SIBO 101
Gastrointestinal symptoms are one of the most common complaints among Americans, and it seems that more and more people are developing digestive conditions as the years go on. Our digestive systems as a whole are under attack, and no one knows exactly why. However, working in functional medicine I have to wonder if it has to do with the foods consumed in modern day society, the tremendous amounts of pharmaceuticals that come on the market every day, and the daily stress life brings to the table. More and more patients are coming to my practice with SIBO symptoms looking to get to the bottom of what is causing their digestive health issues.
While there are more common digestive conditions such as IBS, Celiac disease, and leaky gut that I frequently see in my practice, SIBO is becoming more prevalent as well. This condition is on the rise as well and may be occurring in those with already diagnosed digestive conditions such as IBS.
What is SIBO?
So, what exactly is SIBO? SIBO stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. This condition occurs when there is excessive bacteria in the small intestine. (1) Our digestive tracts are home to many different bacterium however, the small intestine is not supposed to contain as much bacteria as the colon. When bacteria build up occurs, SIBO may be to blame and SIBO symptoms can occur.
The small intestine is where food combines with digestive juices and then where nutrients go on to be absorbed into our bloodstream. With SIBO, malabsorption can occur. This is especially true for fat-soluble vitamins as well as iron. This malabsorption occurs due to bacteria imbalance which can even lead to damage to the stomach lining if SIBO goes untreated. The bacteria overgrowth can even consume essential nutrients your body needs to thrive.
SIBO Symptoms
There are many symptoms associated with SIBO, and many of them can mimic other gastrointestinal disorders. For this reason, if you have any of the following symptoms it’s best to get tested for SIBO using a SIBO breath test.
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Bloating
- Malnutrition
- Weight loss
- Joint pain
- Fatigue
- Skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and rashes
- Asthma
- Depression
Causes of SIBO
While there is no one exact cause of SIBO, the following conditions are thought to be underlying causes of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth:
- Aging
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Diabetes
- Diverticulosis
- Structural defect in the small intestine
- Injury
- Fistula
- Intestinal lymphoma
- Scleroderma
- Recent abdominal surgeries
- Immune system disorders
- Celiac disease: Can be a major trigger as it leads to poor small intestinal functioning
- The use of certain medications: Immunosuppressant’s, PPI’s
Celiac disease is of particular concern when it comes to SIBO. In fact, a study from the American Journal of Gastroenterology found that 66% of patients who had Celiac disease but followed a gluten-free diet still tested positive for SIBO.
If you have Celiac disease, it may be best to be tested for SIBO as well.
SIBO Complications
Just like with any condition, if SIBO goes untreated, complications could arise. When the bacteria is left to run rampant, malabsorption could occur, as well as deficiencies, especially B12 deficiency. Many people are already at risk of developing a B12 deficiency such as vegetarians, vegans, and those who take proton pump inhibitors or other antacids. SIBO increases the risk even further.
Megaloblastic anemia has also been directly linked to SIBO. It’s critical to treat the bacteria overgrowth as soon as possible to prevent any of these complications from occurring.
Sibo Treatment Options
The most common way to treat SIBO is with antibiotics. However, proper dietary and lifestyle changes are also required for long-term healing. The issue with antibiotic treatment is that antibiotics not only kill the bad bacteria, but they take the good bacteria with it. Treating SIBO only with antibiotics can be difficult.
There are many dietary and supplemental approaches that have been successfully shown to help treat this complex gastrointestinal disease, including:
- A Low-FODMAP diet (not done at the same time as the antimicrobial supplements)
- Consuming small amounts of food at meal times
- Enjoy 5-6 small meals per day
- Avoid overeating
- Antimicrobial supplements
- Probiotic rich foods
- Probiotic supplementation
SIBO Lifestyle Changes
There are certain lifestyle changes someone with SIBO can make to help jumpstart the healing process. Some of these changes include chewing your food thoroughly. It’s important to remember that digestion begins in the mouth so the better you chew your food, the better you assist your body in properly digesting the food you consume.
Next is hydration. With SIBO it's critical to stay hydrated and to manage your stress levels. Regular exercise, yoga, and meditation are excellent ways to help balance the stress that comes with life. The digestive system is significantly impaired with high-stress levels, so stress reduction is a key component when dealing with SIBO.
The SIBO Diet
One of the best ways to treat SIBO is with dietary changes. There is a specific diet approach used to help treat this bacterial overgrowth. The diet is a FODMAP elimination diet.
FODMAPS are foods that are not completely absorbed in the body. These foods can then start fermenting in the digestive tract. This fermentation can lead to more bacteria which can exacerbate SIBO symptoms. Here are some of the foods avoided when first starting the FODMAP elimination diet:
- Fructose
- Lactose: Conventional dairy products
- Fructans: Wheat, garlic, onions, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, artichokes
- Galactans: Brussels sprouts, soy, legumes, cabbage
- Polyols: Xylitol, erythritol, sorbitol, maltitol
During the first phase of the FODMAP elimination diet, some of the foods to enjoy include:
- Grass-fed beef
- Wild caught salmon
- Free range eggs
- Almond milk
- Coconut milk
- Leafy greens
- Squash
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Grapes
- Cantaloupe
- Pineapple
- Strawberries
While the low FODMAP diet is a relatively restricting diet, as the SIBO goes into remission you can add more and more foods to your diet. You would be surprised how much better you will feel once your diet is designed to help your body heal from the bacterial overgrowth.
With that being said, it’s important to understand that diet alone is not always all that’s required to treat SIBO. While a FODMAP diet helps to keep SIBO symptoms under control by starving the bacteria, it does not completely eliminate the bacteria overgrowth. (2) FODMAP diet’s over time can also starve the good bacteria in your large intestine which could cause other health complications.
While treating SIBO, a combination of diet, antimicrobial supplements, probiotics and lifestyle changes are often necessary. At the time of treatment with the antimicrobial supplements, I recommend following a lower carb diet that is not a low FODMAP diet. When using the supplements, you do not want the bacteria to hide because it can be harder to kill. After SIBO treatment, dietary changes will also need to be adapted for a long-term approach to achieving health and wellness. After treating the SIBO, adding some complex carbohydrates back into your diet is often well tolerated, but certain foods may need to be avoided long term. It’s all about finding the right balance for you for long term health.
If you are suffering from weight gain, fatigue, hair loss and more, click here to schedule a phone call with me, so I can find out where you’ve been, where you want to get to, and how I can help you get there.
I know exactly where you are because I’ve been there myself…I remember being so tired that I could barely function. I gained 30 pounds out of nowhere and had a severe case of brain fog. I also started to get severe anxiety and panic attacks. I was driven and motivated…until I wasn’t. I didn’t know what was happening to me. All I wanted was to get my life back…
Finally, I learned about functional medicine and found a practitioner that I hoped could help me. They ran specialized tests that were far different than I had ever had before. When I got the results back, it turned out I had candida, parasites, high cortisol, the Epstein Bar Virus and many food intolerances. I also had an issue with my thyroid that no one found before because they were using the conventional medicine lab ranges which are way too broad….which I now know is one of the leading causes of hypothyroid misdiagnosis.
I went through treatment of all of these things and it completely changed my life. I immediately lost the 30 pounds I had gained plus more, I had a lot more energy, and my brain fog was gone. I felt amazing and knew that I wanted to help people find the underlying causes of their symptoms and disease.
Sources
Dr. Axe. Do You Have SIBO Symptoms? Here is ALL You Need to Know!
Chris Kresser. 2015. Why Diet Alone Is Not Enough to Treat SIBO.
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Heavy Metal Toxicity Symptoms
Did you know that significant exposure to 23 different environmental metals can lead to a heavy metal toxicity? Some of the more common metals include things like lead, mercury, aluminum, and arsenic, and too much exposure can lead to significant health issues. Toxicity can cause damage to the nervous system as well as organs. When you have been exposed to these environmental metals for long periods of time, the damage can be even worse with things like physical, muscular, as well as neurological processes coming into play. Symptoms of these toxicities can resemble Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, as well as Multiple Sclerosis. (1) It’s pretty alarming what these heavy metals can do to the body which is why it’s so important to address potential symptoms and get to the root cause of what may be causing them. Let’s take a look at some of the signs and symptoms of a heavy metal toxicity.
What are the Symptoms of Heavy Metal Toxicity?
There are many different symptoms associated with a heavy metal toxicity. You may have one, more than one, or some of them may pop up at different times. If you have any of the following symptoms, it’s a red flag, and you should speak with a functional medicine practitioner who can offer specific testing and treatment options for metal toxicities. Here are some common symptoms.
- Chronic fatigue
- Autoimmune disease
- Neurological disorders
- Brain Fog
- Depression
- Bi-polar
- Anxiety
- Dementia
- Insomnia
While many symptoms go along with a heavy metal toxicity, the three leading symptoms are chronic fatigue, under-active thyroid, specifically under-conversion of T4 to T3 and anxiety.
Risk Factors
You may be wondering how someone would get a heavy metal toxicity in the first place, and the answer has to do with risk factors. While not everyone may be at a high risk for developing a toxicity, there are certain things that would put you at a greater risk. Here are three common metal toxicities, and potential causes.
Lead Toxicity
- Living in a home or working in an office with lead-based paint
- Having lead-containing plumbing
- Consuming foods grown in lead-rich soil
Mercury Toxicity
- Consuming fish high in mercury or shellfish that’s contaminated with methylmercury. Some fish to watch out for include shark, swordfish, king mackerel, bass, and tuna
- Having dental amalgam fillings
- Breathing in contaminated air in a workplace
Cadmium Toxicity
- Tobacco smoke
- Eating lots of foods that contain cadmium. Examples include grains, legumes, fish, and shellfish
- Contact with cadmium from household products such as batteries and solar panels
Treatment Options
If you are suffering from a heavy metal toxicity, it’s crucial that you get treated as soon as possible, as untreated toxicities can lead to chronic health conditions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Speaking with a functional medicine practitioner can get you on the right path, offering proper testing, and treatment options. Some common testing options include blood tests, urinalysis testing, and hair and nail analysis.
Here are a couple of other ways to kick-start the healing process:
- Remove the toxicity
- Start a detoxification diet
- Stay hydrated
- Avoid farmed fish & limit high mercury fish
- Get tested for food allergies and sensitives and avoid known triggers
- Avoid non-organic foods
- Eliminate foods with additives
- Reduce alcohol consumption
- Add flax and chia seeds to your diet to help detox the colon, and reduce inflammation
- Supplement with probiotics & a cilantro tincture
- Supplement with milk thistle as it helps with liver detoxification
- Speak to a functional medicine practitioner about other detoxification methods
If you are suffering from any health related issues, I am currently accepting new patients. To start the testing process and discover what is driving your health issues and to get on the road to recovery call our office at +1 (866) 498-1958 to schedule your initial consultation. If it is after our normal hours of operation you can click here to leave us a message. Please only leave a message if you would like a call back to schedule a consultation.
Resources:
Dr. Axe. Heavy Metal Detox.
Life Extension. Heavy Metal Detoxification.
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Chronic Fatigue - Can It Be Caused by Heavy Metal Toxicity?
Chronic fatigue is a condition that is talked about more, and more, and something that many patients are headed to the doctor to talk about. Chronic fatigue can be debilitating, and can certainly get in the way of your overall quality of life, but what exactly is classified as chronic fatigue?
Someone would be diagnosed with chronic fatigue if they have been experiencing extreme fatigue for six months or longer. This type of fatigue is one that is not due to any type of underlying medical condition. When I suffered with chronic fatigue, I noticed that it was not relieved by taking a nap. I think that was one of the biggest signs that this is what I was suffering with.
One of the most frustrating things about chronic fatigue syndrome is that it's very difficult to diagnose. Since this condition is not explained by an underlying medical condition, many medical tests are done before a diagnosis can be made. When there is no other medical condition aside from the chronic fatigue, this condition may be suspect.
With chronic fatigue on the rise, and over 1 million Americans suffering each day, chronic fatigue is something we need to take seriously.
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What are the Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue?
Did you know that women are 2-4 times more likely to be diagnosed with chronic fatigue and that this condition can cause anger and anxiety if left untreated? This is why it’s critical to see a functional medicine practitioner if you suffer from any of the following symptoms as they all could be potential red flags of chronic fatigue syndrome.
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Inability to concentrate
- Poor memory or loss of memory
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Headaches
- Chills
- Night sweats
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome or other digestive conditions
What Causes Chronic Fatigue?
There are a number of underlying causes of chronic fatigue, yet many doctors are still unable to directly pinpoint what is causing the chronic fatigue in their patients. Here are some of the common causes.
- Hormonal imbalances
- Viral infections
- Poor immune response
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Low blood pressure
- Mercury toxicity
Most patients with chronic fatigue also have adrenal issues. However, that is not the primary cause. What I do know, is that with my research, and my experience, mercury toxicity is the main cause of chronic fatigue.
Mercury Toxicity & Chronic Fatigue
Mercury is a contaminant commonly found in the environment and can cause a number of unwanted symptoms, and chronic fatigue. Mercury can be found in different forms:
- Organic
- Inorganic
- Elemental
The organic mercury, or methylmercury, is found in the seafood we eat and can cross the blood-brain barrier. Inorganic mercury can be found in things like soaps, beauty products and laxatives and elemental mercury can be found in amalgam fillings in the mouth. As you can see, there are a lot of ways mercury finds its way into the body, and a toxicity is not all that uncommon.
If you want to learn more about mercury and how mercury toxicity is detrimental to health, you can read my article on mercury toxicity.
To truly find out if you have too much mercury in your body, you need to get thorough testing done. I use a test in my practice that analyzes hair, urine and blood to determine if mercury toxicity is an issue. Here is a sample of what the test looks like. Not only does this test analyze what type of mercury you have circulating in the body but also if your kidneys and liver are doing their job of filtering this mercury out.
How to Treat Chronic Fatigue
If mercury toxicity is the underlying cause of chronic fatigue, it’s important to find a functional medicine practitioner, like me, that can diagnose the toxicity and help treat the problem effectively. Treating a mercury toxicity could greatly reduce or even eliminate your chronic fatigue symptoms, here are a few other ways chronic fatigue is commonly treated.
- Get tested for food sensitives and allergy’s
- Get adrenal hormones like cortisol tested
- Get tested for Candida
- Get tested for an H. Pylori infection-H. Pylori is a common chronic fatigue trigger
- Eliminate gluten, sugar, grains, and artificial sweeteners
- Reduce stress levels with meditation, and visualization
- Get at least 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night using supplements like sleep support until you get to the root of the issue
- Boost your Vitamin B intake
- Get tested for viruses like the Epstein Bar Virus that could be causing your fatigue
If you are suffering from weight gain, fatigue, hair loss and more, click here to schedule a phone call with me, so I can find out where you’ve been, where you want to get to, and how I can help you get there.
I know exactly where you are because I’ve been there myself…I remember being so tired that I could barely function. I gained 30 pounds out of nowhere and had a severe case of brain fog. I also started to get severe anxiety and panic attacks. I was driven and motivated…until I wasn’t. I didn’t know what was happening to me. All I wanted was to get my life back…
Finally, I learned about functional medicine and found a practitioner that I hoped could help me. They ran specialized tests that were far different than I had ever had before. When I got the results back, it turned out I had candida, parasites, high cortisol, the Epstein Bar Virus and many food intolerances. I also had an issue with my thyroid that no one found before because they were using the conventional medicine lab ranges which are way too broad….which I now know is one of the leading causes of hypothyroid misdiagnosis.
I went through treatment of all of these things and it completely changed my life. I immediately lost the 30 pounds I had gained plus more, I had a lot more energy, and my brain fog was gone. I felt amazing and knew that I wanted to help people find the underlying causes of their symptoms and disease.
Sources:
Sae-Ron Shin (2012). Improved Chronic Fatigue Symptoms after Removal of Mercury in Patient with Increased Mercury Concentration in Hair Toxic Mineral Assay: A Case.
Dr. Axe. 4 Steps to Overcome Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Human Exposure and Health Effects of Inorganic and Elemental Mercury
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Hashimoto's: The First Steps to Getting Better (Working with Me!)
An estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease. Out of those 20 million, 60% do not even know they have it. Many people walk around with symptoms like:
- Fatigue
- Constipation
- Hair Loss
- High cholesterol
- Unexplained weight gain
- Muscle aches, often in shoulders and hips
- Joint pain
- Feeling cold
- Difficulty becoming pregnant
- A pale, puffy face
- Depression
And just think that it is normal!
Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid and an estimated 90% of hypothyroid patients have Hashimoto’s.
It is hard to know what has caused Hashimoto’s in each patient because it can be a different cause for everyone. Thyroid medication alone is not enough to treat Hashimoto’s. This is why most people taking thyroid medication do not feel like it is helping them. Underlying triggers such as gut infections, HPA-axis dysfunction, blood sugar imbalance, food sensitivities, hormone imbalance, heavy metal toxicity and other contributing factors, must be addressed in order to keep Hashimoto’s at bay.
Many people write me and ask what I do for Hashimoto’s, and many other issues, so I have decided to write this post with the exact details to answer these questions.
How Our Office Works
Phase One: The Initial Consult
The initial phone consult is the first step for all new patients. Identifying the underlying patterns contributing to disease is the key to a successful and lasting outcome. The initial consult serves several purposes. It enables me to more accurately estimate how long your treatment program will last, what testing will need to be done to evaluate your condition very thoroughly, what it will include and how much it will cost. It gives you the chance to ask any questions you may have about your condition and what you should expect. And it provides an opportunity for us to get to know each other, and determine if our clinic is a good fit for you over the long-term.
The exact lab testing ordered after the Initial Consult depends on your individual circumstances, but may include:
- A comprehensive blood chemistry panel. This is the single most efficient, effective and affordable tool for quickly evaluating your health. It screens for a wide range of conditions, including several types of anemia; gut, viral and bacterial infections; insulin resistance and hypoglycemia; liver and kidney issues; and thyroid and adrenal problems. It offers important clues for how to structure and focus your treatment to get the best results. And it provides a baseline of biomarkers that can be used to objectively track the progress of your treatment over time.
- Additional blood tests for specific conditions, such as high cholesterol, hypothyroidism, autoimmune disease, and gluten sensitivity.
- Advanced stool testing to screen for parasites, fungal overgrowth, bacterial infections, intestinal inflammation, dysbiosis and a deficiency of beneficial gut bacteria, since the majority of your immune system lies in your gut.
- Urine organic acids testing to screen for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, fungal overgrowth, problems metabolizing fat or carbohydrate, B-vitamin status, methylation issues, detoxification capacity, oxidative stress, and neurotransmitter metabolism.
- Urine hormone testing for adrenal and sex hormone status.
- Other tests may be ordered, depending on your case, which can identify other triggers like heavy metal toxicity and biotoxin illness.
At the initial consult I will also provide you with a 30 day Hashimoto's reset diet to help start the healing process immediately and remove foods you may be reacting to.
Phase Two: The Case Review
The Case Review Consultation is a 60-75 minute phone, or video appointment. Prior to the consultation, I will review the results from the labs that were ordered. Then I will create a Report of Findings, which is broken into three parts:
- A summary of the underlying patterns that are contributing to your symptoms.
- An outline of the suggested treatment plan, including dietary, supplement and lifestyle recommendations.
- Recommendations for further testing (this will typically be minimal, if necessary at all, because of the completeness of the Case Review process)
I have decided to have a virtual office so that I may help people that are located all over the US and keep the care plan cost as low as possible. Most patients find it very convenient to get on a phone or video conference and avoid driving and long wait times in an office.
Insurance Coverage/Cost of Care
Some of the testing I recommend will be covered by most insurance plans and others will be an out of pocket expense. I will let you know the exact details of what you should expect once I decide what testing will be necessary.
Prognosis
While there is no cure for Hashimoto’s, I can tell you that I have a very high success rate of helping patients feel their best and I will work as hard as I can to help you find out what your underlying causes of disease and symptoms are. Hashimoto’s can be helped greatly when finding out what an individual’s underlying causes are. Getting the disease to go into remission can give you back your quality of life and make you feel like yourself again.
Reading Recommendation
To get started on your own, to support your recovery journey, and to learn more about the Paleo-style anti-inflammatory diet I recommend or if you have Hashimoto’s or another thyroid disease, I recommend reading and following the recommendations in my book, The 30-Day Thyroid Reset Plan: Disarming the 7 Hidden Triggers That are Keeping You Sick. You will learn everything you need to know about thyroid disease. I offer a 30-day plan to improve your health and my favorite thyroid-friendly recipes to nourish your body with delicious meals.
Other Conditions I Work With
Other conditions I work with include, but are not limited to:
- Acne
- Adrenal disorders
- Anxiety
- Autoimmune disease
- Cardiovascular disease
- Chronic fatigue
- Chronic infections
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Digestive disorders (IBD, IBS, GERD/Reflux)
- Eczema/psoriasis
- Elevated cholesterol
- Environmental and food allergies
- Fatigue
- Female disorders (PMS, Menopause, Infertility, PCOS)
- Fibromyalgia
- Hormonal imbalances
- Histamine intolerance
- Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS)
- Mercury and heavy metal toxicity
- Metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes, insulin resistance
- MHTFR genetic mutation
- Migraines and headaches
- MS (Multiple Sclerosis)
- Osteoporosis
- Overweight and obesity
- Sleep disorders and insomnia
- Stress
- Thyroid disorders
Make Your Appointment Today
If you are dealing with symptoms of Hashimoto’s disease, other thyroid issues, or any other chronic symptoms or health issues listed about I invite you to schedule a consultation with me. I can help to identify the root cause of your condition and recommend a personalized treatment plan to repair your body and regain your health and well-being. Schedule your consultation here.
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I look forward to speaking with you!
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Fibromyalgia: What is the Cause?
Today it seems as though more and more people are diagnosed with fibromyalgia. In fact, over 6 million Americans are suffering from fibromyalgia symptoms and most of them are woman. Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes muscle pain in certain points in the body and is accompanied by fatigue. Unfortunately, most patients with fibromyalgia suffer with more than just pain and fatigue. Many people who have fibromyalgia also have:
- Headaches
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Brain fog
- Sleep disorders
- Memory issues
- IBS
- Mood issues
Symptoms sometimes begin after a physical trauma, surgery, infection or significant psychological stress. In other cases, symptoms gradually accumulate over time with no single triggering event (1).
What Causes Fibromyalgia?
There are several theories about the causes of fibromyalgia from hormonal disturbances to stress to genetics. While there is no clear consensus about what causes fibromyalgia, most researchers believe fibromyalgia results not from a single event but from a combination of many physical and emotional stressors. Some have speculated that lower levels of a brain neurotransmitter called serotonin leads to lowered pain thresholds or an increased sensitivity to pain (2).
While I do believe that it may be from a series of different underlying causes, I believe that the most important place to look is in the gut. Here is what research showed in 3 different studies:
- 100% of fibromyalgia patients studied at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles found they had small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) (3)
- 70% of fibromyalgia patients had leaky gut (4)
- A correlation between the gut flora and fibromyalgia (5)
So does fibromyalgia cause gut infections or do gut infections cause fibromyalgia? A study done giving half the patients treatment for SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) and the other half a placebo, showed improvement in fibromyalgia symptoms in the group that received SIBO treatment and no improvement in fibromyalgia symptoms in the group that did not receive the SIBO treatment (6)(7).
While there is neither a definitive nor singular cause for fibromyalgia, it has also been linked to (8):
- Chemical sensitivities
- Food sensitivities
- Spinal misalignments
- Stress
- Poor digestion
- Viruses
- Genetics
Treatment for Fibromyalgia
If leaky gut, SIBO, or any other type of gut infection are in fact one of the underlying causes of your fibromyalgia it is very important to find a functional medicine practitioner that can diagnose and treat this for you properly. Treating gut infections can greatly reduce and possibly eliminate, fibromyalgia symptoms. Other treatment options include:
- Get tested for and eliminating food sensitivities (different from food allergies)
- Eliminate foods like gluten, sugar, artificial sweeteners, grains, pasteurized dairy that is not grass-fed, and caffeine from your diet
- Eat plenty of fermentable fiber like sweet potatoes, yucca etc. and fermentable foods like kefir, sauerkraut, kim chi, etc.
- Try mindfulness meditation to manage stress and relax the body
- Get plenty of sleep (about 8 hours)
- Consider taking a curcumin supplement which is known to reduce inflammation in the body
- Add ginger to food for it’s anti-inflammatory properties
click here for more information.
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Mercury Toxicity
Mercury Toxicity Fast Facts
Mercury is a common environmental contaminant that can be very harmful to our bodies. I am finding this to be the route cause of many symptoms when looking for the underlying causes of chronic illness. Mercury comes in three forms:
- Organic mercury: also known as methylmercury, is the type of mercury found in the seafood we eat. Especially large fish like swordfish, tilefish, shark, tuna, sea bass and king mackerel. This type of mercury has a high absorption rate and the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and hide out in the brain tissue.
- Inorganic mercury: this type of mercury usually enters the body through the skin or orally. It has been found in skin lightening creams, laxatives and soaps.
- Elemental mercury: this form of mercury is found in amalgam or “silver” fillings in the mouth. We inhale small amounts of mercury vapor and it goes into the tissues in our bodies. This can affect the nervous, immune, digestive and respiratory systems in the body.
Symptoms
Mercury toxicity can cause a wide range of symptoms, including but not limited to:
- Anxiety
- Autoimmune disease
- Brain fog
- Cardiovascular disease
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Hair loss
- Hormone dysregulation
- Multiple chemical sensitivities
- Neuropathy
Diagnosis
There are multiple methods of diagnosing mercury toxicity. Some practitioners rely on hair testing alone and others do not believe in using hair to find out accurate levels of mercury. I prefer the mercury tri-test, which looks at mercury in the blood, hair and urine. Dr. Christopher Shade, a mercury and glutathione expert from the University of Illinois created this method.
Treatment
Treatment for mercury toxicity involves building up the glutathione system in our bodies and using key detoxifying agents to remove the mercury from the body. The approach is to gradually introduce these to the body and dose to a high therapeutic level then back down. Dr. Shade’s protocol (which I use in my practice) involves five days on and 2 days off for about 3 months.
Prognosis
Once the mercury has successfully been removed from the body a full recovery can occur. This process alone can cause relief from the symptoms listed or may be paired with other treatments for other underlying causes of these symptoms.
If you are suffering from any health related issues, I am currently accepting new patients. To start the testing process and discover what is driving your health issues and to get on the road to recovery call our office at +1 (866) 498-1958 to schedule your initial consultation. If it is after our normal hours of operation you can click here to leave us a message. Please only leave a message if you would like a call back to schedule a consultation.
Sources:
Nett, A (2014, August). Could Mercury Toxicity Be Causing Your Symptoms? Retrieved from https://chriskresser.com/could-mercury-toxicity-be-causing-your-symptoms/
Mercola, J (2001, March). Mercury Toxicity and Systemic Elimination Elements. Retrieved from http://www.mercola.com/article/mercury/mercury_elimination.htm
Murphy, J (2012). Three Types of Mercury. Retrieved from http://holisticdentistry.ie/three-forms-of-mercury.html
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HPA-Axis Dysfunction - How Stress Can Cause Weight Gain, Fatigue, Sleeplessness and More
To understand this we must first understand what the HPA-axis is and what happens when it is not functioning properly (HPA axis dysfunction). The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is responsible for helping us adapt to stress. In response to stress, cortisol is released for several hours after encountering the stressor. Cortisol is a hormone that is made by the adrenal glands and is best known for its involvement in the fight or flight response. We need cortisol for the body to function properly, but when we are constantly stressed the HPA axis gets desensitized to the negative feedback loop that is necessary telling it to “calm down”, leading to chronic stress on the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and adrenal glands (4).
Adapted from: Wikipedia Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. (2016, August 13)
Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal_axis
What Causes HPA Axis Dysfunction?
It is important to understand that many different aspects of our lifestyle can cause HPA axis dysfunction. Any event that causes wear and tear on the body is a stressor. This can be physiological, emotional, physical, environmental etc. If someone does not feel emotionally stressed and they don’t have any physical stress that they know about, they can still have something like a gut infection or food intolerance that will cause their body stress, therefore causing HPA axis dysfunction.
In the book “The Role of Stress and the HPA Axis in Chronic Disease Management”, Dr. Guilliams talks about the four categories of stressors that lead to chronic HPA Axis dysregulation. There is perceived stress, circadian disruption, glycemic dysregulation, and inflammatory signaling.
Perceived Stress
The HPA axis can easily be triggered by signals outside the body that are non-physical, which the brain perceives as threatening. Things like public speaking, financial and relationship trouble, work stress etc. are called “perceived” stressors because how people perceive the event has the ability to affect HPA axis function.
Circadian Disruption
Circadian rhythms are physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a roughly 24-hour cycle, responding primarily to light and darkness in an organism's environment (2). The HPA axis is intimately tied to the mechanisms controlling circadian rhythm. Unfortunately, most people have the ability to ignore these important cues when choosing their work, social, sleeping and entertainment schedules (1). What this means is that working the night shift and sleeping during the day, not getting enough sunlight during the day, and the use of electronics at night, can lead to HPA axis dysfunction as well as many different metabolic dysfunctions like obesity and insulin resistance.
Glycemic Dysregulation
Glycemic dysregulation is the inability of your body to regulate your blood sugar levels, which can lead to hyper or hypoglycemia. Poor diet, lack of exercise and lack of sleep can not only dysregulate the HPA axis but it can cause glycemic dysregulation. Cortisol is very important for regulating glucose. When stress happens, the body raises cortisol levels and therefor can raise blood sugar levels. The rising epidemic of insulin resistance, obesity, and their related metabolic disorders has a complex cause-and-effect relationship with the increase of stress-related disorders.
Inflammatory Signaling
Cortisol is a powerful anti-inflammatory steroid. When someone has chronic inflammation, his or her body will signal the HPA axis to secrete more cortisol in order to decrease the inflammation. The increase in cortisol downregulates inflammatory pathways within tissues and immune cells through genomic and non-genomic signaling. This suppresses most other immune functions, which explains so many of the side effects of prednisone and other steroid drugs (3). Inflammation from food allergies, obesity, rheumatic diseases, or anywhere can be a HPA axis stressor.
How Do We Support the HPA Axis?
Supporting the HPA axis is extremely important in chronic disease management. It is important to understand that you must support the central nervous system, the adrenal glands and the way in which cortisol signaling functions within the tissue. This is achieved by removing as many known stressors as possible. In addition:
- Stay away from inflammatory foods like gluten, sugar, grains and dairy
- Avoid food sensitivities and allergies
- Get tested and treated for any infections like SIBO, yeast overgrowth etc. that may be causing stress on the body.
- Use tools like mindfulness training and yoga to help with the way you perceive stress.
- Get plenty of sunlight and fresh air during the day and stay away from electronics like TV, cell phones, computers and artificial house lights at night.
- Consider supplementing with adaptogenic herbs, Vitamin C, B vitamins and phosphatidyl serine (I recommend you work with a skilled practitioner to find out which supplements are right for you).
- Have adrenal gland hormones like cortisol, DHEA and sex hormones tested by a skilled practitioner so they can create a specific treatment protocol for you.
If you are suffering from any health related issues, I am currently accepting new patients. To start the testing process and discover what is driving your health issues and to get on the road to recovery call our office at +1 (866) 498-1958 to schedule your initial consultation. If it is after our normal hours of operation you can click here to leave us a message. Please only leave a message if you would like a call back to schedule a consultation.
Sources:
Guilliams, T. The Role of Stress and the HPA Axis in Chronic Disease Management. Point Institute, 2015. Print
Circadian Rhythms Fact Sheet. (2016, April 6).
Kresser, Chris. “HPA-D:Etiology.” Adapt Framework Level 1, kresserinstitute.com
Greenfield, B. (2016) Two Ways Your Brain Breaks and Exactly What You Can Do About It Part 2.
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Body Type - How it Can Be Related to Your Health
Although calories and specific foods can play a major role in weight they are not the only contributing factors, read below to see what else can lead to weight gain.
Many people mistakenly think you can lose weight by just eating fewer calories or exercising more. If only it was that simple! Your body has 6 fat burning hormones and 3 fat storing hormones. Diet and exercise DON’T actually burn fat, they trigger your organs and glands to release hormones that burn fat. This is why some people regardless of their diet and exercise habits gain weight, while others do nothing at all and have the kind of body you dream of. For various reasons, your organs and glands may have become weak or damaged and your body will secrete less fat burning hormones. As a result, there are 4 distinct body types and each type has its unique look and set of symptoms. Over time, as that specific organ and hormone system spiral out of balance, your symptoms can worsen.
The Adrenal Body Type
The adrenal glands are little glands that sit on top of your kidneys and are responsible for the “fight or flight” response. When the adrenal glands are over stimulated they get out of balance and affect your sleep-wake cycle. It often feels as if it is hard to turn off your thoughts and you find it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep despite the fact during the day you feel exhausted.
The adrenal glands are responsible for the release of a stress hormone called cortisol. When the levels of this hormone are elevated, research has shown it can cause weight gain in the midsection, leading to belly fat.
Swelling and rounding of the face, puffy eyes, very dark circles and a double chin can develop because of adrenal dysfunction. The Adrenal Body type can also result in facial hair and swelling of the ankles. It is common if you suffer from the Adrenal Body type to suffer from anxiety and feelings of severe exhaustion. It is also common for the Adrenal body type to rely on caffeine and sweets to get through the day, especially in the afternoon. Once the Adrenals become exhausted you will start having difficulty waking up, concentrating or even remembering simple tasks.
The Liver Body Type
The Liver Body type may suffer from blood sugar issues (like diabetes or insulin resistance), high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol levels. You may also begin to suffer from the accumulation of toxins. These toxins can seep into your joint capsules causing painful joints (arthritis). These toxins can also cause you to suffer from allergies, skin problems, hives and bad body odor. Toxic accumulation can also lead to poor memory, headaches or migraines, and you will often wake up an hour or two before your alarm clock goes off. When you are a Liver Body type, you crave fatty foods, fried foods, and alcohol but feel worse after having them. You may suffer from hemorrhoids, feel the sensation of fullness after eating and burp after meals.
The Thyroid Body Type
It makes hormones that regulate your rate of metabolism. If you are a “Thyroid Body” type, you may notice that you mysteriously gain weight all over your body even though nothing has changed in your life. With the Thyroid Body you can develop sagging skin under the arms, chin or midsection and experience hair loss, especially the outer third of the eyebrows.
When the thyroid isn’t functioning well your body starts to feel cold, especially the hands and feet. In an effort to stay warm you are always wearing extra clothes and even socks to bed. When the thyroid is at fault, your energy levels drop and your legs and arms can start to feel heavy. Many times, if you suffer from thyroid problems, you are more prone to suffer from depression. In an effort to improve your mood and increase your energy you will crave carbohydrates like breads, pastas, crackers, juice, and so on. Unfortunately, eating these foods can make the problem worse.
The Ovary Body Type
When the ovaries are to blame for your problems you will notice signs of hormonal imbalance which include: PMS (premenstrual syndrome), irregular menstrual cycles, early menopause, excessive or absent menstrual cycles and occasional constipation. The Ovary Body type often craves chocolate or dairy products. If you are menopausal, an ovary malfunction can lead to hot flashes and night sweats. You will start to develop “saddlebags” or a “pear” shaped lower half.
If you are suffering from any health related issues, I am currently accepting new patients. To start the testing process and discover what is driving your health issues and to get on the road to recovery call our office at +1 (866) 498-1958 to schedule your initial consultation. If it is after our normal hours of operation you can click here to leave us a message. Please only leave a message if you would like a call back to schedule a consultation.
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Hormone Imbalance-What Can Be Causing It?
Hormone Imbalance Fast Facts
There are many different types of hormones in our bodies like estrogen, progesterone, adrenaline, testosterone, cortisol and insulin. Hormones, also known as chemical messengers, control many processes in the body like reproduction, growth, metabolism, responding to stress and more. Glands like the adrenals, thyroid and pituitary secrete these hormones and any imbalance can cause major health problems.
Symptoms
- -Weight gain, especially belly fat and loss of muscle mass
- -Fatigue
- -Trouble sleeping
- -Anxiety and/or depression
- -Low sex drive
- -Insomnia or un-refreshing sleep
- -Cravings
Some physicians choose to use the replacement model when helping patients who are struggling with hormone imbalance. The replacement model is giving the patient a synthetic or non-synthetic (think progesterone cream) form of whatever hormone they are low in. The problem with this is that it is not really fixing the problem, and can often have dangerous side effects. In the functional medicine model we are looking at the underlying causes of hormone imbalance rather than a replacement model. If you can find what is driving the body not to function properly, your body will do what it is supposed to do on it’s own once the underlying cause has been treated. Some functional medicine practitioners will use a combination of the two approaches if absolutely necessary.
Causes
-Gut issues like bacterial overgrowth can actually cause you to have excess estrogen or estrogen deficiency
-HPA axis dysfunction, which is the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis, regulates your adrenal, thyroid and sex hormones. If you are under stress, your cortisol can be elevated and this can lead to hormone resistance
-Insulin surges, which come from improper blood sugar control, can increase testosterone, which can lead to PCOS and infertility.
-Foods that we eat play a big role in hormone imbalance as well. Growth hormones are given to cattle to make them gain weight faster and produce more milk. This is one of the reasons you see girls going through puberty at a very early age these days.
How to Balance Your Hormones
-Make sure you are eating a diet low in inflammatory foods like:
- Dairy
- Sugar
- Industrial seed oils
- Grains
-Make sure you are eating anti-inflammatory foods like:
- Leafy greens
- Wild caught salmon
- Coconut oil
- Blueberries
-Get your adrenal, thyroid and sex hormones tested properly. There are specific tests that can give you very accurate and detailed values of these hormones. Make sure you receive the proper treatment from your individual results, not everyone needs the same treatment.
-Have thorough testing done to check for gut infections including SIBO and infections like bacterial overgrowth, fungal overgrowth and parasites in the colon.
-Make sure you are getting 7-8 or more hours of sleep per night
Prognosis
Once you can find the underlying cause of hormone imbalance the body will usually rid itself of these symptoms. There may be specific cases where the patient has to use a replacement method along with some of the treatment options listed above. Most of the time I find that patients can have a full recovery using the more natural methods.
If you are suffering from any health related issues, I am currently accepting new patients. To start the testing process and discover what is driving your health issues and to get on the road to recovery call our office at +1 (866) 498-1958 to schedule your initial consultation. If it is after our normal hours of operation you can click here to leave us a message. Please only leave a message if you would like a call back to schedule a consultation.
Sources:
Abbott, J (2015, September). Chemical Messengers: How Hormones Help Us Sleep.
Axe, J (2015) Ten Ways to Balance Hormones Naturally.
Kresser, C (2015, July) What Causes Hormone Imbalance.
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Traveling Diet
How to maintain your healthy diet while traveling.
Think it's possible to have a healthy diet while traveling? Explore with Dr. Becky Campbell the ways of enjoying your trip without sacrificing flavor.
"My patients often ask me how I eat when traveling or choose the right options when eating away from home...it's quite simple actually, research is key when selecting your destination eating location!" Dr. Becky Campbell
I first will always opt for the gluten-free menu. I love color and flavor variety, my advise? Have fun and be adventurous with your pallet!
For Breakfast, I chose an omelette filled with veggies, instead of hash browns or toast I gravitate towards fresh fruit or a side salad.
For lunch, I chose a salad with a lean meat and pack on the flavor with avocado, peppers, onions etc...as a dressing, I ask for olive oil & vinegar, or sometimes a lemon wedge.
For dinner, I went with a lean meat with a starchy vegetable such as sweet potato's or butternut squash. I also pair my meal with a non-starchy vegetable such as asparagus or broccoli.
Join me here in a few weeks where we will be talking about eating on a budget in NYC!
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