Slow Motility Isn't a Root Cause. Here's why.
If you've ever been told, "You have slow motility," and left the doctor's office with nothing but a laxative or vague advice to "drink more water" — you’ve been lied to.
Slow motility isn't a real diagnosis. It’s just a label for a symptom. It’s like being told, “You’re tired because you’re fatigued.”
Yeah... not helpful.
So let’s talk about what actually causes slow motility — the real root causes your doctor isn’t testing for.
Because until you treat those, you’ll be stuck in a cycle of supplements, stool softeners, or worse... thinking you’re just broken.
Spoiler: You're not.
Let’s get to the ROOTS.
What Is Slow Motility? (And Why It’s a Problem)
Motility is your gut's ability to move food from point A to point B — from mouth to poop.
When motility slows down, you might feel:
- Constipated (obviously 🫠)
- Bloated — especially after meals
- Acid reflux-y
- Full way too fast
- Gassy with smells that clear a room
Doctors often blame "slow motility" as the cause — but it’s just the result of deeper dysfunctions.
And here’s the truth:
No one is born with slow motility for no reason.
Something is causing it.
Let’s find out what.
Root Cause #1: Low Digestive Enzymes (Not Just Any Supplement Will Do)
If food isn’t breaking down properly, your gut slows down digestion as a protective mechanism.
Three critical digestive secretions can be at play:
- Stomach acid (HCl)
- Bile (from the liver)
- Pancreatic enzymes
Your body doesn’t just “forget” to make these. Each one has its own root cause when it goes low:
- Low stomach acid? Often caused by stress, H. pylori, or zinc deficiency.
- Poor bile flow? Could be liver congestion or fascial adhesions around the bile ducts.
- Weak pancreatic enzymes? Can be due to low stomach acid or physical blockages like adhesions.
So no — your $30 enzyme supplement won’t cut it.
You’ve gotta fix WHY they’re low.
📚 Want help? We cover ALL this in the Better Belly Blueprint.
Root Cause #2: Visceral Adhesions (The Secret Blockage No One Talks About)
Adhesions are like scar tissue — sticky, internal cobwebs that form in your fascia.
They can physically restrict your intestines from moving food along.
That means no matter how many magnesium drinks or probiotics you take... your motility won't budge.
Symptoms of adhesions:
- History of surgery or injury (even old ones)
- Bloating, nausea, or pain when pressing on the abdomen
- Constipation with no clear cause
Most doctors don’t even know to look for this.
Which is why visceral manipulation (a gentle, hands-on therapy to release fascial adhesions) is part of every client protocol inside our programs.
Want to self-assess at home? That’s in Module 4 of the Better Belly Blueprint.
Root Cause #3: Mold Toxicity (Yes, Really)
Mold toxins (mycotoxins) damage your Myoenteric Plexus — your gut’s internal "motor" for moving food.
Symptoms of mold exposure:
- Brain fog
- Sinus issues
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Unexplained fatigue
Even if your house doesn’t smell moldy, it can still be an issue.
Episode 221 of the podcast breaks this down more.
Root Cause #4: Pathogens (The Ones Your Doctor Missed)
Candida, parasites, and bacteria like H. pylori or Blastocystis hominis?
ALL of them can slow down gut motility.
Your doctor’s stool test probably missed them. Most conventional tests aren’t accurate enough.
Instead, we use the GI-MAP and OAT test to catch what others don’t.
Fun fact: Once I cleared Blastocystis, my constipation finally lifted.
Root Cause #5: Nutrient Deficiencies (Not Just Magnesium!)
Magnesium gets all the spotlight.
But slow motility can be caused by:
- Low sodium and potassium (critical for muscle movement)
- Zinc deficiency (needed for stomach acid)
These deficiencies are often missed because no one’s running the right labs.
We use HTMA testing to get a mineral roadmap.
Root Cause #6: Food Sensitivities (Even Without Gut Symptoms)
Inflammation from hidden food sensitivities slows everything down.
And no — you won’t always get stomach symptoms.
You might get:
- Skin issues
- Joint pain
- Fatigue
We use the Zoomer tests (not MRT or Everlywell — they miss stuff) to find true sensitivities.
Details on that? Go listen to Episode 267.
Root Cause #7: Thyroid Dysfunction (Even With Normal Labs)
Most doctors ONLY look at TSH.
But even if your thyroid levels look “normal,” you could still have:
- Low T3 (active thyroid hormone)
- Poor cellular uptake of thyroid hormones
- Low progesterone (which blocks thyroid hormone from working)
All of these slow your gut down.
We dive into this in the next episode of the podcast — and YES, there are fixes that don’t involve meds.
Quick Recap: Real Root Causes of Slow Motility
- Low digestive enzymes (acid, bile, pancreas)
- Visceral adhesions
- Mold toxicity
- Gut pathogens (parasites, candida, H. pylori)
- Nutrient deficiencies (Na, K, Mg, Zn)
- Food sensitivities (inflammatory)
- Thyroid dysfunction
FAQ: What Readers Like You Are Asking
Can slow motility be reversed? Yes — once you identify and address the root cause(s).
What test shows motility issues? There isn’t one single test. We assess symptoms and look at root causes via GI-MAP, OAT, HTMA, and Zoomer.
Does magnesium work for slow motility? Only temporarily — and only for certain types of constipation. It doesn’t address the root.
How do I fix slow motility without laxatives? Start by testing the real root causes. Address adhesions, mold, infections, and nutrient gaps.
Ready to Actually Fix It?
Stop guessing. Start testing. Inside the Better Belly Blueprint, you'll:
- Get exact labs you need
- Learn how to read them
- Build custom protocols that work
No more bandaids. Just real answers.
Written by Allison Jordan, FDN-P
Gut health specialist and founder of Better Belly Therapies.
Helping women ditch bloating, constipation, and reflux — for good.
EPISODES MENTIONED:
- 235// SIBO Symptoms, SIBO Testing, and Why SIBO Treatments Fail
- 90// Fascia 101: The Hidden Force Behind Bloating and Constipation
- 118// LIVER: The #1 Thing You Can Do to Ease Bloating and PMS
- 221// Mold & Constipation: How Toxic Mold Exposure Causes Constipation
- 232// Is Sodium Deficiency Causing Your Bloating and Constipation?
- 40// Reduce Acid Reflux with the Magic Power of Zinc
- 233// H. Pylori: Symptoms of H. Pylori, How to Interpret H. Pylori Test Results, and Why H. Pylori Treatments Fail
- 220// 100 Symptoms Of Mold Exposure + Toxic Mold: How Many Do You Have?
- 236// Parasite Symptoms, Parasite Tests, and Why Parasite Cleanses Fail
- 237// C. Diff. Infection Symptoms, How C. Diff. is Spread, and Why Chronic C. Diff. is Missed
- 267// The Best Food Sensitivity Test for You, with Vibrant Wellness
- 239// Lyme Disease Symptoms and Testing, and The Best Lyme Treatment
- 250// Epstein Barr Virus Symptoms, Testing, and Best EBV Treatment
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