Dr. Alexandra Shustina

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Dr. Alexandra Shustina Manhattan Integrative Gastroenterology is a full service GI practice utilizing a functional medicine

Manhattan Integrative Gastroenterology is a full service digestive disease health and wellness practice. We provide complete digestive care with standard, functional, nutritional, and holistic evaluations in order to get to the core of the problem. Conventional medicine has excelled in advanced diagnostic technology treating acute medical problems and emergencies. Chronic illness has not been adequately addressed with conventional methods. Functional and integrative medicine has been able to tackle chronic conditions in a holistic and safe way. It is therefore, imperative that all modalities are available.

10/07/2026

“It’s just stress” — but stress is physiological, not imaginary 🧠🔗

As a Gastroenterologist, I see this misunderstanding constantly. Patients are told their symptoms are “just stress” as if that means nothing is really happening. In reality, stress triggers real, measurable changes in your body that directly affect your gut.

Here’s what’s actually happening:

🧠 Stress activates your nervous system, releasing hormones like cortisol and neurotransmitters that directly impact gut motility

⚡ This can speed up or slow down digestion — leading to diarrhea, constipation, or both at different times

🔥 Chronic stress increases gut inflammation and can alter your microbiome balance

🔗 Your gut and brain are in constant communication through the gut-brain axis — when one is dysregulated, the other follows

This is why someone can have a “clean” diet, do everything “right,” and still have gut symptoms — because the nervous system hasn’t been addressed.

Stress isn’t a vague explanation. It’s a physiological process with real digestive consequences. And that means it deserves real, targeted treatment — not dismissal.

Root cause healing means treating your nervous system as part of your gut health, not separate from it.

Have you noticed your gut symptoms get worse during stressful periods? Tell me below 👇

10/06/2026

One diet trend I don’t fully agree with? The push for everyone to prioritize high protein 🥩

As a Gastroenterologist , I understand why it’s popular — protein matters, it’s satiating, it supports muscle. But the idea that EVERYONE needs high amounts of it is where I push back.

Here’s the truth: there is no one dietary trend that works for everyone.

🍽️ Diet has to be personalized. What heals one person’s gut can aggravate another’s.

🌾 Many of my patients actually need more fiber, not more protein — and when they chase high-protein trends instead, their gut symptoms get worse, not better.

⚖️ Overemphasizing one macronutrient can crowd out the diversity your gut microbiome actually thrives on.

🧬 Your gut, your history, your nervous system, your lifestyle — these all shape what your body needs. A trend built for the masses was never built for YOU specifically.

Root cause healing means stepping back from blanket rules and asking: what does MY body need, right now, based on MY story?

There is no universal diet. There’s only the diet that’s right for you.

What diet trend have you tried that didn’t actually work for your body? Tell me below 👇

10/05/2026

You’re doing everything “right” — so why aren’t you getting better? 🤔

As a GI doctor, this is one of the most common things I hear: “I’ve seen 5 specialists, I’ve cut out every food, I’m on 10 supplements... and I still feel awful.”

Here’s what’s often happening:

🩺 You’re being treated for a diagnosis, not as an individual. Two people with “IBS” can have completely different root causes — but get the same generic protocol.

🥗 An overly restrictive diet can become its own stressor. Fear around food activates your nervous system, and that alone can worsen gut symptoms.

👩‍⚕️ Seeing too many doctors without a unifying plan often means fragmented care — everyone treating a piece, no one treating the whole picture.

💊 More supplements without a clear reason can add noise your body has to process, not relief it needs.

The missing piece usually isn’t another test or another restriction. It’s looking at YOU — your nervous system, your history, your stress, your whole story — not just your diagnosis.

Root cause healing means treating the person, not the label.

If this is you, you’re not failing. The approach might just need to change.

Does this resonate? Tell me below 👇

10/05/2026

The #1 mistake I see patients make? Thinking more testing + more supplements = more healing 🧪💊

As a GI doctor, I understand the instinct. You’re frustrated, you want answers, so you chase every test and try every supplement that promises relief. But here’s what actually happens:

🔬 More testing often means more conflicting data — not more clarity
💊 More supplements can overwhelm an already stressed gut
🧠 More information without context = more anxiety, not more healing
📉 You lose sight of the basics (sleep, stress, nervous system regulation) while chasing the “next thing”

I’ve had patients come to me with a stack of supplements and a folder of test results, more confused and more symptomatic than when they started.

Root cause healing isn’t about doing MORE. It’s about doing the RIGHT things, in the right order, for YOUR body. Sometimes that means fewer supplements. Sometimes it means pausing testing and addressing your nervous system first. Sometimes less really is more.

Healing isn’t a race to add more. It’s a process of simplifying until what’s left actually works.

Have you ever felt like you were doing “everything” and still not getting better? Tell me below 👇

09/23/2026

Let’s talk about p**p. Yes, really. 💩

Your stool is one of the best daily indicators of gut health. Here’s what “healthy” actually looks like:

✅ Well formed, holds its shape, not loose or hard
✅ Comes out easily, with little to no straining
✅ Feels like a complete evacuation, not like there’s more to go
✅ Doesn’t have an overpowering smell

If your stool is consistently off from this, it’s worth paying attention to. It could be diet, stress, hydration, or something that needs a closer look. 🤍

Your gut is always communicating. This is one way to listen. 👂

Save this so you know what to look for, and tell me below: does your stool usually check these boxes? 👇

⚠️ This is educational content only and not medical advice. See a doctor if you notice persistent changes in your bowel habits.

09/20/2026

Food allergy and food sensitivity sound similar, but they’re very different. 🧪

🚨 Food allergy: an immune reaction that can be serious or life-threatening. Reliable tests exist.
🌿 Food sensitivity: a digestive reaction like bloating, gas, or fatigue. There is no good test for it.

Many at-home “sensitivity tests” aren’t backed by solid science, and they can leave you cutting out foods you don’t need to avoid.

What actually helps? Tuning in to your body, tracking symptoms, and working with a doctor on a structured elimination and reintroduction plan. 🤍

Your gut is talking. Learn to listen. 👂

Save this before you spend money on a sensitivity test, and tell me below: which food do you think bothers your gut? 👇

⚠️ This is educational content only and not medical advice. If you suspect a food allergy, see a doctor. Severe reactions need emergency care.

09/20/2026

As a gastroenterologist, here are 5 foods you will never find in my fridge: 🚫

1️⃣ Regular white bread: refined and stripped of fiber, so it does little to feed your gut bacteria.
2️⃣ Soda: liquid sugar (or artificial sweeteners) with zero nutrition.
3️⃣ Seed oils: highly refined and found in most packaged foods.
4️⃣ Milk: many people struggle to digest it, and it can trigger bloating and gas.
5️⃣ Ultra processed foods: engineered for taste and shelf life, not for your microbiome.

This is what works for my gut. Your body may be different, so pay attention to how food makes you feel. 🤍

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s choosing more real, whole foods most of the time. 🌱

Save this for your next grocery trip, and tell me below: which one would be hardest for you to give up? 👇

⚠️ This is educational content only and not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor before making major changes to your diet.

09/19/2026

As a gastroenterologist, I would not eat a predominantly meat diet. 🥩

Here’s why:

🦠 Your gut bacteria feed on fiber, and fiber comes only from plants.
🌱 Plants feed the bacteria that produce compounds supporting your gut lining.
🥦 A variety of plants supports a more diverse microbiome.
🍽️ When plants are missing, your gut bacteria lose their main food source.

Meat can be part of a balanced diet. But when it crowds out plants, your microbiome pays the price.

Your gut is an ecosystem. Feed it well. 🤍

Save this for your next grocery run, and tell me below: how many different plants did you eat this week? 👇

⚠️ This is educational content only and not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor before making major changes to your diet.

09/19/2026

Antibiotics can save lives. But they can’t tell good bacteria from bad. 🦠

💊 Antibiotics can wipe out large parts of your gut microbiome in days.
🌱 Probiotics add helpful bacteria, but they don’t rebuild everything that was lost.

That’s why healing the gut after antibiotics takes more than a supplement:

🥦 Fiber-rich plant foods
🥒 Fermented foods
😌 Stress support
😴 Sleep and time

Your gut is an ecosystem. It heals when you nourish it, not just replace one piece. 🤍

Save this for the next time you’re prescribed antibiotics, and tell me below: have you noticed changes in your digestion after a course? 👇

⚠️ This is educational content only and not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor before starting or stopping any medication or supplement.

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635 Madison Avenue Suite 1400
New York, NY
10022

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