How it Works
Initial Visit
Laboratory
Testing
Diet & supplement Plan
Follow-Up
& Continued Support
Celebrate Results
Gut Related Conditions Treated:
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) (constipation or diarrhea types)
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Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
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Small Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth (SIFO)
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Irritable Bowel Diseases (IBD) (Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis)
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Diverticulitis
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Parasitic or helminthic infections
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Bacterial infections
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Yeast overgrowth
Causes of Gut Issues:
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Pathogen/ infection (parasitic, bacterial, yeast overgrowth etc.)
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Autoimmune disease
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Dysbiosis: Aberrant type and amount of gut bacteria and yeast.
All of which cause inflammation.
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What is wrong with having these "bad" bugs in our gut?
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They damage the microvilli (lining of gut that look like fingers)
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Create inflammation, nutrient malabsorption and "leaky gut" resulting in brain fog and fatigue.
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Cause undesirable symptoms such as: sugar cravings, bloating, gas, burping, diarrhea and or constipation.
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Signs and Symptoms:
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Cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation, or both.
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Brain fog, fatigue.
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Chronic inflammation can trigger the start of an autoimmune disease.
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Diagnostic paths:
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Full history and physical exam
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Possible laboratory evaluations: Serum, Stool and or Breath Testing.
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Fecal Calprotectin
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Anti Vinculin and Anti CDT B Antibody Tests (serum)​​
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SIBO Breath test for Hydrogen, Methane, hydrogen sulfide gases
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Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase antibody​
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H pylori breath test
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Treatment Approaches:
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Dietary protocol.
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Nutraceuticals where appropriate.
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Medications where appropriate.
"60-80% of all Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is actually SIBO."
SIBO & SIFO
What is SIBO?
Small intestine bacterial overgrowth is a condition where bacteria which are normally found lower in the large intestine have overgrown in the small intestine instead, causing bloating and discomfort.
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What is SIFO?
Small intestinal fungal overgrowth is a condition where candida or yeast have taken over the intestines, often as a result of inadequate good bacteria. This state may be a result of poor dietary choices leading to poor good bacteria and immune compromise.
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Causes of SIBO and or SIFO
Conditions that may predispose someone to SIBO:
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Chronic pancreatitis (SIBO in up to 40%)
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Immunodeficiency (IgA deficiency, AIDS)
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Autoimmune conditions (damage the nerves in the gut, reducing motility, causing bacterial overgrowth).
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Low stomach acid (SIBO increased w/ long term PPI use)
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Liver cirrhosis
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Scleroderma
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Diabetes Melitus
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Motility Disorders/ Slow bowels
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Stress reduces the migrating motor complex, reducing motility.
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Joint hypermobiliy syndromes (Ehlers Danlos, Marfans)
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Food poisoning (from bacterial pathogens such as Campylobacter jejuni, Shigella, E.coli, and Salmonella)
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Anatomical/Structural abnormalities (obstructions, diverticula, fistulae, removal of galbladder (cholecystectomy), gastric bypass, removal of ileocecal valve or Ileocecal valve dysfunction, intrabdominal adhesions, blind loops).
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Elderly (present in up to 90% of 70-94 yo)
Conditions associated with SIBO
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Diabetes (gastroparesis)
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Parkinson's Disease (54% have SIBO15)
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Osteoporosis
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Anemia
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Celiac disease
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Irritable Bowel Disease: (Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis)
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Chronic Liver disease
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Fibromyalgia
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Rosacea
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Cystic fibrosis
Conditions that may predispose someone to SIFO:
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Diabetes Mellitus
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Compromised immune systems
Conditions associated with SIFO:
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Diabetes Mellitus
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THE 4 R PRINCIPLE OF GUT HEALTH
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Why the Low FODMAP Diet is not enough as a stand alone treatment
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The low FODMAP diet is a great way to starve the bacteria that are producing the unwanted gase(s). It can even relieve discomfort, but as soon as you start to challenge the diet and eat soluble fibers, you will experience symptoms all over again. The antimicrobials help keep the bad bacteria at bay while you train and select the good bacteria to stay and crowd out the bad bacteria by reintroducing fiber slowly.
It is also not a sustainable diet and can only be done for a short period of time as it is restrictive and can result in weight loss, and most patients with SIBO are having trouble gaining weight already.
Many doctors (MD's) will recommend this diet to their IBs patients. But without support from a nutritionist and herbal or antibiotic therapy, success rates are low.