Proton Pump Inhibitors Inhibit Necessary Acid Dr. Alethea Fleming, ND Acid-blocking drugs called proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are one of the most commonly prescribed medications in this country (esomeprazole, or Nexium, is consistently in the top 5 every year) and are used to treat gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) or serious heartburn. They can be purchased over the […]
Dr. Emily Chan, ND A leaky gut is not a good thing. For example, a leaking sewer pipe into our water supply is a problem. This article will discuss the one molecule that causes leaky gut. But before that, what symptoms does leaky gut cause? IBS Symptoms (including alternating loose stools and diarrhea) Gas/bloating Poor
Dr. Kim Sanders, ND Many autoimmune diseases are compounded by the presence of leaky gut. By identifying and removing the cause of leaky gut, the immune system may become more balanced. What is leaky gut? Certain autoimmune diseases can be linked to excessive stimulation of the immune system due to increased intestinal permeability, or leaky
Dr. Olisa Mak, ND Gut-bacteria have been known for a long time to have protective effects against many different conditions including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease1, ankylosis spondylitis2, and depression1. The newest research is now bringing to light the mechanistic aspects of these protective effects. In a recent article, researchers found an increase in chemoprotective metabolites that
Dr. Bianca Garilli, ND Humans are Inoculated with Gut Bacteria at Birth Taking into account that the human body is comprised of approximately 10 trillion bacterial cells and only 1 trillion human cells, it’s high time we took these little bugs seriously. As humans, we are inoculated with gut bacteria at birth or, as more recent
Shawn Peters There are many digestive enzyme supplements available on the store shelves and it can be confusing to choose the right one for yourself or your customer. Through my time at working at various health food stores, here are some helpful tips to weed through the confusion. From what I can see, two main
Sophia Smith According to Ayurveda and ancient Chinese medicine, the digestive system is one of the key bodily mechanisms responsible for good health and stable energy. Gastrointestinal disorders hamper nutrient absorption, which is why preventing and remedying chronic gut problems timely is of paramount importance for long-term physical and mental well-being. Certain digestive problems such
Shawn Peters, Naturopathic Medical Student Generally speaking, there are 3 classes of enzymes: metabolic enzymes, food enzymes, and digestive enzymes. Read on to learn more about each one. Metabolic Enzymes Metabolic enzymes are those that facilitate in performing a number of biochemical reactions in the body. Unless one has a condition that affects how a
Dr. Ashley Burkman, ND A novel idea, using probiotics to prevent bacterial disease in our food sources thereby protecting against foodborne illness. Exposure to pathogens residing in our livestock is a direct risk for the development of food poisoning. The overuse of antibiotics in food-producing animals has contributed to the increase in antibiotic resistance and
Dr. Tanya Lee, H.Bsc, ND Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), commonly known as heartburn, is one of the most common symptoms women experience during pregnancy, with its prevalence reaching up to 80%.1,2 The reasons why this symptom is so common in pregnancy is due to increased pressure in the stomach by the growing baby, causing the
