Gut Healing Protocol – Orlando, FL
Five Steps to Improved Gut Health
Did you know that your gut health is intimately linked to your overall wellness? What happens in your gut can do more than just affect how you feel after eating. It can impact how well you absorb nutrients, your energy levels, your skin health, your mood, and so much more. Unfortunately, many people have an unbalanced gut microbiome that stops them from achieving optimum health. Dr. Murphy and our team can help get your gut working again with the 5-R Protocol.
Understanding the Importance of Gut Health
Conventional medicine often understates the value of gut health, in some cases even going so far as to say that conditions like leaky gut do not exist. In reality, though, gut health plays a huge role in an individual’s overall wellness. To underscore that point, think about the fact that 80% of the human immune system either surrounds the gut or is a part of it.
Often, gut problems boil down to an imbalance in its microbiome (a microbiome is the totality of all the microorganisms within a certain space). When there are not enough good bacteria there, or an overabundance of harmful bacteria, a slew of health problems can result. Not only might a person experience digestive issues, but they may also suffer from a lack of serotonin, autoimmune symptoms, and more.
In many cases, poor nutritive habits are responsible for gut health problems. However, stress and other lifestyle factors can also play a big role. Even the long-term use of certain medications, such as antibiotics or antacids, can also adversely affect gut health.
The 5-R Protocol is an effective, personalized way to help patients bounce back from gut health problems and experience an improved quality of life.
What Is the 5-R Protocol?
The 5-R Protocol was developed by the Institute of Functional Medicine. It can help to manage and, in some cases, even heal a range of gut conditions, including IBS, Crohn’s disease, leaky gut syndrome, celiac disease, and more. It can also help individuals with non-specific gut problems that are causing symptoms like acne, fatigue, brain fog, joint and muscle pain, headaches, and more.
The 5-R Protocol involves five steps to help patients toward improved gut health:
- Remove
- Replace
- Repopulate (also called Reinoculate)
- Repair
- Rebalance
On average, the five steps of the gut healing protocol take about 3 – 6 months to complete, if a patient is committed to making their treatment succeed. At the end of that time period, the vast majority of participants notice marked improvements in many aspects of their overall wellness.
The 5 Rs
The 5-R protocol is customized for each patient. However, all steps in the process must take place for patients to enjoy the best possible results. Here is a closer look at what happens during each stage of the gut healing protocol:
Remove
Dr. Murphy will encourage you to remove things from your life that could be irritating your gut. Mostly, this involves cutting things out of your diet, such as alcohol, caffeine, and certain types of carbohydrates. It may also require that your switch up some of your medications and stop using certain supplements. Removing gut irritants could even require that you cut out stressors from your life or undergo treatment for certain gut infections.
This first step on your journey to improved gut health may be challenging, especially if you are accustomed to existing on things like fast food and large amounts of coffee. Being patient with yourself and remembering the goal you are working toward can help you get through this time.
Replace
You may be lacking certain nutrients or enzymes that are important to gut health. To identify these deficiencies, Dr. Murphy may order some tests, such as a hair test, stool test, or blood test. Once your results are back, Dr. Murphy can pinpoint areas for improvement and provide dietary guidelines to help you replenish your body’s supply of key nutrients. You may also need to start taking some high-quality supplements.
Repopulate
During the Repopulation stage, which may also be called the Reinoculation stage, you may start to reintroduce some foods that you previously cut out of your diet during the Remove portion of your treatment. Carefully doing so can encourage the growth of good bacteria in the gut and thereby help to balance your gut’s microbiome.
Repair
During the Repair part of the 5-R process, the goal is to introduce foods and supplements that promote long-term symptom relief and sustainable gut health. For example, you may be encouraged to eat foods that are rich in vitamins A, C, D, and E, as well as those that have a lot of amino acids, such as bone broth. Commonly recommended supplements include aloe vera, collagen, and slippery elm.
Rebalance
This stage of treatment goes beyond the diet and focuses on other lifestyle factors. It can equip you to manage stress well, get high-quality sleep, alter your exercise habits, and improve your relationships with other people. Focusing on your mental and emotional well-being can do much to reduce harmful stress and help your entire body, including your gut, to functional optimally.
What Happens After You Complete the 5-R Protocol?
Since the 5-R Protocol is based mostly on lifestyle changes, it is important that you maintain the changes you have made so your gut’s microbiome does not become unbalanced again. Of course, it may be okay to treat yourself to fast foods or other unbeneficial consumables once in a great while. The majority of the time, though, you should adhere to the new habits that you formed throughout your treatment. Your gut will thank you for your diligence!
Do you believe that the 5-R gut healing protocol in Orlando may be able to benefit you? Contact us today to learn more or schedule a functional wellness consultation.