Breakthrough Solutions to Fix Leaky Gut and Resolve Food Sensitivities

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About Gerard Guillory, MD

In this episode, Dr. Gerard Guillory discusses breakthroughs in gut health and food sensitivities. Dr. Guillory shares tips that have helped many patients fix their leaky gut and resolve their inflammatory, autoimmune, digestive complaints and more.

Dr. Guillory has been practicing medicine since 1985, he is the founder of the thriving practice the Care Group PC in Aurora CO.

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Dr. Guillory is a graduate of Louisiana State University School of Medicine He has published 2 books on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) the author of IBS: A Doctor's Plan for Chronic Digestive Troubles 3 Ed: The Definitive Guide to Prevention and Relief and has numerous contemporary articles on health related topics.

Top Books and Resources Discussed in this Episode

Ibs: A Doctor's Plan for Chronic Digestive Troubles

IBS: A Doctor's Plan for Chronic Digestive Troubles 3 Ed: The Definitive Guide to Prevention and Relief by Guillory M.D., M.D. Gerard [Hartley and Marks Publishers, 2001] (Paperback) 3rd Edition [Paperback]

Contact Dr. Guillory

www.thecaregrouppc.com

www.facebook.com/thecaregroup

www.twitter.com/thecaregroup

New study in British Medical Journal finds high milk intake associated with higher mortality, with higher fracture incidence in women.

— The Care Group (@thecaregroup) December 1, 2014

Favorite Nutrient

Vitamin D, probiotics and fish oil (Omega-3 fatty acids)

#1 Health tip

Avoid sugar and processed carbs

Show Notes

4:39 Dr. Guillory’s Gut Health Journey: Dr. Guillory was an allopathic doctor, with an active interest in IBS, irritable bowel syndrome. About 12 years ago he was on an airplane, returning from an international IBS conference. He struck up a conversation with the man next to him who was a pharmaceutical rep. His company produced probiotics. The rep sent Dr. Guillory samples of the probiotics. His patients reported that the results were literally life changing. Later that year he attended his first functional medicine conference. It profoundly changed the way he practices medicine.

7:35 Everything Starts with the Gut Health? Any medical makeover starts in the gut. He gets some pushback from patients who do not feel that they have digestive issues. He puts his patients on a modified elimination diet, encourages them to eat fermented foods, which has increased in nutritive value and seeds the gut with prebiotics, and works to repair the absorptive ability of the gut. Compliance is an issue with dietary changes.

11:48 Antibiotics and Antimicrobial Soaps: You receive a low dose of antimicrobials every day when you eat a non-organic diet, consuming GMOs and pesticides. Antibiotics and antimicrobials kill some of the good bacteria in the gut and opportunistic pathogens take over. Triclosan a pesticide often found in antimicrobial soaps has a goitrogenic effect. (Goitrogens are substances that suppress the function of the thyroid gland by interfering with iodine uptake, which can, as a result, cause an enlargement of the thyroid.) This can happen to healthcare workers and germaphobes who have high exposure to antimicrobial soap.

13:43 Aspartame and MSG Sensitivity: Dr. Guillory advises patients with episodic symptoms to keep a food intake diary. In 1994 he suspected that MSG was causing digestive disturbance. He received a grant and conducted a study which found that MSG exacerbated digestive symptoms, especially bloating. Aspartame and MSG contain closely related amino acids. Both stimulate the same receptor in the brain. Chronic overstimulation of this receptor can cause acute symptoms, but can cause neurodegenerative problems over time. Namenda is a pharmaceutical drug used to treat Alzheimer’s. It blocks that same receptor in the brain that is stimulated by aspartame and MSG. Dr. Guillory’s patients, by the hundreds, have improved their health by eliminating aspartame and MSG from their diets.

17:15 Hidden Sources of Aspartame and MSG: MSG goes by dozens of different names when listed as an ingredient. You practically need to stop eating food that has a label. The best way to avoid it is to eat nutrient dense whole foods.

18:17 How Do You Get People Back in the Kitchen? People are intimidated by cooking whole foods. Dr. Guillory has a nutritionist and chef on staff to help train patients. If you can wash, chop and steam, you are on your way to cooking.

20:01 Dinnertime is Important: It is more than just eating the food. It is about cooking the food, eating it and savoring it. The family gathered together is a spiritual learning experience. In addition, the slower eating and savoring of food helps with digestion, nutrient absorption and gut motility.

21:22 Vitamin D Deficiencies: Vitamin D testing in Dr. Guillory’s practice was only given to high risk individuals. His staff accidently tested a golfing friend for vitamin D levels in the summer when levels should have been high, his were low. Dr. Guillory tested himself and HE was low too at 22. He likes to see his patient’s levels between 60 and 80. He now tests all of his patients.

22:50 Vitamin D Study: Dr. Guillory conducted a study of 24 Colorado firefighters. They checked vitamin D levels and every one was deficient. Firefighters were administered 4,000 mg of vitamin D per day. Participants completed a quality of life questionnaire at the beginning of the study and at its end. All of the firefighters who took the additional vitamin D, felt better at the end of the study. Having adequate levels of vitamin D, is also the best way to prevent respiratory infections.

25:09 Why Are We Deficient in Vitamin D? It may be a function of how far away we are from the equator. Dr. Guillory trained in Louisiana where he never saw a case of multiple sclerosis. The incidence of MS goes up the further away from the equator you are. Many suppose that lack of sunlight and low vitamin D levels predispose us to MS.

25:45 Another Vitamin D Study: A study of an NFL team a few years ago measured vitamin D levels. Eighty percent were deficient. Dark skinned individuals were more at risk. Those with a vitamin D deficiency were twice as likely to have an injury that put them on the sidelines during the course of the season. People associate vitamin D with bone health, but it has a broad spectrum of positive benefits.

26:53 Natural Treatment for Sinus Congestion and Irritation: The first question Dr. Guillory asks of patients who see him for chronic sinus problems is, how much dairy they ingest and, oddly enough, do they eat bananas. Both can be dietary factors in chronic sinus problems. He advocates using saline irrigation in the sinuses. He has instructional videos on his web site.

28:03 Dr. Guillory’s Favorite Supplements: Dr. Guillory’s top supplement to recommend is vitamin D. Be careful with the product you choose. Some are made with corn oil. Many people are sensitive to corn and most corn is GMO. His second pick is good quality fish oil. His third pick is an anti-inflammatory called Zyflamend. Turmeric is the main ingredient. His fourth pick is a probiotic supplement. His fifth pick is a good food based multivitamin. Everything else is tailored to the specific needs of the patient and to assist in specific health optimization.

30:31 Benefits of Fish Oil: Omega 3s lower triglycerides. Triglycerides are a lipid (fat) that is associated with cardiovascular risk. It is the key indicator of lipid health and can reflect whether you have metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance. Dr. Guillory does not find HDL/LDL to be as profound an indicator of health.

32:45 One Health Tip for Americans: Everyone should eat nutrient dense whole foods.