The Poop Episode

11/22/23 • 33 min

Today we are talking about poop, which might seem a little odd but there is a very good reason for it. Last year, the American Gastroenterological Association released new data showing that nearly 40% of Americans have stopped routine activities in the last year due to uncomfortable bowel symptoms, including exercising, running errands, and seeing family and friends. Even though discomfort disrupts their day, people still don’t want to talk about it with one in three people reporting that they would only discuss their bowel symptoms if their doctor brought it up first.

As doctors, poop truly is a window into your overall health and even though it sounds strange, we really want to hear about it. So let’s break the ice today with two excellent experts who are going to help me explain the issues, break down some solutions, and bust a few myths.

Dr. Megan Fortin is a Naturopathic Physician with Collaborative Natural Health Partners who specializes in treating autoimmune, endocrine, and digestive conditions, including IBS and SIBO. She is super passionate about individualized care and works to treat the whole person while utilizing clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, and lifestyle counseling.

Dr. Carolina Gonzalez is also a Naturopathic Physician who focuses on digestive disorders such as SIBO, IBS, candida overgrowth, and the microbiome and she focuses on a holistic approach targeting the gut-brain connection and the importance of understanding its bidirectional impact.

Here on Your Health Toolkit, we often talk about how conventional and naturopathic medicine can play complementary roles in our overall health. We call this “collaborative medicine” and through the work that we do at Collaborative Natural Health Partners, we are able to give people the knowledge and the tools they need to feel great every single day. If you’re interested in learning more, head over to our website or follow us on Facebook or Instagram for information, articles, and resources to take the guesswork out of your health.
Your Health Toolkit is a podcast presented for general information and educational purposes only. The discussions presented by Dr. Lauren Young and the show’s guests should not be considered medical advice but rather a conversation starter with your doctor. Everyone’s body is unique, and we recommend having a discussion with your personal healthcare team before trying anything discussed on the show.

Previous Episode

What's in a Naturopath's Kitchen

If you follow naturopathic health, you’ll know that food is medicine and there is actually some merit to the old saying “you are what you eat”. From Chinese medicine to Ayurveda in India, the significance of maintaining good health through food is something we’ve practiced for thousands of years. But even as science continues to uncover the amazing ways that nutrients influence our bodies and minds, it can be hard to decipher good and bad, healthy or fad, and what we should be eating consistently to fuel our bodies for a long and healthy life.

So that’s what we are going to be talking about today. What do we as doctors stock in our fridge, recommend to our patients, and double down on when we start to feel sick?

Dr. Nick Edgerton is a Naturopathic Physician and licensed acupuncturist who has a fantastic background in botanical medicine, from wildcrafting in Jamaica to his own backyard to nutrigenomics where he studies how nutrients and herbs impact gene expression.

Dr. Mary Tracey is a Naturopathic Physician whose areas of focus include women’s health, pain management, and chronic disease intervention. She is passionate about the inner workings of the human body and utilizes methods that promote long-term states of health and wellness for her patients.

Next Episode

Heart Health

According to the CDC, about 695,000 people in the United States die from heart disease each year, which is about one in every five deaths total.
If that doesn’t concern you, think about this. One person in this country dies from heart disease every 33 seconds.
And if you don’t think you need to worry because you don’t have high blood pressure or there is no history of heart problems in your family, think again. Half of all Americans (47%) have at least one of three key risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
So let’s talk about heart health with two amazing experts.
Dr. Craig Fasullo is a Naturopathic Physician who addresses a broad range of conditions, including gastrointestinal and cardiovascular health, musculoskeletal pain, endocrine/hormone imbalance, and men’s health. He is a huge advocate for hands-on physical medicine, incorporating years of training in diverse modalities to treat both acute and chronic pain conditions, improving quality of life without resorting to drugs or surgery.
Dr. Ashley Burkman is a Naturopathic Physician who sees a variety of conditions, with particular interest in heart health, hormonal health, autoimmunity, nutritional medicine, and neurological conditions. She resonates with those who have chronic illnesses where often the goal is not cure, but to optimize health where they are at.