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Acid Reflux? Heartburn? GERD?

By Megan Miller | Published August 31, 2023

Roughly 1/3 of the adult population in the U.S. suffer from acid reflux. That’s a lot of unhappy people!

If you are one of them, you have almost certainly been prescribed a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). Prilosec and Nexium are two PPI brands you might recognize. A PPI is used to reduce the amount of hydrochloric acid (HCL), sometimes called stomach acid.

The acid reflux, heartburn and/or indigestion you experience could mean your HCL is too high. But, it’s more likely that your HCL is too low.

Let’s take a step back real quick.

What does HCL even do in the body?

  • It helps break down, digest, and absorb nutrients. 
  • It serves as a first line of defense against incoming pathogens.
  • Creates a sterile environment for the gut.
  • Changes the pH balance in the digestive tract.
  • Impacts microbiome diversity.

What are some of the causes of low HCL?

 If you are over the age of 65, that could be a major contributing factor as HCL gradually decreases over our lifespan. Other reasons include things like chronic inflammation in the gut, gluten sensitivity, stress, thyroid issues, diet, and medications. One of the more common reasons is a Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori) infection. I will be speaking about this pesky bacteria soon.

How do you know if your HCL is high or low?

If you find that your acid reflux symptoms are not subsiding and you reach for acid blockers frequently, it’s a strong indication that you probably are not producing sufficient hydrochloric acid and it would be wise to supplement with HCL. That said, if you decide to take HCI and feel discomfort,  you could actually have stomach inflammation or even ulcers caused by an H. Pylori bacterial infection.

We all have low levels of H. Pylori but nearly 50% of Americans have an over abundance of H. Pylori. It is wise, if you have these issues, to run a comprehensive stool test and have it interpreted by someone trained to do so. We can help out if you are interested.

As a side note, if you have indigestion but not necessarily acid reflux, it may be due to gallbladder sludge. There will be more to come on the gallbladder soon! 

Regardless of high or low HCL or gallbladder sludge, it is imperative to get to the bottom of your acid reflux, indigestion or heartburn once and for all. Acid blockers are not long term solutions and can actually do more harm than good. 

Comprehensive blood work and stool testing helps us better understand the causes of your acid reflux. It’s best to test and not guess. 

 

The Amazing Digestive System

By Megan Miller | Published August 26, 2023

Most of us don’t think much about the digestive system unless we are hungry or have a digestive issue. If you suffer from digestive woes, you might be interested in knowing why digestion is so important for our overall health and what it is responsible for. Might seem obvious but I promise you, it’s not.

Digestion is so much more than simply providing a means to end hunger. The food we consume provides nutrients to our cells so the body is well equipped to perform all the tasks that sustain us each and every day.

But that’s only the beginning of the story. There are so many really cool things about the digestive system that anyone suffering should really know about if they want to heal.

Did you know that digestion actually begins in the brain?

When you smell that movie theater popcorn or you see a huge billboard with a juicy cheeseburger and crispy fries, that’s when we start to salivate, and our digestive system revs up. In fact, just thinking about food can get the digestive system going!

Just a cool fact most of us weren’t taught in school.

So, why is digestion such a big deal when it comes to our overall health?

The digestive system is responsible for:

  1. It serves as a transportation highway for ingested food to move through the entire digestive system. There are stops along the way that I will be discussing soon. Be on the lookout, it’s actually pretty fascinating.
  2. It chemically and mechanically breaks down food
  3. It extracts and absorbs nutrients
  4. It is home to roughly 70% of our immune system and provides a huge immune barrier for antigens coming into the body
  5. Helps remove waste from the body
  6. It activates hormones
  7. Communicates with the central nervous system – our guts are literally connected to the brain! 
  8. It helps maintain balance in our microbiome

That’s a lot of work and coordination!

As you can see, our digestive systems are incredibly important. And I am just scratching the surface.

If anything along the pathway is not functioning properly, that’s when we begin to experience unpleasant symptoms.

Symptoms are the body’s way of communicating with us. Ignoring those messages is risky and can not only cause us to feel bad but could lead to bigger problems down the road. 

There are a whole host of symptoms associated with dysfunction in the digestive system. Just to name a few (but there are many others):

  • Acid reflux or heartburn
  • Abdominal cramping or pain
  • Constipation or diarrhea
  • Skin issues like hives, psoriasis or atopic dermatitis
  • Headaches or migraines
  • Food sensitivities
  • Bloating and gas

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you are almost certainly dealing with digestive dysfunction. We can help. Reach out and schedule an appointment with us so we can help prevent further issues and we can help you get back to feeling great again.  

 

Glutathione – our master antioxidant

By Megan Miller | Published August 24, 2023

Glutathione is the body’s master antioxidant. It protects our cells from damage and is a powerful agent in helping manage inflammation and tissue destruction. Making sure your glutathione status is strong and reducing glutathione depletion can play a profound role in immune resilience to viruses and in managing autoimmune disease, inflammation, chemical sensitivities, food sensitivities, and other chronic health issues.

Unfortunately, we are prone to depletion of glutathione from:

  • Medications
  • Chronic stress and anxiety
  • Environmental toxins
  • Unhealthy diets
  • Inflammation
  • Alcohol
  • Aging
  • And more

Unlike most antioxidants that come from food sources, glutathione is made in house by the liver. There are some foods that help boost production of glutathione by providing us with some of the building blocks that are needed to make it. Almost everyone can benefit from an extra dose of glutathione so here are some veggies to choose from:

  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Bok choy
  • Asparagus
  • Avocados
  • Spinach
  • Okra

Dietary changes are amazing but as I pointed out, the stress culture we live in and the chemicals in the air, on our food and in household and beauty products, leave us depleted of glutathione over time. Insufficient glutathione can leave us unprotected and contribute to declining health.

Supplementing with Glutathione can be very beneficial.

How to supplement with Glutathione

Intravenous (IV Therapy):

This is a pretty popular method that is highly effective. Glutathione is not easily absorbed in the digestive tract and IV completely skips the digestive tract and gets Glutathione directly into the bloodstream. Dosing is easiest with IV therapy. Most of our patients love adding Glutathione to their IV therapy regime.

To book an IV, give us a call today or click here and scroll to the bottom of the page to find a time that works for you.

S-acetyl glutathione:

This is a newer and more accessible form of glutathione that the intestinal tract can efficiently absorb. S-acetyl glutathione may be effective in helping manage autoimmune disease.

This is the only oral glutathione I personally prefer. It has both bioactive glutathione (GSH) and glutathione recycling precursors. Hold tight, we will get to the business of recycling shortly. All brands are not created equally. Feel free to get in touch with us if you want to discuss this further.

Liposomal cream:

This is used as a topical cream on localized areas. If you have pain or inflammation in a particular area, just apply the cream directly on top of the area for relief. Consider using it on joints for joint pain or even directly on the thyroid if you have Hashimoto’s.

Glutathione recycling? Yep, it’s really a thing. 

As important as glutathione is, when we supplement, it helps raise levels outside the cells. It is equally important that we are able to push available glutathione inside of the cells where our mitochondria live. Mitochondria use glutathione as their main antioxidant that converts all that food we eat into pure energy. This is where glutathione recycling comes in.

Glutathione recycling is different than glutathione. It actually takes existing glutathione and reuses it. We support this process with certain glutathione precursors such as selenium, N-acetyl L-cysteine, and standardized extracts of cordyceps and gotu kola that help raise levels of glutathione inside the cells.

This is especially important for anyone with an autoimmune disease because the degenerative process of autoimmune disease destroys the mitochondria in affected cells, such as the large intestines in Ulcerative Colitis.

So, be sure to supplement with both glutathione and a glutathione recycler for the full health benefits.

Reach out to find out more about how you could be protecting yourself from future health issues or if you are dealing with health concerns currently!

 

Meet Cecili, our Gut Health and Autoimmunity Expert

By Megan Miller | Published August 21, 2023

Hi, Cecili here from Fit Logic Functional Medicine. I am so excited to let everyone know that I have officially joined the team here at FLFM full time! I figured now was the perfect time to share my personal health story with everyone.

Eventually, I was diagnosed with IBD – Ulcerative Colitis. I was told I would need to take medication “forever” and that “40 years of research has never uncovered a connection between food and IBD.” My only option was to take the medication for the rest of my life.

It was a time in my life that was full of fear and “the unknown”. That might have  swayed me into taking this seemingly magic pill that I had been prescribed. But  that’s not my style.

I decided to do some research. I had never eaten well so I started with diet. It took me  months and months to determine how to eat for my body and this incurable disease. Once I  figured it out, all my symptoms subsided. I knew diet was only one piece of the puzzle, so I  began working on childhood trauma, all my fears and my negative mindset (and so much  more). The outcome was amazing. Now I know that (most of the time) if you treat your  body well, it responds in a beautiful way!

I was determined to not give up, and really it was never an option, I have three kids and a  husband that I want to enjoy every moment with to the fullest. As I thought about my journey,  I  also thought about how other people with serious digestive issues likely needed hope and  inspiration.

I knew there were hundreds of thousands of others that were having very similar  experiences. Leaving their doctor’s office in a state of fear and feeling powerless. I decided that I desperately wanted to help others  understand the power of their choices, the power of the body and most importantly, that they have more control over their health outcomes  than they are being led to believe.

I chose to go back to school to become a Nutritionist and have continued to pursue every opportunity to learn and grow in my field of gut  health and autoimmunity ever since. I use my passion and my in-depth education to provide my clients with a comprehensive  wellness plan, working hard to leave no detail left unchecked. It truly is a holistic approach to helping people resolve their long-  term health issues once and for all.

The absolute best part about my job is that I get to see people completely transform their health, return to living the life  they desire and it’s all because they chose to use their power in such a brave and positive way. I get to meet superheroes  all the time!