Good Cop, Bad Gut...

Brad McNish President, Stand Six Inc. bmcnish@standsix.com

There is no question that shift work is bad for the gut. Gastrointestinal dysfunction in the form of ulcers, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, excess gas, gastric reflux and intestinal pain are often cited as primary complaints in shift workers. They also occur more frequently in shift workers than the general population. These symptoms can lead to diagnoses of esophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis and Crohn’s disease. Considering how critical gut health is to overall health, this is an alarming issue. But the diagnosis does not address the underlying cause. There is a well documented circadian rhythm that governs many of the major biological functions of the human body. Disruption of this rhythm (as in shift work) which controls appetite, insulin response, digestion, renal and bowel function can inevitably lead to gut problems. Combine this with the bad diet choices often made by shift workers (try to find a healthy meal at 3:00 am) and you begin to see why these problems occur.A diagnosis of Crohn’s disease early in my police career (7 years into my service) led me to focus on gut health and nutrition. I have tried many things over the years to rid myself of this unwanted companion. I want to outline a basic program that can make a big difference and takes a functional approach instead of a clinical approach – that is it works at treating the underlying cause instead of suppressing the symptoms.

For more info: http://www.policeone.com/police-products/fitness-health-wellness/articles/1761369-Good-Cop-Bad-Gut/