Leaky Gut/SIBO/Celiac
Do you experience bloating, gas, constipation, loose stool, brain fog, fatigue or have antibodies? These are common symptoms that can indicate a leaky gut.
A leaky gut is a digestive condition where the tight intestinal lining breaks down and allows bacteria, food particles and toxins into the bloodstream, which triggers an inflammatory response that can lead to food reactions as well as autoimmune conditions.
Causes of Leaky Gut
The most common causes of leaky gut include concussion, low digestive juices, antibiotic use, infections like H.Pylori or parasites, blood sugar issues, autoimmune antibodies, pregnancy, stress, hormone changes, and high toxin burden. Food allergies can also play a role.
A SIBO is a small intestinal bacterial overgrowth that occurs when the large intestinal bacteria migrate to the small intestine, or you just get an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. It’s the most common cause of bloating, and it causes a leaky gut along with other issues.
Autoimmune disease is simply the body not being able to tell itself from non-self and is never normal. Unfortunately, the bodies’ T memory cells of the immune system make this a permanent issue with remission being the goal. Celiac disease is an autoimmune attack in the small intestine, and Crohn’s disease/inflammatory bowel disease is an autoimmune attack in the large intestine.
What Are Some Symptoms?
Leaky gut can cause various symptoms, including:
- Gas
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Loose stool
- Skin issues such as eczema and psoriasis
- Brain-based issues such as brain fog, mental fatigue, anxiety, depression, and neurocognitive decline
Fixing Your Gut – What to Expect
As a Functional Medicine specialist, Dr. Starling can help repair your gut, get to the root of the issue and teach you to manage your autoimmune condition if it’s present. The first three visits with her, including the initial exam, will be in person, and then you can have follow-up appointments on Zoom if you prefer. The examination is comprehensive, as she will check for the following:
- Food reactions
- Infections like bacteria, virus, parasite, and fungus
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Good bacteria microbiome populations
- Mold or heavy metal exposures
- Blood sugar issues
- Hormones and neurotransmitters
- Detoxification issues
“We have to make sure your brain can talk to your body, that you have the base nutrients you need, and that your neurotransmitters and hormones are all working properly,” said Dr. Starling. She will also run a microbiome or PCR genetic test, where we genetically map what’s living in the microbiome, which is 100 trillion cells.