WILLISTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Health experts say changing your eating habits can have a big impact on a host of common chronic problems.
Vizuri Health Center in Williston is helping patients retrain their bodies to improve their gut health
“I was at a point where I wasn’t getting any success with pain management, and just overall health,” said Dawna Brisson. The Williston woman has been going to the health center for a little over a year to treat chronic pain in her knees, hips, and feet. She never thought improving her gut health would make a difference. “It just kind of amazed me at the fact that it took care of all of my joint pain. I have an incredible amount of energy and I lost weight. It was like, wow.”
Brisson is just one of the many going through the center’s gut health program. Dr. Bill Schenck and his team build a personalized plan for each patient focusing on a three-phase process: Heal and seal the gut lining; detox and clear it out; and rebuild the body.
“One of the neat things about this program is that we change habits. If you can change someone’s habits into a healthy sustainable method, that is what sets the stage for long-term health. The most common thing that people say when they do the program — I feel lighter, I am sleeping better, my energy is coming back,” said Dr. Schenck said.
Using a pulse oximeter, the so-called “Coca pulse test” helps determine foods to avoid. Patients track their heart rate while eating. If their heart rate rises, those foods should be avoided.
Brisson is among patients who have seen a change. “You just don’t realize how much the gut affects your entire body. It’s amazing what a change in what you eat and how you deal with things can make for your body,” she said.