Digestive Issues

Functional Medicine Digestive Health Report

(Functional Medicine Greenville, SC & Functional Medicine Greer, SC)

Overview

Digestive health is the cornerstone of overall wellness. Imbalances in the gut can lead to inflammation, immune dysfunction, hormone stress, nutrient malabsorption, and chronic symptoms that affect the entire body.

At our Greenville and Greer functional medicine practice, we use a systematic, step-by-step approach that begins with lifestyle and nervous system balance, progresses through the 5 R’s of gut healing, and then incorporates advanced testing such as functional blood chemistry and stool analysis (GI Map or Gut Zoomer). This process allows us to identify root causes and create a personalized plan for restoring digestive function.

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Step 1: Lifestyle & Nervous System Balance

The gut and nervous system are directly connected. Stress, poor sleep, and trauma can lock the body into a sympathetic (“fight or flight”) state, slowing peristalsis and weakening enzyme and stomach acid production.

To activate the parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) system, we focus on:

Lifestyle Goals:

• Eat slowly and mindfully, without screens or rushing.|
• Improve sleep quality and daily rhythms.
• Use breathwork, meditation, or gentle stretching before meals.

Nervous System & Somatic Support:

• Viscero-somatic connection therapy: Correcting reflexive links between spinal alignment and organ function.
• Emotional & trauma release near the spine and upper neck: Calms stored stress patterns that interfere with gut-brain communication.
• Laser therapy to the vagus nerve: Improves vagal tone, supports peristalsis, regulates inflammation, and strengthens gut-brain signaling.

Step 2: The 5 R’s of Gut Healing

We use the 5 R’s framework to systematically restore gut health:

Remove → Inflammatory foods, pathogens, and triggers (sugar, processed foods, hidden food sensitivities).

Replace → Stomach acid, bile salts, and digestive enzymes as needed.

Reinoculate → Probiotics and prebiotic fibers to restore healthy microbiota.

Repair → Heal gut lining with L-glutamine, zinc carnosine, collagen, and nutrients that reduce intestinal permeability.

Rebalance → Address lifestyle, stress, nervous system regulation, and long-term resilience.

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Step 3: Functional Blood Chemistry – Gut Clues

Functional blood chemistry gives us early clues about digestive stress:

• Peristalsis (movement of the gut): Influenced by cortisol, thyroid hormones, and nervous system balance.
• Gut permeability (“leaky gut”): Associated with inflammatory markers and blood sugar resistance.
• Enzyme production: Linked to liver and pancreatic markers (MCV, liver enzymes, nutrient-related patterns).
• Immune stress: Seen in WBC, lymphocyte, and eosinophil patterns.

These results provide insight into digestive stress even before symptoms become chronic.

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Step 4: Stool Testing – GI Map & Gut Zoomer

When we need deeper insights, we use advanced stool testing.

GI Map (Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory)

Measures DNA of microbes and markers of gut function:

• Pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites).
• Opportunistic bacteria that drive inflammation.
• Normal flora balance of beneficial microbes.
• Yeast/fungi such as Candida.
• Parasites (protozoa, worms).
• H. pylori with virulence factors.
• Digestive function: pancreatic elastase, fecal fat, steatocrit.
• Inflammation: calprotectin, secretory IgA.
• Immune response: gut antibody activity.

Gut Zoomer (Vibrant America)

Provides a broad antibody-based panel of gut health:

• 300+ microbial species (bacteria, fungi, parasites, viruses).
• Dysbiosis patterns (imbalances of healthy vs. harmful flora).
• Gut permeability markers (zonulin, occludin).
• Immune activation against microbes.
• Metabolic activity: short-chain fatty acids, microbial metabolites.
• Food sensitivity links: microbial patterns tied to reactivity or autoimmune stress.

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Food & Lifestyle Guidance

Foundational Foods for Gut Repair:

Fiber-rich vegetables and resistant starches (green banana, cooled potatoes, oats).

Gold kiwifruit (supports Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, a key anti-inflammatory bacteria).

Fermented foods: sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, miso.

Clean proteins: wild fish, organic poultry, grass-fed beef.

Gut-healing nutrients: bone broth, cabbage, spinach, aloe.

Foods to Avoid:

Processed sugars, refined grains, and excess alcohol.

Industrial seed oils (corn, soybean, canola).

Food sensitivities (identified via testing or elimination).

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Follow-Up Plan

Plan Duration: Begin lifestyle, nervous system, and supplement strategies immediately.

Lab Retesting:

Functional blood chemistry in 2 months.
Stool testing (GI Map or Gut Zoomer) as a next phase for deeper insights.

Check-ins:

Two 15-minute phone huddles (weeks 2 and 6) to monitor digestion and symptoms.
‍One to two 30-minute huddles for deeper support or lab review.

Adjustments: Based on symptoms and lab changes, supplements and diet will be modified for maximum effectiveness.

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Summary:

At our Greenville and Greer functional medicine office, we take a whole- body approach to gut health — supporting the nervous system, working through the 5 R’s of digestive healing, using functional blood chemistry for early clues, and advancing to stool testing for deeper answers. This process systematically restores digestion, microbial balance, immune resilience, and long-term health.

Call Today or reach out at mountainmovementgvl@gmail.com with any questions!

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