Clinical Imbalances

Gastro-intestinal | Immunological | Osteoporosis | Yeast Overgrowth

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Gastrointestinal Health

Why the digestive system is so important?

The health of your gut determines what nutrients are absorbed and what toxins, allergens, and microbes are kept out. It is directly linked to the health of your entire body. Your entire immune system -- and the rest of your body -- is protected from the toxic environment in your gut by a lining that is only ONE cell-thick layer. In the healthy state, this thin lining normally only allows only properly digested fats, proteins, and starches pass through and enter the bloodstream. Additionally, the intestines have to help get rid of all the toxins produced as byproducts of metabolism which the liver sends to the gut in the form of bile. A healthy digestive system is absolutely critical for your health.

'Bugs' and your gut

There are 'bugs' in your gut that form an important community critical for good health. They form a biologic 'chemical factory' that helps you digest your food, regulate hormones, excrete toxins, enhance your immunity and produce vitamins and other healing compounds that keep your gut and your body functioning. This ecosystem of friendly bacteria is an important defense system and must be in balance to maintain your health.

When there is an imbalance between the friendly bacteria and unfriendly (a condition called dysbiosis), serious health issues can arise. Too many of the wrong bacteria, like parasites and yeasts, can contribute to: nutrient deficiencies, allergies, infection, cancer, toxicity, and impaired metabolism. Keeping your 'good bugs' balanced in a central part of optimal gut health. The most damaging thing that happens is inflammation in the gut. Many prostaglandins (causing inflammation) and interleukins are made in a dysbiotic gut and elevated levels cause sore joints, headache, skin disorders, allergies and many other inflammatory disorders.

What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?

Numerous insults to our digestive systems arise daily as a consequence of living in an industrialized western society. This results in damage to the thin one-cell thick layer protecting the inside world of the body from the outside world of your gut. This damaged barrier then acts like a sieve, allowing unwanted larger molecules in the intestines such as partially digested food, toxins, and bacteria to pass through into the blood. These unwanted substances are seen by the immune system as foreign (because they aren't normally present in blood). This triggers an antibody and cytokine reaction. You will begin producing inflammation and irritation throughout your body and you can become allergic to foods you may normally be able to digest perfectly well. This condition is known as leaky gut syndrome.

Most of us (including most doctors) do not recognize or know that digestive problems wreak havoc in the entire body, leading to allergies, arthritis, autoimmune disease, rashes, acne, chronic fatigue, mood disorders, autism, dementia, cancer, and more.

In fact, many diseases that seem to be totally unrelated to the gut -- such as eczema or psoriasis or arthritis -- are actually CAUSED by gut problems.

Leaky gut syndrome is associated with the following conditions:

• Autoimmune disease
• Celiac disease
• Crohn's disease
• Environmental illness
• Hives
• Acne
• Allergies
• Inflammatory joint disease / arthritis
• Intestinal infections
• Pancreatic insufficiency
• Ulcerative colitis
• Giardia
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Food allergies and sensitivities
• Liver dysfunction
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Irritable bowel syndrome

What causes Leaky Gut Syndrome?

It is thought that the following issues can cause this ailment:

• Diet - Low-fiber, high-sugar, processed, nutrient-poor, high-calorie diet, which causes all the wrong bacteria and yeast to grow in our gut and damages the delicate ecosystem in your intestines.
• Medications - Overuse of medications that damage the gut or block normal digestive function - such as acid blockers (Prilosec, Nexium, etc.), anti-inflammatory medication (aspirin, Advil, and Aleve), and overuse of antibiotics, steroids, and hormones
• Allergies - Undetected gluten intolerance, celiac disease or low grade food allergies to foods such as dairy, eggs, or corn.
• Infections - Chronic low-grade infections or gut imbalances with "overgrowth of bacteria" overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine, yeast overgrowth, parasites, or even more serious gut infections
• Environmental Toxins - Toxins like mercury and mold toxins, which damage the gut "Stress" Stress - can alter the gut nervous system, cause a leaky gut, and change the normal bacteria in the gut
• Mercury and yeast (where there is mercury, there is yeast). Long term yeast overgrowth in the gut allows the yeast to grow roots (hypha) thru the intestinal walls which allows undigested food into the blood stream with the end results of inflammation and food allergies.

Leaky Gut Symptoms:

A variety of symptoms are associated with intestinal permeability. These leaky gut syndrome symptoms include: abdominal pain, asthma, chronic joint pain, chronic muscle pain, confusion, fuzzy or foggy thinking, gas, indigestion, bloating, mood swings, nervousness, poor memory, headaches, poor immunity, recurrent vaginal infections, skin rashes, diarrhea, bladder infections, constipation, bloating, aggressive behavior, anxiety, fatigue, feeling toxic.

Leaky Gut Syndrome Treatment

Rather then treating the superficial symptoms associated with leaky gut syndrome, we focus on healing the gut. This generally involves:

• Treat gut infections or overgrowth of 'bugs' - Parasites, small bowel bacteria, and yeasts can all inhibit proper gut function.
• Rebuild your rain forest of friendly bacteria. Take probiotic supplements. They will help you rebuild the healthy bacteria so essential to good gut health.
• Eliminate food sensitivities and allergies - these are determined by allergy testing using Electrodermal Screening
• Replenish your digestive enzymes - through use of broad-spectrum digestive enzymes
• Heal the gut lining - Use gut-healing nutrients such as glutamine and zinc to repair the lining in your gut so it can resume its normal function. Also, use of omega-3 supplements to help cool inflammation in the gut

Gut health is a topic relatively unknown to many people but millions suffer from the effects of 'leaky gut'. Take our online quiz now and see if you need to schedule an appointment with our health care professionals.

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Immune Disorders

The immune system's purpose it to protect us from harm by foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses.

Immune disorders are caused by an immune response directed against one's own tissues.

When the immune system attacks, a cascade of inflammatory substances is released into the blood that can cause several disruptions in normal function. This happens when something confuses the immune system. Many things can cause this, including:

• Environmental Toxins (food, chemicals)
• Pathogens - bacteria, virus, fungus, parasites
• Gastrointestinal Imbalances - leaky gut
• Heavy Metals - especially mercury
• Hormone imbalances
• Stress

Autoimmune disorders result in destruction of your own body tissues, abnormal growth of organs, or changes in organ function. Organs and tissues commonly affected by autoimmune disorders include blood components such as red blood cells, nerves, blood vessels, connective tissues, glands such as the thyroid or pancreas, muscles, joints, and skin. Examples of immune disorders include:

• Thyroiditis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Lupus
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Psoriasis

Auto-immune disease doesn't just happen. There is something that causes the body to attack itself, and a person may experience more than one auto-immune disorder at the same time. There is no doubt that autoimmune diseases are on the rise and our increasing environmental exposure to toxins and chemicals is fueling the risk.

Conventional medicine ignores the cause when addressing autoimmune disease. Instead, it tries to shut down the immune response with powerful drugs including anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids or anti cancer drugs trying to block the immune system from functioning. By shutting down the immune system, there is increased risk of cancer or life-threatening infections. These drugs also have significant side effects.

The Texas Institute of Functional Medicines (TIFM) approaches this problem differently by looking deeper and trying to determine what causes the body's immune system to attack its own healthy tissues.

TIFM works with several very progressive labs that can detect the anti-bodies produced which allows us to determine what the trigger is. TIFM strives to help uncover immune disorders in the early stages and possibly reverse the offending condition before progression to full blown disease ensues. We evaluate you for food allergens, heavy metals, poor diet and needed lifestyle changes and balance these factors to get your immune system back on track.

We have done this for years. Call us or email us to arrange a visit with our experts at TIFM.

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OSTEOPOROSIS : A PREVENTABLE MALADY

Osteoporosis is the most common bone disorder in America. As the population continues to age, the prevalence of osteoporosis will only increase. It is already a widespread condition, with one in four women and one in eight men suffering from the disease. However, many people have no idea what causes osteoporosis or that they are walking around with a potentially debilitating or, in some cases, fatal disorder. Unfortunately, treatment is only partially successful once the disease has progressed. It is critical to identify increased bone loss in the early stages before excessive damage occurs.

Causes of Osteoporosis:

Bone is a dynamic tissue, continually being formed and resorbed. Osteoporosis results when the normal cycle of bone remodeling is interrupted and new bone formation can't keep up with bone removal. Many factors, both genetic and environmental, are responsible for shifting this delicate balance.

• Vitamin D deficiency - this is a big one!!
• Poor calcium intake
• Lack of exercise
• Toxic heavy metals (mercury and lead)
• Hormone Imbalances (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid)
• Adrenal exhaustion (stress)
• Unhealthy dietary choices
• Alcohol
• Smoking

Symptoms:

Many people don't know that they have osteoporosis. The following symptoms are clues that you may suffer from this condition:

• History of 'fragility' fractures of the vertebrae, hips, or wrists following minor trauma
• Chronic low back or neck pain
• Other bone pains or tenderness
• Loss of height
• Progressively poor posture (stooped over)

Diagnosing Osteoporosis:

TIFM conducts a Bone Resorption Assessment, a simple urine test to measure the rate of bone turnover (formation and resorption) to determine if your bone metabolism is out of balance leading to osteoporosis.

The Osteoporosis Solution:

We employ a multi-faceted approach to fighting osteoporosis including:

• IV therapy with several bone growth enhancing components
• Bio-identical hormone supplementation
• Calcium and Magnesium Supplementation
• Vitamin D therapy

Call TIFM now and schedule your evaluation to determine if osteoporosis is affecting your well being.

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YEAST OVERGROWTH (Candidiasis)

Yeast are among the most ancient organism on Earth today. Yeast was here before we were, and will still be after we are gone!

Yeast like organisms are present at birth live in our gut symbiotically with us providing us with nutrients, absorbing toxins, etc. They are an integral part of life and are found everywhere - food, in the air we breathe and on every exposed surface. Our bodies have natural bacteria which protects us from yeast overgrowth.  When yeast overgrows due to stressors put on its survival, such as antibiotics (which kills healthy protective bacteria as well), mercury (from silver fillings), a weakened or impaired immune system, hormonal imbalances, or a poor diet, its secretions and byproducts can be toxic to us. These toxins can suppress the immune system and affect other systems such as the brain, skin, muscles and joints. Yeast overgrowth also adversely affects the urogenital tract (bladder and vagina) as well as the GI tract resulting in malabsorption or 'leaky gut' syndrome. The bad news is that yeast overgrowth in the US population in much more common than you think!!

The symptoms of yeast overgrowth include:

• Urinary frequency
• Urinary Urgency
• Bloating, flatulence
• White coating on tongue
• Craving for sugar or bread
• Itching on or around the ears, eyes, nose, scalp
• Recurrent vaginal yeast infections
• History of antibiotic use
• Indigestion or heartburn
• Abnormal reaction to alcoholic beverages
• Difficulty concentrating
• Athletes foot or jock itch
• Rectal itching
• Fungal infections under or around toenails or fingernails

The goal in managing yeast overgrowth (candidiasis) revolves around returning balance to your body. Treating yeast overgrowth involves suppressing yeast overgrowth growth with anti-fungals, re-establishing a friendly environment of nice bacteria in the GI tract, removing silver fillings (mercury propagates yeast growth) and restoring good nutritional and hormonal balance. Dietary interventions are also used and include avoiding the following:

• Dairy
• Sugar and Sugar-Containing Foods - Yeast grows on sugar and starches
• Gluten Grains - Yeast is fed by gluten grains. Some people must remove corn, rice and potatoes from their diet because of the starch content. Remove barley malt and other malt products from the diet
• Packaged and Processed Foods - Especially meats as mold builds up on foods during the drying, smoking and curing process
• Moldy Foods - Including cheeses, nuts, fruits and fruit juices
• Fermented Foods - Including vinegars and alcoholic beverages

TIFM conducts a full evaluation of all the factors that predispose one to yeast overload and the resultant problems that this causes. Take our Yeast Quiz to see if yeast is a problem for you. You may be surprised!

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