Restore Your Digestive Health

A healthy gut is important not only for optimal digestion and absorption of nutrients, but also for the health of the entire body. Getting to the root cause of your digestive symptoms is essential for establishing a targeted treatment plan. The most common digestive concerns I see in practice are those that fit an “IBS” diagnosis (see below for more info). I also treat more complex digestive illnesses in my practice, such as Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain, bloating, gas and diarrhea and/or constipation. It is considered a functional disorder, meaning there is no apparent physical or biochemical cause to explain the symptoms. A diagnosis of IBS is generally made after other gut disorders have been ruled out such as celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease).

Causes of IBS

When treating IBS, it is important to determine the underlying cause of the symptoms.

Common causes can include:

  • Food allergies or sensitivities
  • Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
  • Candida overgrowth
  • Dysbiosis or parasites
  • Malabsorption

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) occurs when bacteria overgrow in areas of the small intestine where they should not be present. Normally the small intestine is a sterile environment with waves of intestinal muscular contraction that flush food and bacteria into the large intestine. Growth of bacteria in the small intestine may result in many different symptoms. These bacteria produce hydrogen and methane gases which can cause the typical gas and bloating seen with IBS. These gases also affect the motility of the bowel; hydrogen gas typically causing diarrhea and methane gas causing constipation. The volume of gas typically correlates with severity of symptoms.

Studies show that anywhere from 40-85% of people diagnosed with IBS, will test positive for SIBO via breath testing. Treatment for SIBO involves the use of herbal or prescription antibiotics, and may also require motility stimulants, probiotics, digestive support and gut healing supplements.

Symptoms of SIBO

  • Diarrhea and/or constipation
  • Abdominal bloating after meals
  • Abdominal discomfort after meals
  • Excessive gas
  • Nausea
  • Heartburn
  • Sensation of fullness and slow digestion

SIBO is confirmed through a lactulose breath test which measures the presence of hydrogen and methane gases in the breath that are produced by bacteria in the small intestine. The test can be repeated after treatment to monitor success of treatment.

Food Sensitivities

Food sensitivities, like food allergies, are an immune mediated reaction to food. Food allergies are IgE mediated immune reactions that cause immediate and sometimes life threatening reactions in the body. Breathing difficulties, anaphylaxis, skin eruptions such as hives, and digestive problems are common signs of a true IgE mediated allergy.

Food sensitivities are a delayed IgG mediated immune reaction. Symptoms can take hours to days to develop, which can make it difficult to determine the food cause without some form of testing. Symptoms of food sensitivities can vary widely and be quite individualized. Food sensitivities can develop at any point in life and are triggered by many different factors.

Symptoms of Food Sensitivities

  • Fatigue
  • Digestive symptoms: gas, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation
  • Chronic skin rashes, acne, itchy skin
  • Weight gain
  • Headaches/migraines
  • Joint pain
  • Mood disturbance
  • Behavioral problems
  • Respiratory problems

Testing Options

Food sensitivities can be identified by one of three ways:

  1. Electrodermal sensitivity testing (vega testing): this is done in office, is non-invasive (no puncturing of the skin), affordable and yields immediate results.
  2. Blood testing: Testing for both IgG and IgE mediated food reactions can be done through a finger prick or blood draw and sent off to a specialized lab for testing. Up to 200 commonly consumed foods can be tested for and results are received within 1-2 weeks.
  3. Elimination and challenge diet:  this involves eliminating the most common allergens for a minimum of 4 weeks or until symptoms resolve. The most common food sensitivities I see in my practice are to dairy, wheat/gluten, eggs, corn, soy, peanuts and tree nuts. Once symptoms have improved, foods can then be challenged one at a time and if symptoms occur on reintroduction, a food sensitivity is suspected.

Dysbiosis

Dysbiosis occurs when there is an imbalance in your gut microflora caused by too few beneficial bacterial and an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria, yeast or parasites. The beneficial bacteria are extremely important for good health. Sometimes we need to simply add in probiotics to support growth of the good bacteria. In other cases, the pathogenic microbes need to be eliminated with natural or prescriptive antimicrobials.

Our gut bacteria perform the following functions:

  • Synthesize vitamin K and essential nutrients
  • Immune modulation and stimulation
  • Inhibit growth of pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria and yeast
  • Aid in breakdown of food and absorption of nutrients
  • Regulate inflammation and maintain a healthy intestinal lining

Factors that contribute to dysbiosis

  • Overseas travel and contaminated food and water
  • Antibiotic use – antibiotics kill both good and bad gut bacteria. However, not all bacteria may be sensitive to the antibiotic. Resistant strains may be left to grow and multiply.
  • Overuse of NSAIDS (aspirin, advil, etc) – can inhibit the growth of healthy bacteria and can cause leaky gut
  • Poor dietary habits – a diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugar can cause an overgrowth of fungus and yeast
  • Chronic stress and elevated hormones can cause an imbalance of gut flora
  • Environment – exposure to a damp climate or mold/fungus in the home
  • Illness

Testing

A full health history can yield important clues that can help to pinpoint any potential dysbiosis. A Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis can give a comprehensive look at digestive function and gut bacteria. A comprehensive microbiology profile and/or parasitology can look for potential pathogens and test for their sensitivity to natural and prescriptive antimicrobials which can help target a specific treatment plan.

The 4R’s of Healing the Gut

This gut healing program is customized based on your unique symptoms and history to determine the root cause of the digestive disturbance.  After an initial consultation and in depth medical history, I will recommend testing for one or more of the above conditions. Once a clear picture has been established, I will develop a personalized treatment plan based on the 4 R program of gut healing.

Remove

This involves removing any allergenic foods or irritants and eliminating any pathogens (bacteria, yeast, parasites) that are present. This may include testing for food sensitivities, SIBO or candida.

Replace

When digestive function is impaired, it is common to see deficiencies in stomach acid, bile and/or pancreatic enzymes. Supporting digestion by replacing any deficiencies and assisting digestion is beneficial while allowing the gut to heal.

Reinoculate

When dysbiosis (microbial imbalance) is present, an essential step to healing the gut is reinoculating with healthy bacteria with high dose probiotics and/or fermented foods.

Repair

Damage to the intestinal lining (a “leaky gut”) can predispose to allergies and autoimmune disease. Healing can be supported by providing key nutrients and herbs to heal the damaged gut lining and decrease inflammation.

Are you ready to get to the root cause of your digestive concerns?

Call the clinic today to book an initial appointment or to schedule a free 10 minute meet and greet.

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