Mayo Clinic Expert Shares Four Pillars of Gut Health

ROCHESTER, Minn. — A healthy gut can help reduce the risk of developing inflammatory diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic condition that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. Victor Chedid, MD, a gastroenterologist and inflammatory bowel disease expert at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, shares four pillars of gut health that people can follow to help maintain gut health and prevent inflammatory diseases.

These include nutrition, exercise, mental health and hydration, says Dr. Chedid:

• Diet: Aim to eat a well-balanced Mediterranean-style diet that includes plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, oilseeds, nuts, seeds, and olive oil. Dr. Chedid recommends 30 to 40 grams of fiber per day. Dr. Chedid also says this type of diet is high in antioxidants and low in inflammatory foods.

• Exercise/Healthy Lifestyle: Try to incorporate regular exercise into your daily routine. The type of exercise may vary from person to person.

• Mental Health: Maintaining your mental health and well-being is important given the many interactions between the gut and brain. For example, people who have experienced childhood trauma or other stressors in their lives may experience gastrointestinal symptoms or conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia, pelvic floor dysfunction, or constipation.

• Water: Try to drink 2 liters of water a day. This helps prevent constipation and ensures that your organs are well nourished. This is especially important in hot climates where dehydration can be a problem.

“Paying attention to all of these factors is important for maintaining gut health,” explains Dr. Chedid.

Maintaining gut health is important, especially when you have inflammatory bowel disease. There are two main types of IBD: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

IBD is a global disease, with an estimated 6–8 million cases worldwide.

“That’s why we need to raise awareness and make sure people seek medical attention when they have symptoms so they can get the right diagnosis and care,” says Dr Chedid.

There is no cure for IBD, but there are many treatments that can help patients achieve remission. Treatments include anti-inflammatory drugs, immune suppressants, biologics, antibiotics, and surgery.

Diarrhea and rectal bleeding are common symptoms, but these symptoms can make people with IBD feel embarrassed and reluctant to seek help. Dr. Chedid says families can play a critical role in helping their loved ones cope with IBD.

“This means being there for them when they need you, recognizing that they won’t always be themselves,” explains Dr. Chedid. “There will be times when they feel down, in pain, or won’t eat what you cook. Don’t be offended. You just need to be there for them.”

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