Your health begins in the gut, and continues in the intestines. How do you know, if your gut is functioning properly? I would like to share with you the easiest way to evaluate your gastro-intestinal health.
All you need is to look at your poop, literally, here is the visual. Please share your type with me on your next visit or call.
Tongue Diagnosis
First off, read this amazing book: “You are What you Eat” book by Dr. Gillian McKeith.
The following are excerpts from Dr McKeith's book. This information is no substitute for seeking medical advice from a doctor or qualified practitioner, if there are any concerns.
Healthy Looking Tongue:
If this is your tongue below, congrats, no need to look further. If it is not your tongue, review the pictures below and please know that your gut health can be improved and your tongue will show the results. Let's talk about the right nutritional choices you can make. I'm here for you to modify and add appropriate supplements and teas through my Virtual Dispensary- FullScript.
Photo from: simplysupplementsblog.com
Cracked Tongue
A crack down the middle of your tongue means that you are probably nutrient depleted and your digestion isn't what it should be. You are probably also often bloated after eating and have energy slumps in the middle of the day. I would recommend taking digestive enzymes with meals, eat soups, stews and blends which are easy to digest, and avoiding fizzy drinks.
Eat nourishing foods: Artichokes, Avocados, Carrots, Sprouts of seeds, Parsnips, Black or Wild Rice, Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Turnips, Yams
Drinks herbal infusion of Fennel, Peppermint, Licorice.
White Coating
Thick White Coating or Swollen Tongue is an indication of too much mucus in the body. It's also a sign of a lack of beneficial bacteria and too much yeast. Dr McKeith recommends reducing dairy products, eating more green superfoods and taking probiotics to replenish your body with healthy bacteria.
Teeth Marks
Teeth marks around the side of the tongue are due to nutritional deficiency. Dr. McKeith says your digestion is also probably impaired and you have a spleen deficiency. If your Spleen is weak, you probably also struggle with gas and bloating.
Spleen nourishing foods: Aduki Beans,Yellow squash, Mung Beans, Kidney Beans, Alfalfa, Beetroot, Oats, Carrots, Parsley, Celery,Parsnips, Pumpkin, Fennel, Sweet Potatoes, Turnips, Yams, Fish, Chicken. Foods high in Chlorophyll: Leafy greens, Algae, Kale, Chard.
Herbs and Spices to Nourish the Spleen: Astragalus, Garlic, Black Pepper, Ginger, Cayenne Pepper, Ginseng, Cinnamon, Horseradish, Dill seed, Pau d’Arco.
Cracks
Horizontal cracks, small cracks/grooves on tongue are usually a sign of malabsorption, especially of B vitamins, and often accompanied by a lack of energy. Most overweight patients that Dr McKeith sees for the first time, she says, are deficient in B Vitamins. This has usually developed over a long time.
She recommends, Vit. B Complex, digestive enzyme supplements, peppermint and nettle teas and 2 tbsp of Aloe Vera juice before meals. She also recommends taking echinacea tincture (20 drops daily for 2 weeks), to help move lymph and eliminate toxins that are impeding nutrient absorption. I add the Bellicon trampoline to the daily routine.
Yellow Coating
A Thick Yellow Coating indicates excess heat in the gut, and that you don't have enough healthy bacteria in your body. Dr McKeith says if the coating is at the back of your tongue you need to pay attention to your colon, as you bowels may not be working as they should be. Check against the Bristol Stool Chart, I provided above.
Solutions: If you can take 2 tablespoons of aloe vera juice before meals.
Add sage tea (2 cups a day for a month), and alternate this with camomile tea.
Eat more vegetables, nuts, grains, seeds. Are you run down from doing too much, please start to take things easier.
Red Tip:
Red Tip on the Tongue according to Dr McKeith indicates emotional stress or upset. She recommends at looking at ways to reduce the stress in your life.
Sore Tongue is a sign of a nutrient deficiency, often iron, vitamin B6 or niacin.
She recommends to drink nettle teas and it may be worth getting your iron levels checked and seeing a medical professional for proper test and supplementation.
- She recommends to drink nettle teas and it may be worth getting your iron levels checked and seeing a medical professional for proper test and supplementation.