Gut Health: The Hidden Cause of Your Symptoms
How your gut health could be causing your (seemingly unrelated) symptoms
One of the most common—and overlooked—drivers of chronic symptoms is gut dysbiosis, or an imbalance of intestinal bacteria. This imbalance can lead to a wide array of disruptive symptoms that affect not just digestion but overall health and wellbeing.
Why It Matters
Your gut microbiome influences everything from immune function to mental health. An imbalance can create systemic inflammation and contribute to numerous chronic conditions.
The Good News
With the right approach, gut dysbiosis can often be corrected, leading to significant improvements in energy, digestion, and overall health.
Common Symptoms of Gut Dysbiosis
Digestive Issues
- Abdominal pain
- Gas and bloating
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Poorly formed stools
- Acid reflux
Sensitivities
- Food sensitivities
- Food intolerances
- Sensory hypersensitivity
- New allergies
Systemic Symptoms
- Fatigue
- Inflammation
- Brain fog
- Mood disturbances
- Sleep issues
How Do You Know If You Have Dysbiosis?
Two simple, non-invasive clues that often indicate dysbiosis:
- A coated tongue in the morning (particularly at the back)
- Consistently foamy urine
If you notice these signs—especially alongside digestive symptoms—dysbiosis is likely at play.
Diagnostic Testing
While stool tests can provide insight, they often lack consistency and clinical utility. High-quality testing is expensive and frequently does not alter the course of treatment. There are exceptions, but in most cases, symptoms and response to intervention are more telling.
The Foundation: Nutrition
The gut microbiome feeds on what we eat. Reducing bacterial overgrowth often begins with a low-residue, low-fiber diet to limit fermentation and bacterial fuel.
Recommended Foods
- All cuts of meat, poultry, and seafood
- Eggs
- Dairy, if tolerated (e.g. Greek yogurt, cottage cheese)
- Easily digested carbohydrates (e.g. fruit juice, honey, cane sugar)
Foods to Avoid
- Polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), particularly from seed oils
- Food additives like synthetic colors, gums, dyes
- Fortified iron
Special Consideration:
If upper GI symptoms dominate—such as belching, early satiety, or upper abdominal bloating—a low-FODMAP diet may be beneficial short-term.
Diet Expansion
As your gut heals, your diet should expand. Long-term restriction can hinder recovery. Gradually reintroduce:
- Fresh fruit
- Well-cooked potatoes and rice
- Sourdough or other well-fermented grains
- Cooked vegetables
Also: listen to your body. Overeating or undereating can both worsen digestive issues. And never underestimate the importance of enjoying your meals - digestive efficiency improves when we eat pleasurable, satisfying foods.
Meal Timing
Regular meal times support circadian rhythms and gut motility
Fermented Foods
Introduce gradually as tolerated to support microbiome diversity
Hydration
Proper hydration supports digestion and gut barrier function
Comprehensive Treatment Approach
Antimicrobials
Targeting excess or pathogenic microbes is key. In some cases, short courses of low-dose, narrow-spectrum antibiotics can be a game-changer when used judiciously. Natural antimicrobials are often safer and highly effective:
One studied herbal combination for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) includes FC-Cidal + Dysbiocide or Candibactin-AR + Candibactin-BR—proven as effective as rifaximin in clinical trials.
Probiotics
Probiotics are essential for long-term gut repair—but timing matters. In acute dysbiosis, antimicrobials should come first. As balance improves, probiotics become critical:
Benefits:
- Modulate the immune system
- Break down biofilms
- Improve gut motility
- Aid in digestion
Key Probiotic Types:
- Lactobacillus/Bifidobacterium blends
- Saccharomyces boulardii
- Spore-forming species (e.g. Bacillus subtilis)
Effective probiotic use requires strain diversity, consistency, and often co-administration with antimicrobials.
Gut Motility
Proper movement of food through the GI tract is vital. Without it, fermentation increases, inflammation rises, and symptoms worsen.
Support Motility With:
- Coffee
- Cascara sagrada
- Triphala
- Raw carrots
- Certain mushrooms
- Mastic gum
Circadian Rhythm Connection:
Circadian rhythm is one of the most underrated influences on motility. Sleep/wake timing, morning sunlight, and meal timing all regulate gut activity via the vagus nerve—whose function depends on nutrients like:
Stress & Hormonal Balance
Chronic stress is one of the most damaging forces to gut health. It suppresses motility, impairs immunity, and promotes dysbiosis and inflammation.
Key Anti-Stress Nutrients:
Hormonal Considerations:
Hormonal imbalances, especially excess estrogen, also compromise gut function—particularly in women. Estrogen promotes immune cell degranulation and histamine release, both linked to IBS symptoms. In contrast, progesterone and androgens like DHT tend to be protective.
Energy & Metabolism
Digestion is energy-intensive. Without sufficient metabolic function, it becomes impaired at every level—from stomach acid to enzyme secretion to gut immunity.
Improve Energy Production By:
- Optimizing thyroid function
- Supplementing B vitamins and copper
- Avoiding polyunsaturated fats
Thyroid support is especially critical for restoring gut function.
Serotonin & Gut Sensitivity
Most gut serotonin is produced in response to irritation and microbial imbalance. Excess serotonin contributes to:
Modulating serotonin through nutrients and natural compounds—such as ginger, lysine, zinc, vitamins A/D, and certain antihistamines—can be incredibly effective.
Inflammation & Intestinal Barrier
A compromised intestinal lining ("leaky gut") is central to nearly all digestive problems. Healing the gut barrier is essential.
Nutritional Tools for Barrier Repair:
Fungal and Parasitic Infections
Candida and parasitic infections often mimic or overlap with bacterial dysbiosis. Common signs include:
Symptoms:
- Persistent fatigue
- Skin issues
- GI distress
- Itching, especially at night
- Anemia
- Sleep disturbances
Effective Antifungals:
Note: estrogen fosters fungal overgrowth, which is why candida thrives during pregnancy or high-estrogen phases. Modulating hormones is critical.
Short courses of antiparasitic agents like albendazole or ivermectin are low risk and often highly effective.
Final Thoughts
Every gut issue is multifactorial. No single intervention will solve the problem in isolation. True healing requires a comprehensive, systems-level approach:
Reducing inflammation
Restoring motility
Supporting microbial balance
Optimizing circadian function
Repairing intestinal barrier
Addressing metabolic factors
This is the framework we use with every client.
We don't chase symptoms. We identify the root cause - and we build the body back up from the ground.