Digestive Health
Naturopathic Gut Care
Bloating, IBS, food sensitivities, and chronic digestive discomfort are not things you have to live with. Dr. Kim Townsend, ND gets to the root of what's going wrong and builds a plan to fix it.
OVERVIEW
Naturopathic Digestive Health Care
The gut is at the centre of nearly every aspect of your health, from immune function and hormonal balance to mood, energy, and skin vitality. Dr. Kim Townsend, ND takes a comprehensive, root-cause approach to digestive health, moving beyond symptom management to understand exactly what's driving your discomfort and how to address it at its source.
Digestive Health
Insurance: Covered by most Benefit Plans
New Patients: Now welcoming
Virtual Care: Offered Province-wide
Location: Burlington, ON
Parking: Free on-site
WHO THIS IS FOR
Conditions We Treat
Dr. Kim works with patients experiencing a wide range of digestive concerns, many of whom have spent years managing symptoms without ever getting to the cause. These include...
✦ Leaky Gut Syndrome ✦ Food Intolerances & Allergies ✦ Constipation ✦ Diarrhea ✦ Bloating & Gas ✦ Digestive Enzyme Deficiency ✦ HCL Deficiency ✦ GI Issues due to Antibiotic Use ✦ Irritable Bowel Syndrome ✦ Celiac Disease ✦ Crohn's Disease ✦ Diverticulitis ✦ Heartburn & Acid Reflux ✦ Hemorrhoids ✦ Gastric & Duodenal Ulcers ✦ Ulcerative Colitis ✦ SIBO ✦ Candida Overgrowth ✦ Bacterial Infections and Parasites
TCONO Registered
OAND Member
CAND Member
25+ Years Experience
Licensed BHRT Prescriber
The Method
How Dr. Kim Approaches Gut Health
Dr. Kim Townsend, ND believes that digestive health is fundamental to the health of the entire body. There are more immune system receptor cells in the digestive tract than anywhere else in the body. An inflamed digestive tract can lead to damage to these immune cells and ultimately poor health.
When the digestive system is not functioning well, food is not broken down and absorbed properly which can lead to symptoms of indigestion and malabsorption. As a result nutrients are not absorbed properly and may result in nutrient depletion. Fatigue, gas and bloating, mood disturbances, behavioral issues, irritability, memory problems, and environmental toxicity are all associated with poor digestion. The overall effect of a compromised digestive system is the potential for bigger health problems down the road.
Another concern with inflammation of the digestive tract is the increased risk for developing leaky gut syndrome. This condition is the result of undigested food molecules that travel across the intestinal mucosal barrier and end up in the blood stream. The body’s immune system does not recognize these larger molecules and mounts an immune response to these foods. The result is multiple food intolerance’s. The continued consumption of these foods leads to further damage and a vicious cycle of poor digestion and reactions to more and more foods.
Your Personalized Treatment Plan
Clinical Nutrition for Your Gut Health
Dr. Kim has multiple tools to determine the cause of digestive disturbance. She may suggest IgG food intolerance testing. This simple blood test is used to asses up to 200 different food sensitivities. She may also recommend a Stool Analysis to determine whether there may be digestive enzyme deficiencies or possible bacteria or parasites leading to digestive issues. During a patient appointment she may perform TBM (Total Body Modification) and/or and EDS (Electro Dermal Screening) testing to gain a better understanding of specific organ weakness and the underlying ‘cause’ of digestive disturbances.
Your Naturopathic treatment plan will focus on healthy eating habits, detoxification, and supplements to heal the gut and eliminate the symptoms caused by bacterial overgrowth and leaky gut syndrome. Dr. Townsend, ND will provide a nutrition and diet plan that includes the elimination of your allergenic foods. The overall treatment goals will be to eliminate the underlying cause, heal the digestive tract, and stimulate the body’s innate immune response.