Category: Gastroenterological Health

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) has been gaining acceptance as an underlying cause of gastro-intestinal symptoms like irritable bowel syndrome. This post goes into the misconceptions around SIBO, how the movement of food plays a part in SIBO, as well as the immune system, the vagus nerve, and food poisoning. What is SIBO? SIBO was first discovered in 1939 but rifaximin was not approved for its treatment until 2015. A landmark study published in 2000 by Pimentel et all at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center put SIBO on the map. It identified SIBO as being present in 78% of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and found that treatment with antibiotics improved symptoms. There is a misconception that SIBO is an infection, when in actuality SIBO is the presence of excess colonic bacteria in the small intestine. In contrast to the large intestine, the concentration of the bacteria in the small intestine rarely exceeds 1,000 organisms/ml. This is because gastric acid secretion and intestinal motility limit the overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. When these protective mechanisms against excessive bacterial growth fail, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) can result. When the Body’s Protective Measures Fail Upon ingestion of food, gastric acids...

Virtually everyone has heard about gluten-free diets. A gluten-free diet is medically necessary for those with celiac disease, an autoimmune condition. It can be thought of as an extreme allergy to gluten. Those with celiac disease incur damage to the intestinal tract when they eat wheat gluten, leading to weight loss, iron deficiency, diarrhea, fatigue, and malabsorption. People also avoid gluten because it gives them unpleasant symptoms or they just want to be healthier. In this post I discuss the real science behind the problem with wheat gluten and inflammation. What is Gluten? Gluten is a mixture of proteins present mostly in wheat, but also in barley, rye and oat. Gluten is the main protein in wheat, constituting approximately 80% of the total proteins in this grain. Gluten is very resistant to digestion. [1] Therefore, some people get bloated when they eat gluten.[2] There are two subtypes of gluten in wheat called gliadin and glutenin. Gliadin is a protein and Glutenin is a protein responsible for the strength in elasticity of bread dough. Gliadin also has four subtypes recognized by the immune system: Alpha-gliadin Beta-gliadin Gamma-gliadin Omega-gliadin It is possible to be allergic to wheat. This is measured through a...

Eosinphilic esophagitis (EoE) has historically been known as a rare allergic condition. However, it is becoming increasingly more common and can occur at any age, from infants to adults. It can manifest with mild symptoms such as occasional difficulty swallowing, throat pain, vomiting, and more serious incidents of food impaction in the esophagus. In this post we'll discuss the symptoms of EoE, how it's diagnosed, and the effectiveness of different treatment options including natural options. What is Eosinphilic Esophagitis? Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic allergy condition characterized by symptoms of esophageal reflux, nausea, stomach pain, and sometimes vomiting. It is diagnosed when an excessive amount of eosinophils are found in esophageal tissue. In recent years, EoE has emerged as a common cause of upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract problems in both children and adults. What are Eosinophils? Eosinophils are white blood cells that are made in the bone marrow and circulate through blood vessels for 8-12 hours. After circulating, eosinophils migrate into a tissue, where they remain for 1-2 weeks. The Role of Eosinophils Eosinophil contain around 200 large granules of enzymes and proteins, which break open and release their toxic contents when the eosinophil is activated. Their function is to...

When it comes to matters of the gut, it can be tough to pinpoint your symptoms and understand what they might be telling you. Two conditions of the intestines that are similar in nature are Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth (SIBO). In this post we’ll highlight the differences between them so you can start to determine which one ails you, or, if it’s actually both. Identifying Irritable Bowel Syndrome IBS is a commonly known syndrome with the following typical symptoms: Abdominal bloating (swelling of the belly) Abdominal pain Diarrhea, constipation, or both It is often a diagnosis of exclusion when conventional gastro-intestinal testing does not find an underlying cause. IBS can be particularly painful. Gas trapped in the large intestine can create significant bloating and pain. Patients with these symptoms may also suffer with bowel urgency, straining or a sense of incomplete evacuation, and the passage of mucus in stools. Symptoms are often made worse by eating. Some patients also report lethargy, nausea, backache, and bladder symptoms. IBS Treatment IBS was first described in 1820 and was given the name Irritable Bowel Syndrome in 1944. Estimates are that 15-45% of the global population may be affected...