Good Gut Bad Gut
There is no question that shift work is bad for the gut. Gastrointestinal dysfunction in the form of ulcers, cons-tipation, diarrhea, bloating, excess gas, gastric reflux and intestinal pain are often cited as primary complaints in shift workers and 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. As discussed in previous articles 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.