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P L E A S E D O N O T D U P L I C AT E O R D I S T R I B U T E T H I S L E C T U R E W I T H O U T P E R M I SS I O N

T H E I N F O R M AT I O N I N T H I S L E C T U R E I S N O T I N T E N D E D T O B E A S U B S T I T U T E F O R M E D I C A L C A R E

Gastrointestinal Imbalance: The Root of Dis-ease

Dr. Holly German

Interesting Facts

You’re not just what you eat, you’re what you ABSORB! Even the healthiest diet doesn’t equal good health unless

the vitamins and minerals are accessible The surface area of the gastrointestinal system is

greater than the surface area of a tennis court!There are over 400 species of microbes living in

your gut, totaling over 15 pounds of mass and containing more bacteria than there are known stars in the sky

Poor digestive health is the #1 “obstacle to cure”

Overview

Symptoms of GI Imbalance DysbiosisLeaky gutCauses of GI imbalance Lab testing Treatments - Optimizing GI health

Symptom Overview – Head to Toe

Fuzzy thinking, poor memory, anxiety, depression, insomnia, fatigue, lethargy

Acne, eczema, mouth sores, bad breath, acid reflux, heart burn, belching

Stomach aches, nausea, bloating, uncomfortable fullness, loss of appetite, constipation, diarrhea, inconsistent bowel movements

Gas, constipation, diarrhea, hemorrhoidsFrequent illness, reduced immune responseThyroid/adrenal imbalance, weight gain

The Brain/Gut Connection

There are more neurons in the small intestine than in the entire spinal cord

The GI system is the only system in the body that has its own, independently operating, nervous system

GI imbalance is OFTEN the underlying factor in depression, anxiety, and more serious mental disorders Conditions aggravated by nutrient depletions – B vitas

A large portion of serotonin is actually created in the gut and the rest of the serotonin that your body creates requires many nutrients to be made

Skin Health

GI tissue and skin tissue are from the same origin

Skin health is a mirror of GI health

Weight Gain

Too many bad bugs and too few good bugs inflammation

Inflammation in GI leads to improper glucose/insulin balance

Cells become desensitized to insulin metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance

Symptoms of metabolic syndrome/insulin resistance – increased appetite, weight gain (and difficulty losing weight), high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides

Immunity

The GI system comprises 75% of the body’s immune system

Causes of GI imbalance

Poor diet Beyond “junk” food Food intolerances – not the initial cause but do make the

imbalance worse Stress

Physical, mental and/or emotional MedicationsEnvironmental Toxins SmokingNervous system/endocrine imbalance – anxiety

fight or flight reponse nutrient malabsorption

Poor Diet

Obvious “junk” foods – sugar, simple carbs, alcohol – all lead to GI imbalance

What works for 1 person does not always work for the next

Excessive caffeine makes the body mimic a stress response impaired digestion

Food Intolerances

Aka Food sensisitiviesIgG immune (long term) reactions

3hours-4 days after consumptionNOT the same as a food allergy – IgA or IgEThe result of GI imbalance or leaky gut and

also an obstacle to GI healing

Stress

Stress state = fight or flight, NOT rest and digest

In stress state, digestion STOPS! Even when you have food in your stomach

fermentation and putrification toxins released into the GI tract

Stress (cortisol) turns off your secretory IgA – your gut immune protection

Medications

Antacids Both over the counter and prescription

Analgesics i.e. Tylenol, Aspirin

Antibiotics Directly or from food (animal) sources

Environmental Toxins

Pesticides in foodChlorine in water

What does bleach do? Kill bacteria – both good and bad bugs!

Filtered H20, chlorine filter on shower

Dysbiosis

Too few good bugs and too many bad bugs in the gut

If the good bugs are killed the bad bugs will take over i.e. candida overgrowth after antibiotics yeast

infections, thrush

Dysbiosis

“Bad” bacteria Always present in small amounts, only problematic

when get out of control Yeast

Candida, geotrichim, rhodotorula H. Pylori

stomach ulcers Intestinal parasites Many lesser known “bad” bacteria

Leaky Gut

Usually arises from a chronic state of GI imbalance and dysbiosis

Some suspect that leaky gut can start very early as a result of maternal stress, cesarean birth, reduced breastfeeding time

The lining of the GI tracts is usually made up of tight junctions, leaky gut is when the tight junctions are impaired and large food particles escape into the blood stream

Linked to many diseases Autoimmune, asthma, hormone imbalance, migraines, GI upset of all

kinds, mood disorders, autistic spectrum disorders, arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic sinusitis, chronic allergies

Often results in MANY food intolerances Leads to overwhelm of detoxification systems and sluggish

liver clearance

Leaky Gut

Lab Diagnostics

Food sensitivity panelStool test – bacteria, yeast, parasitesH. Pylori breath test Lactulose/mannitol urine test Nutrient analysisCeliac’s blood testLactose intolerance Glucose, insulin, hemoglobin A1C

Food Intolerance (IgG) Testing

Stool Test

Comprehensive stool test – sample report http://www.doctorsdata.com/repository.asp?id=2253

Lactulose/Mannitol Test

More info http://www.metametrixinstitute.org/file.axd?file=2011

%2F6%2FPage-426.pdfNormally, mannitol is easily absorbed but lactulose is

not. In leaky gut, both are absorbed and excreted through urine.

Treatment Overview

Remove the cause – medications? Stress?Avoid food intolerances Maximizing nutrition

Nutrient-dense diet, IM, IV, supplementation High dose nutrients essential to heal up leaky gut

Balancing gut bacteria Kill off bad bugs Replenish good bugs

Repairing GI lining

Stress

Don’t eat if you’re stressedTake a few deep breaths before you eat, sit

down, eat calmly, savor your food – be present, take this opportunity to practice gratitude

Chew slowly and completely

Diet

Minimize sugar, processed foods, alcoholAvoid your individual food intolerancesAvoid rancid or bad oils

Don’t cook oils beyond their burn temps Cold pressed and unrefined oils should not be highly

heated (i.e. olive oil)Ensure adequate fiber and bowel transit time

– should be 12-24 hours Test with beets or activated charcoal Fiber supplementation may be necessary

Diet

Emphasize nutrient dense organic foodsMinimize ingestion of foods with the “anti-

nutrient” phytic acid (see handout) Soak grains, nuts, and beans before preparing

Maximize foods with glycosaminoglycans Bone broth – Kitchen Witch Gelatin – Vital Proteins or Great Lakes

Bone Broth

Ingredients: (From WellnessMama.com)2 pounds (or more) of bones from a healthy source2 chicken feet for extra gelatin (optional)1 onion2 carrots2 stalks of celery2 tablespoons Apple Cider VinegarOptional: 1 bunch of parsley, 1 tablespoon or more of sea

salt, 1 teaspoon peppercorns, additional herbs or spices to taste. I also add 2 cloves of garlic for the last 30 minutes of cooking.

You’ll also need a large stock pot to cook the broth in and a strainer to remove the pieces when it is done.

Bone Broth

Instructions (from WellnessMama.com) The first step in preparing to make broth is to gather high quality bones. As I said,

you can find them from sources listed above or save them when you cook. Since we roast chicken at least once a week, I save the carcass for making broth/stock.

I also add, per batch, a bunch of parsley from the garden. Since I make in bulk, I usually use about 4 times the amount of each of these. You can make in any amount, just multiply or divide the recipe up or down.

If you are using raw bones, especially beef bones, it improves flavor to roast them in the oven first. I place them in a roasting pan and roast for 30 minutes at 350.

Then, place the bones in a large stock pot (I use a 5 gallon pot). Pour (filtered) water over the bones and add the vinegar. Let sit for 20-30 minutes in the cool water. The acid helps make the nutrients in the bones more available.

Rough chop and add the vegetables (except the parsley and garlic, if using) to the pot. Add any salt, pepper, spices, or herbs, if using.

Bone Broth

Now, bring the broth to a boil. Once it has reached a vigorous boil, reduce to a simmer and simmer until done. These are the times I simmer for: Beef broth/stock: 48 hours Chicken or poultry broth/stock: 24 hours Fish broth: 8 hours

During the first few hours of simmering, you’ll need to remove the impurities that float to the surface. A frothy/foamy layer will form and it can be easily scooped off with a big spoon. Throw this part away. I typically check it every 20 minutes for the first 2 hours to remove this. Grass-fed and healthy animals will produce much less of this than conventional animals.

During the last 30 minutes, add the garlic and parsley, if using.

Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Strain using a fine metal strainer to remove all the bits of bone and vegetable. When cool enough, store in a gallon size glass jar in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze for later use. The best bone broth will gel when cooled.

Optimizing Digestion

Digestive enzymes before meals Bitter/digestive enhancing herbs before

meals Ginger, chamomile, bitter orange oil, peppermint,

gentian “Sweetish Bitters” by Gaia Bitter greens with meals – arugala, endive, radicchio Apple cider vinegar Lemon water in AM

Nutritional Supplements

May be necessary if absorption is highly compromised

Injections Especially B vitamins

IV therapy

Feeding the good guys

Probiotics Supplement with 5 billion + Take WITH meals + lactoferrin

Inhibits ability of bad bugs to stick to intestinal wall Immune booster Found in colostrum

Sacchromyces boullardi Boosts GI immunity

Probiotics may initially cause gas/bloating – should dissipate after taking for 1-2 weeks

Yogurt, kefir, kombucha, saurkraut, kimchi, miso Food sources often not enough when dysbiosis present

Killing the bad guys

Antimicrobial herbs Goldenseal, artemisia, black walnut, oregano oil,

garlic, pau d’arco, grapefruit seed extractNystatin

Repairing a Leaky Gut

Cannot be done with supplements alone – irritating factors must be removed

Gut building nutrients are usually given in conjunction with an elminiation diet and gut microbe support

Glutamine 500 mg 3x/day

N-Acetyle-D-Glucosamine (NAG) 750 mg 3x/day In bone broth and gelatin

Phosphatidylcholine/Lecithin 150 mg 3x/day

Mucilagenous Herbs Licorice, slippery elm, aloe, marshmallow

Glutathione Repairs leaky gut, supports liver detox Milk thistle, selenium, whey protein, IV very effective

Repairing a Leaky Gut

Abdominal massage Castor oil, essential oils – stimulate MALT and GALT

Gut healing tea 1 tsp gelatin 1 tsp honey or molasses 1 tsp coconut oil and/or ghee 1-2 cups hot tea – tulsi, chamomile, ginger,

peppermint, green tea Blend and drink warm/hot

Resources

Probiotics and Depression http://www.livescience.com/15822-embargoed-probioti

c-bacteria-treat-depression.htmlGut bacteria and weight gain

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1969807,00.html

Levin, Buck, Ph.D., R.D., "Intestinal Permeability and Nutritional Support of Intestinal Integrity", Quarterly Review of Natural Medicine, Summer 1994.

Resources

GAPS dietWeston A. PriceNourishing Traditions cookbook

Contact Info

Questions? Comments? [email protected]

www.DrHollyGerman.com Recipes, Newsletter, etc

www.ThriveNatMed.com

Thrive Natural Medicine Call for a free 15 consultation – 831-515-8699 2840 Park Ave. Ste. A, Soquel