Category
Digestive Disorders
Postprandial Somnolence: Why a “Food Coma” Happens
What causes a food coma? Read on for a deep dive into the reasons for postprandial somnolence and what to do about it.
Iron-Deficiency Anemia Is Rarely Tested for in IBD but Should Be
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) predisposes patients to developing anemia, a condition that negatively affects quality of life. Unfortunately, doctors do not always test for anemia, and when they do, both the screening and treatment are often incomplete. Read on to learn about the causes of anemia in IBD patients, strategies for managing iron-deficiency anemia, and what Functional Medicine has to offer for IBD patients.
Biofilm: What It Is and How to Treat It
Do you have patients with infections that subside for awhile but then reappear? Bacterial and fungal biofilms might be to blame. Read on to learn about biofilms and how to treat them.
Is There a Gut–Kidney Axis?
Gut got your kidney? Emerging research suggests another gut–organ connection: the gut–kidney axis. Read on to learn how the gut influences kidney function, its role in chronic kidney disease, and how we can manipulate our gut microbes to promote healthy renal function.
Is a Low-FODMAP Diet Best for Digestive Disorders?
Do patients come to you with stubborn digestive disorders? When basic dietary changes aren’t enough, removing certain types of carbohydrates called FODMAPs from the diet may be helpful. Read on to learn the evidence for a low-FODMAP diet, how to implement it, and why it should only be used as a short-term therapeutic strategy.
Eight More Reasons to Avoid Proton Pump Inhibitors
Proton pump inhibitors are routinely used to treat acid reflux, peptic ulcers, and indigestion. Yet it seems that every week, a new study is published showing that PPIs have another nasty side effect. Read on to learn eight more reasons we should avoid using PPIs in clinical practice.
Is IBS a Gut–Brain–Microbiome Axis Disorder?
IBS is an extremely common gastrointestinal disorder that significantly reduces patient quality of life. Treatment options for IBS have long been limited to symptom management. However, a new understanding of IBS has recently emerged, in which a dysfunctional gut–brain–microbiome axis is responsible for the development and progression of the disorder. Read on to learn how a dysregulated gut–brain–microbiome axis promotes IBS and what therapeutic measures can be used to modulate this axis and reverse the course of the disease.
The Gut–Heart Connection
As the prevalence of heart disease continues to rise, researchers are hard at work trying to discover the mechanisms at play. One factor to emerge in recent years is the gut and its associated microbes. Read on to learn how gut ecology can influence heart health and heart disease.
Is Gluten Killing Your Brain?
In the past decade, awareness of the potential harmful effects of gluten has risen exponentially within the medical community and general public. An increasing number of healthcare practitioners are recognizing that celiac disease is just one extreme manifestation of gluten sensitivity and that many other patients may unknowingly be suffering from non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). While non-celiac gluten sensitivity is most often associated with digestive system symptoms, it turns out that this disorder may have equally detrimental effects on the brain. Read on to learn about the relationship between non-celiac gluten sensitivity and the brain and how treatment of this condition may successfully reverse mental health disorders and neurodegenerative disease.
The Little-Known Connection between Leaky Gut, Gluten Intolerance, and Gallbladder Problems
Do you have patients who have trouble digesting fatty foods? Back pain or nausea? A sluggish gallbladder may be to blame. Recent evidence suggests that inflammation in the gut is closely related to gallbladder function. Read on to learn about the gut–biliary connection, how gluten might be involved, and how to get things flowing again.
The Gut–Circadian Rhythm Connection
In past articles, I’ve covered the importance of the circadian rhythm to good health. I’ve also written a lot about the gut microbiome. But you may be surprised to learn that gut bacteria can directly influence your circadian rhythm. Imbalances in your gut can disrupt your circadian rhythm and affect your sleep, hormones, and immune system. Read on to learn more about how these two systems are interconnected and how you can keep your gut and “body clock” happy.
5 Ways to Treat IBS Without Drugs
Irritable bowel syndrome is an extremely common functional digestive disorder that can be difficult to treat. Drugs are often ineffective and can have uncomfortable side effects. These five strategies can help address the root causes of a patient’s symptoms so you can treat IBS safely and effectively.
RHR: New Treatment for SIBO and IBS-C—with Dr. Kenneth Brown
As you know, I treat a lot of patients with gastrointestinal issues. Two of the most challenging conditions to treat are methane-predominant SIBO and constipation-predominant IBS. Join me as I talk with Dr. Kenneth Brown, a practicing physician and clinical researcher who has been specializing in treating these conditions for the past 15 years. We discuss the drawbacks of existing treatments and a new product that Dr. Brown has developed, called Atrantil.
RHR: How to Restore Healthy Gut Flora Over the Long-Term
We received a question about how to restore gut flora and function when unable to tolerate probiotics and fermented foods. This is a great question, it’s one that I get a lot, and it turns out there are several potential reasons why somebody may not be able to tolerate fermented foods or probiotics, and one of them is histamine intolerance.
Breath Testing for SIBO: Limitations and Considerations
Diagnosis of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) has increased considerably in recent years, particularly due to its close association with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Yet the prevalence of SIBO is difficult to determine given methodological issues with testing. Read on to learn the various types of tests available and why breath testing remains the best option for clinical practice, despite its limitations.
3 Reasons Gluten Intolerance May Be More Serious Than Celiac Disease
Recent news stories have downplayed the significance of non-celiac gluten sensitivity, even going as far as suggesting that it doesn’t exist. But a growing body of evidence has proven that gluten intolerance is not only real, but is potentially a much larger problem than celiac disease.
RHR: Pioneering Researcher Alessio Fasano M.D. on Gluten, Autoimmunity & Leaky Gut
It’s an honor to welcome Dr. Alessio Fasano as a guest on the show. Dr. Fasano is globally recognized for his pioneering research in the fields of Celiac disease and gluten intolerance. In 2003, he published the groundbreaking study in the Annals of Medicine that established the prevalence rate of celiac disease at one in 133 people in the U.S – a rate nearly 100 times greater than the previous estimate. He also headed up a team that discovered (in 2000) the ancient molecule zonulin, which regulates the permeability of the intestine and is know known to be a major player in the condition known colloquially as “leaky gut”.
The Dangers of Proton Pump Inhibitors
Proton pump inhibitors rank among the top 10 prescribed classes of drugs and are commonly used to treat acid reflux, indigestion, and peptic ulcers. Although generally assumed to be safe, recent studies have shown that they have numerous side effects, from an altered gut environment and impaired nutrient absorption to an increased risk for cardiovascular events, kidney disease, and dementia.
RHR: SIBO Update—An Interview with Dr. Mark Pimentel
Dr. Pimentel, associate professor of medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, discusses some unanswered questions about small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Find out how he defines SIBO and what is on the horizon for testing and treatment.
SIBO – What Causes It and Why It’s So Hard to Treat
While bacteria are an essential part of a healthy small bowel and perform important functions, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth can lead to leaky gut and a number of other symptoms. Learn the risk factors for SIBO.