Are Foods Causing Your Symptoms? Understanding Testing Options

Adverse food reactions are very common. If you have health concerns, this article will help you examine whether food might be a cause or contributing factor. What are Adverse Food Reactions? Adverse food reactions can be broadly classified into 2 categories: Sensitivity or Intolerance Time delayed reaction that occurs within hours to days of exposure … Read more

Fiber MGP- the real VIP of fiber!

5% of the population eats enough fiber daily. Fiber goals vary according to age and gender, but should be 25-30 grams a day; ideally from food; not supplements. Most Americans are eating about 15 grams a day. Fiber is important for reducing the risk of colon cancer, diverticulitis, heart disease, diabetes, and constipation. Fiber also … Read more

The Gut-Prostate Connection: How Your Microbiome Affects Urinary Health

Introduction Did you know your gut health plays a crucial role in prostate and urinary health? Research shows that gut imbalances can contribute to prostatitis, UTIs, and prostate enlargement (BPH) by increasing inflammation and disrupting the bladder microbiome. Understanding this connection can help men take a gut-first approach to long-term urinary wellness. How Gut Health … Read more

Heartburn and Discontinuing Acid Blocking Medication

Why Do We Need Strong Stomach Acid?  Five steps to fixing your heartburn:    Step 1 – Manage symptoms  At first, if you are on an acid blocking medicine stay on the lowest dose you can tolerate.  To treat occasional breakthrough heartburn symptoms, choose one at time from this list:   Step 2 – Identify causes of … Read more

PPIs and Dementia Risk

Proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, are a common heartburn relief medicine.  Some examples are Omeprazole (Prilosec), Famotidine (Pepcid) and Pantoprazole (Protonix). While they can be helpful in the short-term, long-term use can throw a wrench in the digestive process. PPIs don’t correct the original problem but mask it while the underlying destructive processes continues. New … Read more

Is it IBS or SIBO?  A New Look at Old Symptoms

It has been estimated that 60-70% of people diagnosed with IBS instead have SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth). Common symptoms of SIBO are bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, restless leg syndrome, interstitial cystitis, brain fog, increasing food sensitivities, hair loss, and anemia.  Sometimes we think of SIBO when patients report that the more fiber and healthy … Read more

Did you know you are a Super Organism?

Every day we carry around 10 times more microbial cells than our own.  As Dr. George Weinstock, professor of microbial genomics says, “You’re not just a human, you’re a kind of super organism because you’re a community of all these things that are with you your whole life”. Our microbial partners carry out a number … Read more