A properly functioning digestive system is critical to good health. In fact, problems with your gastro-intestinal (GI) tract can cause more than just stomach aches, gas, bloating, or diarrhea. GI issues may underlie chronic health problems that seem unrelated to digestive health, including weight gain, hair loss or thinning, autoimmune conditions, skin problems, chronic fatigue, and heart disease (to name a few). We also use the 5-R’s Phased Approach (or Process) that the Institute of Functional Medicine refers to as the Five “R” Framework and labs may refer to as the 5R Treatment Protocol. The elements of our 5R-phased approach are described briefly below: