Gut Check: You Are What You Absorb
Our guts are getting a lot of attention these days. Our overall health and well-being is directly affected not only by what we eat but by what we absorb. As part of my own health journey and continuing education on the fermented food and beverage business, I recently started working with Jacqui Edgerly, owner of Nettles Nutrition. Edgerly is a functional nutritionist, nutritional therapy practitioner and clinical herbalist who helps outdoor enthusiasts struggling with fatigue and digestive discomfort heal their gut and regain their energy, so they can get back to the trails.
Courtesy of sarahuhl.com
Edgerly is no stranger to being active in the outdoors. She is a former professional Big Mountain Skier from Aspen and, through her own journey to health and connection to nature, has found a path to help others.
“As outdoor enthusiasts, it is absolutely essential to support the gut,” says Edgerly. “Every cell in the body relies on the digestive system to function optimally.”
Edgerly utilizes a number of diagnostic tests and works individually with each client to learn their lifestyle habits. “I look at the whole body and piece together a client’s diet, lifestyle, functional lab testing, blood sugar balance, mineral levels, adrenal health and detoxification status to develop a plan to support the entire system,” she explains.
Since each of our microbiomes are as unique as we are, getting individualized treatment is important to understanding how to improve our health. Without this balance and support, Edgerly warns, we are all at risk of malabsorption, joint pain, food reactions, low energy and constipation just to name a few harmful effects.
“We need nutrients such as fats, protein, carbs, vitamins and minerals for the body to be a well operating machine. If we are not absorbing these key drivers of the body, we can end up with lethargy, brain fog, anxiety, inflammation, low hormone levels and can be more susceptible to injury,” Edgerly adds.
It is important to note that there are a wide range of factors that can contribute to or deteriorate our overall gut health and well-being. It takes time to build health, just as it takes time to erode it. Edgerly may work with clients for six months to over a year or more depending on the conditions and factors at play. It can be hard to know what step to take first, and Edgerly suggests your local farmers market is a great place to start. It is a place to connect to the farmers, the food being grown and to learn more about the practices being used.
For instance, local produce grown organically and with regenerative farming practices are shown to have higher nutritional density. Here in the Grand Valley, Field to Fork Organic Farm in Palisade offers a four-season, organic, low/no till farming practice with a wide array of produce, meat and fruit options. Rooted Gypsy Farms and Farm Runners gather wonderful local farm options in their CSA programs, as well. While we are digging into the practices used to grow our fresh food, Edgerly also reminds us to read the ingredient lists in the pantry and reduce the number of highly processed, preserved and packaged foods we buy.
Including a variety of fermented foods and beverages throughout our weekly meals can be helpful, as well. These foods and beverages can add a probiotic boost to the gut microbiome where diversity in types of “good” bacteria is important. Local producers such as Ozuke out of Hotchkiss and Feisty Kimchi in Grand Junction provide some tasty kimchi options. Luv Box Foods in Durango ferments a plethora of products including miso and tempeh. Kulina Lani Organic Sourdough Bakery in Grand Junction offers fermented breads and sandwiches that are gut friendly and ready for the trail. Of course, while there you can enjoy a glass of Grand Jun — my local honey and green tea based jun kombucha — for a refreshing probiotic beverage. As you start to stock your home with whole foods and fermented options visit Edgerly’s blog (nettlesnutrition.com) for recipes to help keep you inspired in the kitchen.
Last, but certainly not least, Edgerly encourages us to “take time to rest. You deserve a pause and a breath. This is where healing happens.”
Jacqui Edgerly’s Favorite On-The-Go Nutrition
When we are out backpacking, hiking and camping, we have limited ways we can prepare and carry our meals. As I stand in front of the shelves at the local grocery store, I have to admit, it can be a bit overwhelming trying to decide what to put in my pack. Edgerly suggests that the same rules apply — less processed and more whole food ingredients.
Nuts
Fruit
Avocado with sea salt
Banana and nut butter
Sweet potato, sea salt and olive oil
RX brand bars
Epic brand bars
Disclaimer: All information presented in this article is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration, and it is not to be construed as medical advice or instruction whatsoever. No action should be taken solely based on the contents of this article. This information isn’t intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease, nor is it medical advice. One should always consult a qualified medical professional before engaging in any dietary and/or lifestyle change.
Originally published in the Summer 2022 of Spoke+Blossom.