If you have ever found yourself struggling with a recurring issue like constantly coming down with cold or persistent acne (regardless of what face products you use or supplements you take) or even lingering anxiety or depression, the problem may lie deep within your digestive tract.
Our guts are the powerhouses of our bodies and our overall health usually begins there. If there’s something that you’re struggling with and unable to pinpoint or solve, Sara Tarek suggests looking within the gut and teaching people how to optimize their gut health for a healthy, happy life.
You can learn more about Sara and her work here:
About Sara and her work:
I am a Gut Health Holistic Nutritionist and a Certified Nutritional Practitioner working with women suffering from chronic digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), food sensitivities, heartburn, acid reflux, and irregular bowel movements. I studied Holistic Nutrition in Toronto, and I loved every second of it!
I suffered from unusual health issues at the age of 25 and this was a defining moment in my life since it taught me not to take my health for granted.
I had a lot of questions for my doctors and surgeons but unfortunately, they didn’t have any reasonable answers for me. I didn’t want to settle for this so I started seeing a Naturopath to help me recover from my surgery and restore my health and I really loved her mind-body-soul approach. A few years later, I decided to study holistic nutrition and never looked back. Not only did I get the answers I was looking for, but I also acquired a lot of knowledge that empowered me to make the right choices for myself and my body.
Healing is a very long, messy, and unilinear journey, and although I am not where I would like to be, I have all the tools to help me get there.
[My favorite part of this work is] celebrating client wins – regardless of how big or small they are. I get so excited when my clients message me about improvements in their healing journey, whether this means less abdominal cramps, or enjoying a certain food without reacting to it, or even clearing the skin from acne. Every step counts.
About gut health and why it’s important:
This is literally my favorite topic and I can spend hours and hours talking about it. But, to make it simple, the health of your gut is tied to your overall health, and this includes your immune system, your mental health, your skin health, your energy levels, and your metabolism. Virtually every imbalance can be traced back to an unhealthy gut and an imbalanced gut microbiome.
To improve your gut, I would recommend adopting a mind-body-soul approach (aka a holistic approach) which includes looking at your food choices, addressing your stress levels, ensuring you are getting enough physical activity, and last but not least: improving the quality of your sleep. These are things that you will never hear at a doctor’s office, yet they have a profound impact on your gut health.
The health issues that stem from an imbalanced gut can range from minor problems like frequent colds and infections to autoimmune diseases. Acne is another big one. Mental health issues too, like anxiety and depression. Hippocrates himself said that ‘all disease begins in the gut.
Once you start addressing your gut health and balancing your microbiome, you are immediately going to notice a shift in your energy levels, your mood, your metabolism, your hormones, etc. Not to mention tolerating more food without feeling gas and bloating or heaviness.
Improving gut health from the patient’s point of view:
Addressing their nervous system and their stress response. This is such an important piece of the puzzle and one that is often overlooked by the traditional healthcare community. Take IBS as an example, this is purely a gut-brain disorder. If you are dealing with IBS, you definitely have a dysregulated nervous system, and once we address that, you start noticing fewer symptoms.
It really depends on their symptoms but for some, this could mean regulating their bowel movements whether they are suffering from diarrhea or constipation, getting rid of their food sensitivities, or clearing their skin from acne.
Be curious and ask questions! Try to approach these holistic modalities with a curious mind and leave behind any stereotypes.
Sara’s well-being tips:
Listen to your body. Symptoms are not here to stay, they are here to tell you that something is off and needs your attention.
Show up to yourself and get started on your gut-healing journey. Your current symptoms or diagnosis are not here to stay.
Sara’s resources:
Wellness unpacked by Deliciously Ella is my favorite podcast. They talk about everything from the importance of mindfulness to nutrition to busting some myths in the wellness world. Also, if you ever find yourself a little adventurous, I recommend the ‘’Mind-Gut Connection’’ book by Emran Mayer. It takes a deep dive into everything gut-brain axis (think IBS) and explains the biology behind the ‘’butterflies in your stomach’’ and/or ‘’your gut feeling’’.
Sara Tarek is helping people heal their bodies both inside and out by starting in the gut. Gut issues can manifest themselves outwardly in the form of persistent acne that doesn’t respond to topical treatments or from within like a weakened immune system or even less than optimal mental health.
Addressing your gut health may be the solution to improved overall health and Sara is helping people improve their gut health daily. You can learn more about Sara and her work here:
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