GUT HEALTH
Take care of your gut.
So you ask, “What does ‘take care of your gut’ mean?” Well I will show you what take care of your gut means and the utmost importance to your health in doing so.
First you need to make sure your intestinal epithelial lining is not letting particles and endotoxins through that are not suppose to get through:
So how is this important to my overall health? Leaky gut is when the intestines absorb bacteria, toxins, and undigested food into the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, these materials trigger inflammation and abnormal immune responses.
Research has shown that hyper intestinal permeability (aka Leaky Gut Syndrome) causes chronic low grade systemic inflammation which in turn causes many if not all health issues including depression, ADHD, Anxiety, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome and virtually every autoimmune disease (Asthma, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus Celiac Disease, etc)..
When you are chronically stressed you are stuck in the sympathetic nervous system which is NOT about digesting foods it’s about FIGHT or FLIGHT.
The parasympathetic systems is about REST and DIGEST so you can see how chronic stress affects your gut.
Lifestyle factors for leaky gut include.
- Stress
- Food intolerance (wheat, dairy, corn, etc)
- Sugar
- Alcohol
- Drugs (especially NSAIDs and Proton Pump Inhibitors as in Prilosec, Prevacid, )
- Infections (bacterial, yeast, fungal, viral and parasitic).
- Imbalance of Gut Flora, Small Intestinal Bowel Overgrowth/Small Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth
- Frequently eating highly processed and fast foods
- Other triggers like radiation exposure, poor sleep, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and over exercise.
To heal a leaky gut one needs to manage stress, limit alcohol and sugar, eat a diverse, nutrient-dense (vegetables and fruits), and low-allergy diet, have a good sleep pattern, and protect those friendly microbes in your gut!
Be sure to CHEW your food well before swallowing as this allows the enzymes in your mouth to start breaking down the food so the gut doesn’t have to work as hard to do so.
It is also wise to drink a glass of water a half hour or so BEFORE your meal and limit the water or drink during your meal so you are not diluting your stomach acid.
The Intestinal Permeability Assessment for “Leaky Gut”
Description: The Intestinal Permeability Assessment is an effective and non-invasive assessment of small intestinal absorption and barrier function in the bowel.
This test analyzes urine for the clearance of two non-metabolized sugars, lactulose and mannitol, identifying intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”) and poor absorption.
Both poor absorption and increased leaky gut are associated with chronic gastrointestinal imbalances, as well as many general disorders.
The Intestinal Permeability Assessment gastrointestinal test directly measures the ability of two non-metabolized sugar molecules to permeate the intestinal mucosa.
The patient drinks a premeasured amount of lactulose and mannitol.
The degree of intestinal permeability or malabsorption is reflected in the levels of the two sugars recovered in a urine sample collected over the next 6 hours.
Analytes Tested:
Creatinine
Lactulose
Mannitol
* You can order a HOME COLLECTION LEAKY GUT TEST: CLICK HERE
Listen to “Curing Leaky Gut Syndrome – Michael Klaper MD”.
Here is a study showing how eating oat bran improved symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis
Some of the best supplements to help heal the gut are:
COLOSTRUM
Colostrum helps the newborn gut develop a healthy microbiota. When our gut ecology becomes imbalanced, we experience dysbiosis.
Then the delicate gut lining and associated lymphoid tissue becomes inflamed, leading to altered levels of permeability.
That increased permeability can then result in microbial translocation–or the movement of toxins and gut microbes through the normally tight epithelial barrier of the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream.
Microbial translocation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of HIV, cirrhosis, atopic dermatitis and many other conditions.
Decreased permeability can lead to altered absorption of essential food components, a thickening of the lining, loss of the local villi and subsequent activation of the innate lymphoid cell, as bacteria have direct contact to the lining because of loss or decreased functionality of the mucus layer.
Research shows that bovine colostrum can restore a leaky gut lining to normal permeability levels.
How to Take it: Start slow with 1 teaspoon in the evenings before bed then after a week add 1 teaspoon first thing in the morning after waking up. Take both on an empty stomach.
You can order Colostrum from our STORE
PRO Colostrum-LD®:
* Your highest-ranked soldier in the battle against Intestinal Permeability (Leaky Gut). There is no clear-cut way to avoid gut-antagonists in 2019.
* Myriad of natural growth & immune factors helps return the body to homeostasis; to decrease pain and reinforce the immune system.
* Eliminate gut-based infections; fight bacterial and viral infections. A balanced gut, is a healthy butt!
* Stimulate the endocrine system to provide & continue producing anti-aging hormones. Did you know PRO Colostrum-LD® also makes for a great topical product?
* Increase lean muscle mass and strength; boost metabolism; increase fat burning. FYI: requires a regimen of two extra (2 tsp.) doses of colostrum per day.
* Increase bone mass and density. You have the opportunity to help patients experience the world they live in, longer.
* Accelerate recovery from injuries, wounds, and burns; eliminate topical/skin infections and accelerates healing. Try it out on your next bug bite!
* Create more youthful skin; improves elasticity; reduce age and liver spots.
* Enhance mental focus and concentration.
* Has shown benefits as a natural anti-depressant by increasing serotonin and dopamine production.
PRO Colostrum-LD® is the missing link to optimal health. Today’s dairy products are not as nutrient-rich as they were fifty years ago.
Colostrum provides immune and growth factors that have been over-processed &”ultra-pasteurized” out of our dairy products.
Immune factors, growth factors and hundreds of other bioactives are responsible for the health benefits of colostrum.
Daily bovine colostrum supplementation is an essential asset to maintain good health & wellbeing.
PRO Colostrum-LD is a very good brand. You can order it HERE
BETAINE HCL with Pepsin
Betaine HCL is a hydrochloric acid supplement, which helps increase stomach acid production to improve the digestion, absorption and assimilation of all nutrients, especially protein.
Hydrochloric acid is what our stomach secretes when we consume food but production of it can decrease with age.
The reason why betaine HCL is on our leaky gut supplements list is because low stomach acid is one of the most common causes of leaky gut.
When you aren’t producing enough stomach acid, your body can’t properly digest and absorb the nutrients in the food you that eat.
Not only can this lead to nutrient deficiencies, but it also lets food “linger” in your GI tract, where bacteria can ferment and putrefy it.
If left untreated, these bacteria can set up shop in your small intestine and cause chronic inflammation, leaky gut, and a bacterial overgrowth condition called SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth).
If you have symptoms such as bloating, acid reflux, constipation, and abdominal pain, you could have low stomach acid.
When you have low stomach acid the following can occur: – incomplete triggering of the upper and lower sphincters of stomach, incomplete triggering of pancreas enzymes, incomplete breakdown of food, particularly proteins, much larger proteins thus making their way down gut where the don’t belong causing changes in microbiome, inflammation and potentially leaky gut.
Taking a stomach acid supplement like betaine HCL is a good starting point to help increase your stomach acid production, aid digestion, and improve nutrient absorption.
However, it’s also important to consider why you have low stomach acid in the first place.
Many diet and lifestyle factors can contribute to low stomach acid production, such as frequent antibiotic use, alcohol consumption, a low fiber diet, and chronic stress.
So while taking betaine HCL is helpful for healing leaky gut, it’s only part of the equation when it comes to improving your gut health in the long term.
Here’s the Quick, at Home Way to See if You Have Low Stomach Acid
- Mix 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in 4-6 ounces of cold water first thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything.
- Drink the baking soda solution.
- Time how long it takes you to belch. Time up to five minutes
If you have not belched within five minutes, stop timing.
In theory, if your stomach is producing adequate amounts of stomach acid you’ll likely belch within two to three minutes.
Early and repeated belching may be due to excessive stomach acid (but don’t confuse these burps with small little burps from swallowing air when drinking the solution).
Any belching after 3 minutes indicates a low acid level.
Because the time frames can vary person-to-person, as well as how they drink the solution, this test is only a good indicator that you might want to do more testing to determine your stomach acid.
This test is not 100 % accurate enough to rule out low stomach acid. To rule out low stomach acid, you will need to try the Heidelberg test (done at a Doctor’s office) or Betaine HCL challenge test.
TAKE THE BETAINE HCL CHALLENGE
This simple test can help you determine whether you have the appropriate level of hydrochloric acid in your stomach for optimal digestion.
You should not complete this test, however, if you have ulcers or are currently taking antacid medications.
In the case of the latter, you can try introducing a digestive enzyme supplement containing HCL since it includes a lower dosage of hydrochloric acid (such as Ultrazyme from Douglas Labs).
Instructions:
Begin by taking 1 capsule of betaine hydrochloride (BH) before your largest meal of the day.
You should feel a burning or warming sensation in your stomach or upper abdomen.
You may also feel slightly “acidic,” or as though you have indigestion.
Any reaction of this nature indicates you should stop taking the pills and that your stomach acid is sufficient.
The test is now complete and I recommend repeating it yearly since stomach acid levels tend to decrease with aging as well as stress.
If no reaction is felt after taking the BH, repeat the process the following day with 2 pills before your largest meal.
If you still do not feel anything, continue to increase by one pill per day until you feel any change in your digestive system or you reach the maximum of 14 pills.
Remember, you should feel something after one or two pills – this is normal. Taking more without feeling any response is a definite indication your stomach acid level is low.
Once you reach the point at which you feel the warming or burning sensation it’s important to not cease taking the HCL capsules. In fact, you have just uncovered your level of deficiency.
Simply take one less pill the next day and remain at this number of pills daily until the warming sensation returns. Continue to decrease in this manner by one pill each time you feel the warming sensation. This weaning down process restores your stomach acid levels.
To recap: you will increase steadily by one pill daily until you reach the burning/warming point and slowly wean yourself off the pills by decreasing your dosage by one pill each time the sensation returns.
Be patient and stick with it. This process will ensure you have just the right amount of stomach acid – not too much and not too little –for excellent nutrient absorption, one of the key secrets to looking and feeling your best every day.
You may choose to continue supplementing at each meal (3 times a day) with a digestive enzyme that contains HCL along with enzymes. Choices include: UltraZyme (Douglas Labs); Metagest (Metagenics); Digest (Genestra).
How to Take it: Take a betaine HCL supplement right before each meal or just after you start eating.
You can order it here
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
Be sure to purchase the Organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar (like Bragg’s) which contains “mother,” strands of proteins, digestive enzymes and friendly bacteria that give the product a murky appearance.
Apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting the sugar from apples. This turns them into acetic acid, which is the active ingredient in vinegar.
The acetic acid can kill harmful bacteria or prevent them from multiplying and the acetic acid in apple cider vinegar may help stimulate stomach acid production to help you better digest and absorb nutrients from the food you eat.
How to Take it: Take one tablespoon with 4 oz of water on an empty stomach 10 -15 minutes before each meal. Be sure to swish the mouth with water to avoid any acid on the enamel of the teeth.
You can order Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar in our Shop
L-GLUTAMINE
L-Glutamine is the most common amino acid in your body and a critical building block that your body uses to produce proteins.
It’s so important for the reproduction of cells that researchers have determined should be considered “conditionally essential” when you are suffering from chronic illness or stress.
Researchers are finding that L-Glutamine plays a critical role in healthy digestion and brain function. [1] Glutamine has been shown in studies to protect against mucosal breakdown in the gut. [2] [3]
There are even studies looking into how glutamine can aid in reducing side-effects of chemotherapy treatments. [4]
How to take it: Powder form is the best way to take it and start low at 5 grams a day and work up to 20-40 grams a day.
You can order it from our online professional nutraceuticals store.
PROBIOTICS
Probiotics help repair the tight junctions which allow nutrients and good molecules through into the bloodstream and keep out undigested food particles, toxins, etc..
They overtake bad bacteria, yeast and fungi which can damage the epithelial lining as well as help breakdown food particles to improve digestion.
Recent studies have shown that markers of intestinal permeability decrease dramatically when probiotics are taken!
For example, in this randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study (1), zonulin levels in subjects’ feces were “significantly reduced” after 14 weeks of probiotic use compared to those who didn’t take probiotics.
And since less zonulin means less intestinal permeability, the results indicate probiotics can lead to a healthier intestinal wall.
Probiotics can assist in the secretion of inflammatory mediators, they can support secretion of additional intestinal mucus (the protective layer for your gut lining/wall) and help break down fiber into beneficial short chain fatty acids like butyrate, which is extremely beneficial for your overall health.
Douglas Labs Multi-Probiotic® 40 Billion is one of the best probiotics on the market which many Functional Medicine Doctors use.
It contains 16 beneficial strains of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus cultures, including the clinically researched Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 that supports gastrointestinal and immune function.
Also included in the synbiotic blend is scFOS® prebiotic fiber, which is well tolerated and works synergistically with probiotics to flourish in the intestinal tract.
These probiotics are resistant to both acid and bile and undergo a patented cryoprotectant stabilization process for shelf stability. You can order it here
GI RESTORE
Herbal Demulcents to Help Soothe Irritation of the GI Tract. Helps to Restore Gut Integrity. Heals Leaky Gut.
GI-Restore is a comprehensive formula to help relieve inflammatory conditions of the GI tract and repair the linings of the gut via multiple mechanisms: ORDER HERE
DIGESTIVE ENZYMES
These help break down the food you eat so that your body can absorb the nutrition, vitamins and minerals, and most of all, help reduce big food particles or toxins bombarding your gut lining.
You can order digestive enzymes in our store
BOWEL MOVEMENTS
The type of bowel movements you have can tell a lot about your gut and overall health. Type 4 in the chart below is what one wants to have the majority of the time.
Severe Constipation Type 1 for prolonged periods can lead to many health problems. Constipation is usually defined as having fewer than three bowel movements per week.
Even if you’re going to the bathroom somewhat regularly, trouble passing your stools may be another sign of this condition.
The most popular juice to relieve constipation is prune juice. Each 8-ounce glass contains about 2.6 grams of fiber. That’s about 10 percent of your daily requirement.
While the fiber may bulk up your stools, the sorbitol in the prune juice helps soften them, making them easier to pass. Prune juice is also a good source of vitamin C and iron.
Eating dried plums or prunes is another way to ward off constipation. In fact, one 2011 study suggests that prunes should be considered a first-line therapy when dealing with mild to moderate constipation.
Shop for organic prune juice and prunes in our store.
Type 5 and 6 are classified as “inflammation” so if you have a lot of diarrhea it means you have an inflammatory process going on in your gut.
So be sure to look at your diet and see if you are eating highly inflammatory foods such as dairy, gluten, grains, soy, sugar and corn.
Frequently consuming alcohol and/or NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, etc.) can also cause an inflamed gut. Also make sure you read over our section on the importance of consuming proper amounts of water.
HORMONES
Men and women no longer need suffer the effects of diminished hormone levels and the accompanying onset of degenerative decline and disease.
Blood testing is a powerful tool for assessing hormone status and implementing appropriate therapeutics.
By restoring optimal hormone levels, you can reduce your risk for many of the most common diseases of aging, including life-threatening conditions such as osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, depression and more.
Among the most important hormones to monitor and balance are pregnenolone, free testosterone, estradiol, and DHEA-S (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate), and progesterone.
Additionally, testing should often include thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), as well as total estrogens in women and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in men.
Pregnenolone is called the MOTHER hormones beings all other hormones are made from it so it is VITAL to have it at optimal levels (upper to above normal levels).
Pregnenolone is a precursor to the body’s other naturally occurring hormones, including dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), progesterone, estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol.
Pregnenolone is synthesized directly from cholesterol and is responsible for countless functions in our bodies. By the age of 75, however, the body’s production of this valuable hormone has declined by as much as 60%, and levels of the hormones for which pregnenolone is a precursor have also diminished.
Today, growing numbers of men and women are correcting hormone imbalances using bioidentical hormones.
Doctors are becoming increasingly adept at restoring youthful levels of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and sometimes DHEA, using molecularly identical forms of these hormones.
All too often, however, they leave pregnenolone out of their hormone regimens. Does it seem appropriate to replace only some of the hormones that have declined, when in fact all hormones have important functions in the body?
After all, youthful adults have optimal levels of all hormones, not just a few.
You can order hormone blood testing directly without a Doctor’s visit by using our online Lab Tests. All you have to do is:
- Order your tests online
- Print out the requisition order
- Take it to your nearest LabCorp or Quest Diagnostics
- Get the lab work done and then view your results online and/or print them out and take them to your Doctor.
Click the banner below for our Lab Tests various Hormone Panels
You can order bio-identical hormones from our online store
