#10: Gut check – understanding digestive health

What you’ll learn:Your digestive system plays a crucial role in overall health. But when something feels off, it can be both confusing and uncomfortable.In this episode, we're joined by Neha Nigam, MD, for a conversation about gastrointestinal (GI) health and common conditions such as acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and more.Whether you're curious about how your gut works or dealing with chronic digestive issues, this episode offers practical insights to help you better understand and support your GI health. Featured guest:Dr. Neha Nigam GastroenterologstInova Gastroenterology Key takeaways with chapter markers:Common gastrointestinal (GI) issues [1:42]Why colon cancer screening guidelines now start at age 45 [3:27]Colon cancer screening options and new ways to prep [5:00]How to reduce colon cancer risk including what to eat [9:41]Tips for good gut health and the truth about probiotics [13:50]What to know about food allergies [16:20]Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms and treatment [19:32]FAQs: What is gastrointestinal health and why is it important?Gastrointestinal health refers to a very large organ system in the body including your esophagus (the tube that carries food and liquid from your mouth to your stomach), your stomach, small bowel, large bowel/colon, as well as your liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. All of these organs work to break down the foods we eat, absorb the nutrition and then eliminate toxic waste from our body. What lifestyle habits support a healthy gut?Make sure your diet is well balanced – decrease the amount of red meat and increase whole grains, fruits, legumes, vegetables and nuts – get adequate amounts of sleep, exercise, and avoid smoking and tobacco. All of these contribute to a recipe for a healthy life in general, but they also have a big impact on your gut health and decrease your colon cancer risk. When should I see a doctor for digestive symptoms?You don't have to wait to see a gastroenterologist. If you have GI symptoms, it's better to sit down with an expert and walk through exactly what's going on, identify what’s triggering it, and decide how to treat it.