Coaching Kylie: In Search of the Perfect Poo
Welcome to Coaching Kylie. In search of the perfect poo might sound a little crass and to some a little childish but let me be clear this is very serious business.
I could have fluffed things up with a title like A Journey to Digestive Health so as not to upset anyone’s delicate dispositions but seriously the ultimate aim no matter which way l choose to look at it is to experience the perfect poo. I know there are those of you out there letting out an astounding YES, right now, because you absolutely get what I’m putting out here (pardon the pun) and trust me it is not always a laughing matter.
I wish to share my personal experience and food journey over the last 14 years. I want to show others out there that you are not alone. Actually, you are in good company as more and more of us are experiencing some degree of intestinal upset or digestive disorders. In fact, recently released figures by the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveal that almost 4 million people in Australia reported avoiding a food type because of allergy or intolerance and it continues to be on the rise. I’m wondering where do these figures come from? Have you all registered your food avoidant status and symptoms with an official governing body? This is Scary Stuff!
And let’s consider taking into account the incidence of IBD (Inflammatory bowel disease) the prevalence of which has markedly increased in recent decades, with the severity of these conditions worsening. It is estimated that about 70,000 people in Australia are living with IBD and we need to consider that it is possibly hugely unreported. Aiming for that perfect poo probably doesn’t sound so silly now, does it? Bowel cancer was the 3rd most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia in 2012. It is estimated that it will become the 2nd most commonly diagnosed cancer in 2016. Houston, we have a problem!
Bottom line: DIGESTIVE HEALTH IS VERY IMPORTANT
Over the past 14 years I have been diagnosed with Coeliac disease, fructose malabsorption, lactose intolerance, pyrole disorder, fat malabsorption, leaky gut, anxiety and depression. I have watched my children and family and friends develop similar disorders, all based around diet, and witnessed the flow on effect this has had on their everyday lives. In fact, just listing these out is making me emotional as I look back on the incredibly difficult and emotional journey this has sent me on. I have seen so many health professionals and spent so much money grasping at trying to gain some control of my body. I have been told by so many people to cut more and more out of my diet, only to find as l did, I got worse.
It hasn’t all been bad, however, along the way l discovered myself, and today, although I still struggle with digestive issues from time to time, I have educated myself and learned to get back in touch with my primal instincts, to be an intuitive eater! Intuitive eating is getting back to being the expert of our own bodies, learning to respond to those inner body cues, gaining a sense of primal wisdom and developing a healthy relationship with food. It’s my opinion that digestive issues need to be treated from an emotional, psychological perspective as well the physical and that there is far more involved in what is presenting from our digestive health than I first thought. Of coarse, I am by no means saying that we need to do this as a stand alone treatment. Learn to be an intuitive eater and use it in conjunction to your medical and alternative therapies. Fill in the gaps and learn to listen to your body to determine what’s working and what’s not.
“Recent research into the connections between the brain, the immune system and gut dysfunction have created a whole new area of research that has led to a growing awareness of the importance of the gut flora, now known as your microbiome. The human microbiome includes viruses, fungi and bacteria, their genes and their environmental interactions, and is known to influence not only human physiology but also its psychology”.
Your gut affects everything else going on in your body and this is why it is so important to look at gut issues from a holistic perspective.
Tune in to my blog as I take you on a journey of digestive health that I like to call Coaching Kylie. I will share the highs and lows, highlight the experiences that have led to my greatest learning’s, tell you of the frustrations and moments of insanity and clarity and you will soon see you are probably walking a similar path. I want to show you are not insane and all of your emotions and feelings are being played out for a reason. You are certainly not alone. I would love to see us getting back to trusting ourselves instead of relying so heavily on being told what to do and when to do it expecting miraculous results. I’ve heard it said, “You are your own best Nutritionalist,” NO ONE, knows you better than YOU!
So tune in for the next installment as we go back to where this all started for me, Coeliac disease and gluten intolerance.
References:
http://www.savvy-team.com/hww/how-bad-is-australias-gut-problem
http://www.gutfoundation.com.au/about
https://www.intuitiveeating.com/content/about-us
http://allergenbureau.net/australian-health-survey-reveals-extent-food-allergy/
