. You will learn more about these factors on the course.

Stomach or duodenum? Ulcer diagnosis and treatment

Peptic ulcer symptoms include: vague discomfort and generally localised diffused pain, belching and burping. Symptoms typically worsen when eating.

Duodenal symptoms include: pain radiating towards the back, nighttime discomfort, belching, bloating, distention and fatty food intolerance. Symptoms are often relieved by food intake.

Learning how to resolve these symptoms is the next step.

Recognise indicators of pancreatic enzyme insufficiencies

Many of these symptoms could be mislabelled as IBS. On the Fully Functional Gut course you will learn more about the body’s response to pancreatic enzyme insufficiencies, which include:

• Steatorrhoea – undigested fat in stools
• Bloating, discomfort, pain – within one hour of eating
• Reflux/indigestion
• Drowsiness after meals
• Loss of appetite
• Food allergies/sensitivities
• Low zinc, B12 and folate absorption
• Gas
• Undigested food in the stool
• Common in fungal and parasitical problems

How to help someone suffering from IBS

IBS is a very common GI complaint. Emma Lane will teach you how to use the best natural remedies and behavioural changes to resolve issues with your clients as quickly as possible. The following points are just a few issues that are discussed on the course…

1. The brain‐gut connection – this is very important due to the action of the PSNS on digestions and gut motility.
2. Dysbiosis – microbial imbalance must also be considered and could be due to a recent infection or use of antibiotics.
3. Parasites – parasitic infection is often overlooked, for example Blastocystis hominis, which is a protozoa.

Benefits and uses of probiotics

The benefits of probiotics are well documented but what’s the difference between lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacteria? What are their roles in GI health and how to recommend the best supplements on the market?

Lactobacillus acidophilus

• Prevents the overgrowth of disease-causing microbes: candida species, E.coli, H. pylori and salmonella;
• Prevents and treats antibiotic-associated diarrhoea;
• Aids digestion of lactose and dairy products;
• Improves nutrient absorption;
• Maintains integrity of intestinal tract and protects against macromolecules entering bloodstream and causing anti-genic response;
• Lessens intestinal stress from food poisoning;
• Acidifies the intestinal tract; low pH provides a hostile environment for pathogens and yeasts;
• Helps to prevent vaginal and urinary tract infections.

Bifidobacteria

• Prevents colonisation of the intestine by pathogenic bacteria and yeasts by protecting the integrity of the intestinal lining;
• Produces acids, which keep the pH balance in the intestine. This acid environment prevents disease-producing microbes from getting a foothold;
• Lessens the side effects of antibiotic therapy;
• Inhibits the growth of bacteria, which produces nitrates in the bowel. Nitrates are bowel-toxic and can cause cancer;
• Helps prevent production of and absorption of toxins produced by disease-causing bacteria, which reduces the toxic load of the liver;
• Manufactures B-complex vitamins;
• Helps regulate peristalsis and bowel movements;
• Prevents and treats antibiotic-induced diarrhoea.

Want to learn more? Sign up to the next Holistic Approaches to a Fully Functional Gut course today.

‘Emma’s GI course is absolutely first rate. Don’t waste your time doing functional diagnostic courses or learning how to interpret blood tests until you have mastered what is in her two-day course. She will show you that most people’s problems start with how, when and what they eat and that until you have dealt with these problems it is utterly pointless spending a lot of money on lab tests and supplements. Her course is ESSENTIAL to anybody working as a health care professional and anybody who wants to “be healthy”.’

Chris Maund – BSc Hons PE and Sports Science, C.H.E.K Certified, NMT Certified

Hidden culprit Many of my clients come to me because they are experiencing diverse symptom patterns, which they have not been able to resolve. Although at first glance the gut may not appear to be the causative factor, gastrointestinal dysfunction can affect, for example, mood, hormones, energy and our overall wellbeing. In fact our digestive system is a pivotal system for the whole body. Common health complaints Did you know that 95 percent of the serotonin produced in the body is made in the digestive system and 65 percent of our immune system is found in the gut associated lymphatic tissue (GALT)? The intestinal tract plays a bigger role in our wellbeing than many practitioners realise and when things go wrong, the most common response from clients is to simply cope or try over-the-counter treatments that will only temporarily cover up the symptoms. With the right tools and GI training, holistic nutritionists, naturopaths, massage therapists and personal trainers can offer a wealth of options to restore true health and create intestinal balance. Plus many of these approaches will improve all aspects of the client’s life, such as their approach to exercise and fitness and attitudes towards food and nutrition. GI checklist Do your clients suffer from any of these conditions? If they do, gut dysfunction could be to blame.

• Lack of concentration
• Frequent yeast infections
• Frequent colds, sinusitis, or respiratory infections
• Arthritis and other inflammatory problems
• Persistent unexplainable aches and pains
• Chronic fatigue
• Skin problems like acne, eczema and psoriasis
• Hormonal imbalances
• Digestive difficulties
• Unexplained weight loss or gain
• Food sensitivities
• Feeling bloated or gassy
• Ulcers, heartburn, acid indigestion or GERD
• Diarrhoea, constipation, and/or irritable bowel
• Poor sleep

Can you decode the gut? Without the proper training it’s easy to miss the causative factors of health problems such as allergies, hypoglycaemia, depression, chronic fatigue and IBS, which are often symptoms arising from GI dysfunction. Often this misdiagnosis stems from the fact that poor gut health affects many other systems in the body. When the digestive system is not able to function properly, our bodies can literally become malnourished even if we’re eating well. That sets the stage for fatigue, poor metabolism, compromised immune response and a myriad of other whole-body ailments. Cure versus healing Rather than looking for the quick fix that does not help resolve the problem long-term, wouldn’t you rather help your clients attain ongoing health and vitality? There are unique approaches to combatting each GI health issue, however these steps are the grounding of any treatment programme:

• Build a platform of wellbeing by addressing areas of stress for the person and the body
• Remove the causative factors, for example food to which the person is reactive, parasites or excess sugar
• Where the body needs specific support, replace or boost what’s needed. For example HCL, digestive enzymes or good bacteria
• Provide nutritional support to help rebuild the tissue which has been damaged
• Address the individual digestive issues that are being experienced and support the body’s natural healing process by natural holistic means

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