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Causes Of Weight Loss Resistance & Common Digestive Symptoms Resolved Through Functional Lab Testing
Today, we're going to be talking about small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Forty percent of people in the United States have GI issues and boy, can I relate? I used to be one of them after many years, of suffering myself. I finally reached into my pocketbook and reached out to a functional nutritionist and I went through a six step process. Now, years later, I've adapted that process into my own practice.
Digestive issues affect a significant portion of the population. For instance, 15% of people with digestive problems are diagnosed with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). About 20% experience GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), commonly known as acid reflux, at least once a month, while 10% deal with it daily. Chronic acid reflux can lead to Barrett’s esophagus, a precancerous condition.
Unfortunately, the conventional approach to these issues is flawed. Patients are often prescribed proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like Omeprazole or Prevacid. While these medications reduce stomach acid and alleviate symptoms, they also disrupt the stomach’s ability to kill harmful bacteria. This can lead to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).
Interestingly, research shows that 60–70% of people with IBS also have SIBO, indicating a strong correlation between the two. Today, we’ll explore SIBO in more detail—what it is, how it develops, and how to address it naturally.
Now, remember you can make a free call with me over at harmonywithfood.com. There's a big white button that says, free call with Meg and you're going to have to answer a few questions. You'll get like a little survey first and then you go into the calendar, and you find a time that's convenient for you. Before you know it, we're on a phone call together or a zoom call, going a little bit deeper. Then, I send you sample test results so that you can see what is entailed and how long some of these tests are. It's unbelievable some of the information that we can get looking at every single vitamin and mineral from all the B vitamins to magnesium, zinc, vitamin C, the vitamin Ds, all CQ 10. I'm going to take you on a little bit of a travel through what it's like to work with me after you make a free call at harmonywithfood.com. Go over to harmony with food.com and schedule your free call today.
We know about acromantia. We know about the microbiome. We know there are things in your gut that may be causing your weight loss resistance. So we're going to dig deeper.
Understanding Weight loss Resistance
SIBO, weight loss resistance, there are recent studies that are out which say it's not as easy as calories in versus calories out. We are in the 21st century when it comes to nutrition, so we can test to determine exactly what food, drinks, and supplements we should or should not be consuming.
SIBO is a bacterial overgrowth condition that is disruptive and produces unpleasant symptoms. It is increasingly common due to the rise in health problems in general, there are ways to deal with this condition naturally, not with antibiotics. We're going to talk about reasons we want to use herbal antimicrobials and natural things.
The definition of SIBO is as it's the presence of excessive bacteria in the small intestine. Overgrowth is a bacteria that normally lives in the intestinal tract that has overgrown in a location, not meant for so many bacteria. Normal peristalsis and sphincter’s function should move ingested foods and bacteria from the upper digestive tract into the large intestine. Failure to move the bacteria along will allow them to become established and overgrow into the small intestine.
Remember earlier, if you've been diagnosed with IBS and then they stopped there, you may have SIBO. SIBO damages the intestinal lining and creates a state of mild to severe intestinal permeability also known as leaky gut when things are getting into the blood system that shouldn't be and then that's causing all kinds of other problems that can result in the development of food allergies, food sensitivities, chronic inflammatory processes. In addition, some of the risk factors that happen when you do are developing SIBO or you already have SIBO include intestinal obstruction. I had many of those in my time when I was not feeling well. Blockages can cause fever, poor HCL production, hydrochloric acid production, and insufficient pancreatic enzymes.
We need enzymes to digest our food. Amylase helps us digest protein. Lipase helps us produce fat. And so, you could develop diverticulitis. There could be failure of the sphincter and valve function and use of certain medications that cause intestinal dysfunction.
We talked earlier about the PPI doesn’t really solve the problem. They may solve the symptoms, but you need to get to the root cause of the problem. SIBO is a very common digestive tract condition. It is becoming easier to detect due to advancements and accessible testing such as the testing that we do.
It can be frustrating because SIBO symptoms often overlap with other health issues including brain fog, sleep disruptions, fatigue, diarrhea, uh, constipation, bloating, belching, anxiety, abdominal pain, and remember, fix the gut, fix the brain, fix the brain, fix the gut. I haven't met too many people that have GI issues that don't have anxiety. It's like one goes with the other, unfortunately. But once the GI issues are resolved, then the anxiety goes down. Cause now you're feeling more comfortable going places. You're not afraid to get on a plane. You're not afraid to go to a party. You're not worried about your child's wedding that you're going to be at soon. You're not worried about spending the whole day with your grandchild. Or maybe, maybe you have a big event coming up, like a reunion or something that you want to go to. You're afraid that that day is going to be the day it acts up. So, it can also cause abdominal pain, belching, indigestion. According to some research, SIBO can express additional outward symptoms such as anemia, interstitial cystitis, a condition that causes chronic pain and discomfort in the bladder and pelvic, in the pelvic causing frequent urination, restless leg syndrome, mood and behavior disorders, joint pain and stiffness, rosacea, Poly neuropathy.
If any of this resonates with you, go over to harmonywithfood.com. We're going to order those tests. We're going to get going so that in 2025, you can start feeling better. You're sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. So, harmonywithfood.com free call with Meg, right? And then we're going to start the process.
Finding the Root Cause
One in seven people have food sensitivities that they are not aware of. I'm going to say that again. One in seven people have food sensitivities. They're not aware of until they do the testing. So, we're going to get to the root cause of the problem. We want to make sure that we're getting you in the right situation in a progressive manner, it's really an SOP, standard operating procedure, or a health care pathway, which we're going to be talking about later in the show. We're also going to be talking about why I don't think we should be taking antibiotics when there are herbal antimicrobials that can help you get through to this problem that you have, that may be SIBO.
It may be IBS. It may be something else that we see in the test results, we dig much, much deeper, right? So, we know that we always say test don't guess at harmony with food and the bio unique boutique program.
This is why all these other symptoms come about the fatigue, the brain fog, the constipation, the bloating, the belching, the indigestion, right? So additionally, this bacteria overload causes. a lot of unpleasant symptoms. Unfortunately, the guts, micro flora, the micro microorganisms that live in the gut, such as beneficial bacteria, fungi, and viruses can be determining factors for SIBO development.
Additionally, certain species of bacteria may give off toxins, which are called big word alert lipopolysaccharides or endotoxins. When this exists, this can interfere with the gut lining is important to properly target CBO so the body's microbiome can become balanced. Antimicrobial herbs help do this. So, there are different kinds of gas that are methane, hydrogen, or a mixture of both. These bacteria produce these types of gas that can give you all these different symptoms and cause all these different problems. We're going to treat the methane dominant SIBO different than we're going to treat the hydrogen dominant SIBO versus the mixed methane and hydrogen SIBO, um, or just the hydrogen sulfide dominant SIBO.
There's also something called not SIBO, but CFO, S I F O. Oh, it stands for small intestinal fungal overgrowth. That is also known as candida. And again, we can use natural things instead of, um, well, that wouldn't work anyway, but antibiotics, we're going to use natural things, and we have all kinds of different things that I use to get people into this, and there's a six-step process.
To address SIBO and improve gut health, I use a variety of herbal antimicrobials. While I won’t name specific products here to prevent misuse—such as purchasing them from unreliable sources like Amazon—it’s crucial to understand that supplement quality matters. Many supplements sold on Amazon may not be authentic or safe; counterfeit products can mimic reputable brands but might contain harmful fillers, contaminants, or insufficient active ingredients. Always source supplements through trusted providers.
One primary herb I use for treating SIBO has been extensively researched for its antimicrobial properties. It inhibits and kills intestinal microbes, including bacteria, while offering anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and natural antibiotic benefits. Another herb targets both methane- and hydrogen-producing SIBO, effectively alleviating symptoms when used in combination with other herbal treatments. Studies published in journals like Integrative Medicine support these approaches.
In addition to herbs, there are natural foods and supplements with anti-inflammatory properties that reduce bacterial inflammation and oxidative stress. These can help control symptoms and minimize the die-off reaction (Herxheimer reaction), which often occurs during the initial healing phase. While this reaction can temporarily worsen symptoms, patients typically experience significant improvements within 30 days.
We also use specific products derived from herbs like goldenseal to inhibit harmful bacteria without disrupting beneficial gut flora. Other natural options include antimicrobial agents that address bacteria, parasites, and fungi while reducing inflammation. Vitamins and antioxidants strengthen the immune system, while amino acids assist in breaking down biofilms—protective layers that make bacteria harder to treat.
Prebiotics, probiotics, and digestive enzymes play a key role in gut health, along with nutraceuticals that reduce inflammation. While antibiotics are sometimes used for SIBO, they often have limited success. Antibiotics kill both harmful and beneficial bacteria, which is problematic for SIBO patients who already lack sufficient beneficial microbes. This can lead to recurring SIBO. Instead, we focus on increasing beneficial bacteria with targeted prebiotics and probiotics.
Digestive health is foundational to overall wellness. Poor gut health can contribute to headaches, joint pain, constipation, bloating, and other issues. While some conventional GI doctors may dismiss conditions like leaky gut or the role of micronutrients, there are over 16,000 clinical studies on intestinal permeability cited in PubMed. One notable gut microbe, Akkermansia muciniphila, is crucial for metabolic health and weight management. Higher levels of Akkermansia are associated with reduced obesity risk, improved insulin sensitivity, and better glucose control.
To boost Akkermansia and support GLP-1 production—a hormone important for blood glucose regulation and satiety—we use prebiotics and other natural strategies rather than relying on weight-loss medications. By addressing gut health holistically, patients often experience reduced cravings, improved metabolic function, and better overall health.
An Overview of the Process
The process involves a systematic approach:
Remove: Eliminate harmful bacteria with herbal products tailored to the specific overgrowth.
Replace: Introduce enzymes and other supportive elements for proper digestion.
Reinoculate: Rebuild the gut microbiome with beneficial bacteria.
Repair: Heal the gut lining and reduce inflammation.
Rebalance: Support long-term gut health with lifestyle changes.
Maintain: Transition to a sustainable plan with minimal supplements.
The goal is not to rely on numerous supplements indefinitely but to restore your gut health to the point where only minimal maintenance is needed. By improving digestion, enhancing Akkermansia levels, and supporting GLP-1 production, we lay the foundation for long-term wellness. If you’re dealing with GI issues or weight management challenges, the first step is addressing your gut health comprehensively.
How frustrating is it to go into a conventional medical doctor and they're saying, eat less exercise more. And you're like, but I'm sick every day with GI issues. How can, I mean, what I'm eating like a bird as it is, it doesn't have to be this way.
If you're low in certain micronutrients, we're going to have food get high. If you're low in Magnesium, we're going to get you foods that are high in Magnesium. We are going to, if that still doesn't look like it's going to help, we can put you on a supplement, but my goal isn't to get you on 15 supplements like you're doing already, because I know how you think you're taking supplements nilly willy.
The first step was removed. The second step is replaced. Whether we use things like HCL, bitters, digestive enzymes. There's a product called PNPLEX2. It is contraindicated with people that have heartburn or peptic ulcer or gastritis. Then we're going to re-inoculate you with the exact pre and probiotics that you need.
Remember. It's a marathon, not a sprint. Okay. So, you're feeling better. You know we're going to make you feel even better. And we are going to inoculate your GI tract, re inoculate your GI tract with the exact pre and probiotics that you need. Don't go out buying that probiotic that you bought at GNC or wherever, and it didn't really work.
Maybe you're sensitive to that, but you're taking it anyway. cause you heard that you read that blog or you heard that person on the radio, or you saw it on TikTok or whatever. No, we're going to get you on the things you need to repair that gut and get that leaky gut healed and sealed.
Then we go into the rebalance phase. Okay. And balancing lifestyle choices, sleep, stress, et cetera, that affect the GI tract. But in addition to that, we may be giving you something that helps calm your nerves. Um, we might be giving you a psychobiotic. Maybe you're saying your sleep isn't that great. And then we're going There are way more things than melatonin or prescription sleep aids that can help us sleep.
And then the next thing we're going to do is put you on maintenance and we're going to support the intestinal health, regulate the normal digestive function and bowel motility. We're going to support a healthy. balanced immune response. Um, we're going to improve the bowel tonicity and help you with maybe, you know, you still are having that occasional heartburn or something.
Maybe I'm going to give you a tea that has worked wonders for my patients with reflux and GERD. Now these are all natural. That tea is so inexpensive. It's like 6. So, you know, but here's the thing, everything I do, I'm, I tell my patients, please do not go on the Amazon. I use an online supplier, so that's part of the process and the bio unique boutique is you're safe.
You're safe because I'm going to be helping you walking you through every step of the way, but I'm also going to be making sure that you are on the right supplements for you based on the test results, but also you're going to be buying an app on an online apothecary where there is no middleman.
You are going to get the best cure that you've had in a while. And you deserve, you've deserved this for a long time. So go ahead, make a free call with Magnificent at harmonywithfood.com.
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