The Case: 

 

The Investigation

It was clear that there was something going on with her gut and it seemed likely that dysbiosis was at play. I knew her microbiome needed support but, I also suspected that with everything she’d tried, we needed to approach the solution methodically as there was likely more than one thing going on. 

Gut issues and the state of our microbiome plays a huge role in how we feel physically but it can also seriously impact our mental health, organ health, immune system, and our ability to lose or maintain a healthy weight. 

 

Wheat Belly Author’s Latest Book

When it comes to understanding gut health and addressing Alexandra’s problem, I knew that one of the best people to talk to would be the author of the best selling book, Wheat Belly. Dr. William Davis has a new book out called Super Gut where he addresses exactly what Alexandra is going through. The book also shares a ‘4-week place to reprogram your microbiome, restore health, and lose weight’. 

 

Symptoms of a Disrupted Gut Microbiome

There are many symptoms that could point to a disruption in the microbiome balance. Most people think of the symptoms that Alexandra was experiencing because they are related to the gut itself (bloating, gas, cramping, diarrhea, constipation, etc) but there are many other issues that can be traced back to microbiome disruption. Dr. Davis points to a myriad of issues including, weight gain, skin rashes and eczema, arthritis, pain, inflammation, wrinkles and healthy skin, and sleep health. He also believes that just about every human disease needs to be reconsidered in light of the microbiome.

 

What Causes the Microbiome to be out of Balance?

There are many reasons that the microbiome may be out of balance including use of antibiotics as well as other drugs like stomach acid blocking drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, naproxen diclofenac), synthetic sweeteners (Aspartame, sucralose and saccharin),  emulsifying agents (Sorbate 80, carboxymethyl, and cellulose), and even something as common as stress can disrupt microbiome. 

One condition that is directly related to microbiome health is the silent epidemic of SIBO. 

 

What is SIBO

SIBO stands for Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth. Dr. Davis says that many people have SIBO but go undiagnosed (which can lead to long-term health issues). There is now a breath test that people can do to better understand SIBO and where the bacteria overgrowth is happening, specifically, in the digestive pathway. 

Microbes belong in the colon which has a protective barrier against microbes. When there is an imbalance or overgrowth, microbes can end in the small bowel where the mucus barrier is thinner and can be easily damaged by these misplaced microbes. 

Exposure to antibiotics and emulsifying agents can further erode the lining as well as disrupt the balance of stool microbes like E coli, and citrobacter. These proliferate and offset the balance. And then, these microbes die (within a few hours) and release a lot of byproducts that break down and make it into the bloodstream. This process results in something called endotoxemia which is extremely toxic to humans. With all of this going on internally, it can be difficult to detect but may show up as depression, brain issues, joint swelling or intestinal issues. 

Dr. Davis estimates that 1 in 3 people are dealing with SIBO which can lead to Endotoxemia when untreated. 

 

Testing for SIBO

Conventional doctors can conduct a test for SIBO but Dr. Davis says the method they use does not identify all forms of SIBO. 

One of the early signs of SIBO is the presence of hydrogen gas (produced by the bacteria) within 90 minutes of consuming food. The quicker it shows up, the further up the GI tract the imbalance is occurring. 

Signs we often attribute to food intolerances may in fact be related to SIBO. For example, if you eat black beans and experience bloating, gas, and/or diarrhea in about 30 minutes then it is virtually 100% reliable that you have SIBO. 

Another sign of SIBO is fat malabsorption. If you look in the toilet, you see fat droplets or staining of the toilet where water meets porcelain, this is a sign that you are not absorbing fat and that SIBO may be present.

Dr. Davis says that many diseases can be seen as a symptom of SIBO. For example, he says 84% of people with irritable bowel syndrome have SIBO. People with autoimmune diseases, like Hashimoto's, Crohn’s, UlcerativeColitis, and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as those with neurodegenerative disorders, like Parkinson's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease, Alzheimer's, dementia, cognitive decline, or multiple sclerosis have a high probability of having SIBO. 

 

What is SIFO

It is also possible to have small intestinal fungal overgrowth (SIFO). The trick is that sometimes SIFO looks like SIBO and as a result, they are misdiagnosed. There are about 200 different fungal species that can proliferate in the small intestine. The symptoms of SIFO are tough to distinguish from SIBO but it's typically bloating, diarrhea, skin rashes, eczema, and sugar cravings. 

SIFO can take months to treat. 

 

The SIBO and Endotoxemia Connection to Depression

Dr. Davis says that people who are depressed may get temporary relief from antidepressants but he doesn’t believe this is the long term solution because the real cause may be SIBO endotoxemia. A German research group performed two studies in which they injected endotoxin into the bloodstreams of non-depressed people. The result was profound depression which was identifiable through MRI brain scans. 

Dr. Davis believes that, for many people, depression is a disease of the microbiome.

 

How to Support SIBO

If you talk to your regular doctor or a gastroenterologist, they’ll likely prescribe a course of conventional antibiotics. This is about 40 - 60% effective and can be very expensive. Plus, you run the risk of perpetuating the problem because of the damage the drug may do to the intestinal lining.

There are many herbal remedies that can work as well as the antibiotics and after that,  but Dr. Davis recommends high-potency probiotics that are best delivered through home-made yogurt or fermented foods. 

When supported properly, SIBO can be eradicated and it does not have to take many months.

 

Supporting SIBO with Home-made Probiotic Yogurt

In his book, Super Gut, he has recipes on how to ferment your own yogurt at home using specific bacterial strains. These recipes use the microbes like Lactobacillus Gasseri,  Lactobacillus Reuteri, and Bifidobacterium Infantis (commercially available under the name EVIVO). 

When Dr. Davis makes his own yogurt, he finds he’s getting upwards of two hundred sixty billion counts of bacteria, per half cup serving which is significantly higher than what you might buy as a supplement.

The benefit of this is that the right bacteria (in the yogurt) colonize in the upper GI tract which then releases oxytocin which can improve mood and sleep. 

Another benefit to ingesting these home-made yogurts, according to Dr. Davis is that you may see a reduction in wrinkles (especially when combined with collagen hydrolysates and hyaluronic acid). 

But, the biggest benefit is the oxytocin effect as this can preserve bone health, boost libido and improve sleep (including supporting longer REM sleep periods). 

Dr. Davis provides recipes in his book, Super Gut for various types of home-fermented yogurt and an apple cider drink. 

 

Histamine Intolerance and SIBO

While Dr. Davis recommends fermented foods and drinks as a way to get high levels of probiotics from food; it could cause a problem for those who are histamine-intolerant. In this case, he recommends using herbal antibacterials first before starting fermented foods. The histamine intolerance may be connected to the SIBO, so once that is solved, it may be possible to reintroduce foods with histamines like yogurt and fermented food that contain high levels of probiotics, which may then reset the microbiome, end endotoxemia and deter a recurrence of SIBO.

 

Weight Loss Benefits of Ending Endotoxemia

A study done in  Belgium in 2007 by Dr. Patrice Cani’s group indicated that endotoxemia is a driver in insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is linked to weight gain, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, high triglycerides, coronary disease, cancers, and dementia.

Dr. Davis says “when you get rid of endotoxemia, insulin levels plummet and it allows you to lose weight at a rapid pace.”

 

Mystery Solved

I knew Alexandra needed gut support but to better identify where to start and what to address first, we did a few tests including a stool test, breath test and organic acid test. These tests revealed SIBO as well as an overgrowth of yeast. 

The first step was to do a cleanse to treat the SIBO. We used FC Cidal and Dysbiocide with binder charcoal. 

To deal with the digestive insufficiency revealed in her stool test, she took Betaine HCL and Beta TCP. 

And, to help reset her microbiome, we did as Dr. Davis suggested and included homemade yogurt in her regimen.

We started slowly but once we saw big improvements, we moved to higher dosages. When the gas and bowel issues normalized, we added in Enterovite to help diversify her microbiome even more and started adding new foods (while continuing with fermented foods). 

Alexandra was so pleased with the results. Not only did her digestion improve, she also experiences better moods and more mental clarity.

 

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Alexandra we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life? 

 

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. William Davis. You can pick up his new book Super Gut at most stores and you can connect with him through is website: https://drdavisinfinitehealth.com/

 

Suggested Products:

 

Related Podcast Episodes:

The Case of Daily Bloating and Gas w/ Dr. Seth Osgood Demystifying Food Sensitivities (and What You Can do About Them) 5 Reasons You’re Not Losing Weight

 

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