Introduction
Have you ever set out on a healthy journey just to find that your gut symptoms get WORSE?
Does not being able to eat healthy foods like vegetables, garlic, onions and grains make you feel frustrated or confused about what to eat?
Is your gut health getting in the way of achieving other health goals, like weight loss?
If you have experienced any of these symptoms, you aren’t alone! Let’s look at my client “Kay” and see how we took her gassy and bloated to eating any food!
Meet Client “Kay”
Kay was trying to have a healthy diet but eating leafy vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats lead to lots of GI Symptoms:
- Gas
- Bloating
- Indigestion
- Heartburn
- Intestinal Distress
Kay was “frustrated and disheartened”. She was trying to do everything right but would end up with worse GI symptoms than ever before.
Finding the Root Cause
We could only make so many diet and lifestyle changes becuase Kay’s gut health symptoms got in the way of being able to make meaningful changes. We were at a standstill. We decided to run a comprehensive stool test to find the root cause of her gut symptoms
Kay’s stool test results explained so much of her symptoms! She had 3 main microbiome imbalances:
1. Low beneficial gut bacteria
Kay had 2 low gut bacteria and 1 bacteria that was under the detectable limit (<dl) aka VERY low. These bacteria are responsible for keeping the proper pH in the gut, decreasing inflammation and maintaining a strong gut barrier/mucus layer.
Many people with low good gut bacteria experience bloating when eating too much fiber, especially when drastically increasing fiber intake. Some people also experience constipation.
Kay’s top symptoms from low good bacteria: gas and bloating
#2. High Overgrowth Bacteria
These bacteria are labeled as “opportunistic bacteria”. Many of us have some of these bacteria present in our gut. However, when they are too high, they can cause GI symptoms and inflammation in the gut.
Kay had 5 opportunistic bacteria that were high! (The refereance range for Methanobacteriaceae has since decreased and Kay’s levels are considered elevated.
Morganella and Psuedomonas strains release inflammatory particles in the gut that can lead to increased inflammation in the gut and systemically in the body. Some people also experience loose stools or cramping from these bacteria.
Methanobacteriaceae bacteria ferment fibers and produce methane gas that cause gas, bloating, GI distention and for some, constipation.
These pattern of high bacteria is indicative of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). Although this test cannot diagnose SIBO, Kay was experiencing SIBO symptoms so this pattern made a lot of sense! When Kay was eating healthy fibers, like garlic, these bacteria would ferment the fiber and produce gas.
Kay’s top symptoms from high opportunistic bacteria: gas, bloating, distention, indigestion, GI distress, worsening symptoms with garlic and other veggies.
#3. High Yeast
Lastly, we found high levels of Candida, a type of yeast and the presence of Rhodotorula, another species of yeast. Candida can cause so many different types of GI and systemic symptoms. These symptoms can include bloating, diarrhea, constipation, sugar cravings, itchy scalp, tongue thrush, heartburn and indigestion.
Kay’s top symptoms from yeast: gas, blaoting, indigestion, heartburn.
Our Protocol
Now that we identified the source of Kay’s bloating and why healthier foods increased he symptoms. We put a plan in place to address the root causes! Her protocol was broken up into 3 parts:
- Remove the bad bacteria with targeted herbal supplements
- Reinoculate the good bacteria with spore probiotics and targeted polyphenol probiotics to help feed the good bacteria without causing symptoms
- Reintroduce healthy foods! This time Kay was able to add these foods into her diet without getting bloated!
Kay’s current symptoms
After our protocol, Kay’s gut symptoms improved drastically!
- No more gas, bloating or indigestion
- Able to eat salads, garlic and healthy foods without symptoms
- Normal bowel movements
- Able to eat healthy to support blood sugar and other health goals
“Tamara helped me understand my digestive system and identified factors that contributed to my inability to process certain foods. She provided a structured, gentle approach that allowed me to rebuild my gut health with minimal discomfort.
I’m beyond grateful for her expertise and support. I no longer experience persistent digestive problems and can enjoy the foods I once had to avoid.”
~Kay
Conclusion
If you are experiencing these same symptoms, you don’t have to accept these symptoms! Finding the root cause of your symptoms and getting a custom protocol from a practitioner can help you get rid of your GI imbalances and freely enjoy food again!
Ready to heal your gut?
Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, lifestyle, or supplement regimen.
