Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is gut condition in which there are abnormally large numbers of gut bacteria in the terminal ileum of the small intestine (the end of the small intestine, just before the colon). SIBO is one form of dysbiosis, or gut imbalance. Normally, the colon is where gut bacteria greatly increase in number, with the small intestine housing smaller numbers of bacteria. In SIBO, the high amount of gut bacteria in the small intestine leads to excess gas and discomfort. The condition is common in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

It has been known for a while that SIBO is more common in alcoholics, but a recent study is the first to look at the relationship of SIBO in people with moderate alcohol consumption. As it turns out, the researchers, from the Mayo Clinic and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, found that moderate alcohol consumption—one drink per day in women and two per day in men—could lead to SIBO.

Dr. Gabbard, the lead researcher, stated, “While typical treatment for SIBO has been antibiotics, probiotics or a combination of the two, the question now becomes what is the exact association between moderate alcohol consumption and SIBO and whether alcohol cessation can be used as a treatment for this potentially harmful condition.”

Certainly, the things we consume—food, drink and medication—affect our gut. If you have been considering decreasing your alcohol intake (there are many good reasons to do so), it may just help improve your gut balance.

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Most surgeons on call on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day are not surprised when they get called into the ER to see a patient with right upper abdominal pain and tenderness radiating through to the back. There are also no surprises when an abdominal ultrasound shows a dilated gallbladder, possibly with a thickened wall, and gallstones ranging from the size of a pebble to the size of a marble or even an egg. At this point, the appropriate next step would be laparoscopic cholecystectomy, or removal of the gallbladder. This is one of the most common surgical procedures in the Western world today.

So how does a person find themselves in the operating room on Thanksgiving night? First of all, it didn’t just happen all at once. Gallstone formation takes months or even years. It is believed that low-fiber, high-cholesterol diets high in processed starchy foods contribute to the formation of cholesterol stones. Over-consumption of fatty and fried foods and refined sugar, as well as inadequate intake of vitamins B, C and E, are also factors thought to contribute to gallstone formation. Inadequate water intake and lack of exercise also play a role.

With the above diet, a bacterial imbalance in the gut will develop. The effect in the gut of this imbalance will be increased intestinal permeability (also known as leaky gut). As a result of leaky gut, more toxins are delivered to and processed by the liver. These toxins are sent from the liver to the gallbladder, where they are stored and concentrated along with the bile, which can lead to gallstones.

So how do the holidays fit into this? Very simply – a large meal high in fat and sugar will release the hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) from the duodenum (upper small intestine). CCK triggers the gallbladder to begin contracting and may move the stones into the cystic duct (which drains into the common duct and then into the duodenum) causing gallbladder obstruction, swelling, more inflammation, and severe right upper quadrant pain.

Many people do not realize they have gallstones. They may go years without symptoms and only discover the gallstones in an emergency room visit such as I described above. Other people do experience periodic attacks and are able to recover from them and choose not to have surgery. In either case, it’s prudent to take extra care at major holiday meals. A combination of gravy, ham, buttery mashed potatoes, candied yams and alcohol, followed by pumpkin pie and ice cream is the perfect recipe for a gallbladder stress test. The following recommendations could help you avoid that ER visit this holiday season:

• Eat smaller portions of any high fat, high-sugar foods
• Chew thoroughly
• Eat slowly, taking the time to enjoy the meal and company
• Take digestive enzymes with the meal
• Limit alcohol consumption

Most importantly, as a preventative measure, follow a high-fiber, plant-based, antioxidant-rich diet low in processed foods and saturated fats, fried foods and sugar. In addition to getting regular excise and having regular bowel elimination to reduce toxins, it is important to have a healthy balance of intestinal bacteria. This can be achieved by eating fermented foods (which are naturally high in beneficial bacteria) and taking high-quality probiotic supplements every day.

Leonard Smith, M.D.
Dr. Leonard Smith is a prominent Board-Certified, general, gastrointestinal and vascular surgeon who had a successful private practice for 25 years. In addition to his active surgery practice, he also incorporated lifestyle, diet, supplementation, exercise, detoxification, and stress management into many of the therapies he would prescribe. Many of his patients with cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other serious illnesses did so well under his treatment regimes that he began to devote most of his career to foundational health care and preventive medicine.

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What if there was a better, safer way to help people we love who are suffering from depression, anxiety, even insomnia? What if we could find a way to deal with addiction—from everyday food cravings to a need for alcohol and even drugs—that focused on the body as a whole rather than just the symptom? Well, guess what? When it comes to your health, everything’s connected—and nobody knows that better than Dr. Rick Sponaugle, founder of Florida Detox® and my guest on tomorrow’s Poop Scoop.

Join me and Dr. Sponaugle to learn more about the link between hormonal imbalance and how it affects the body’s brain chemistry and may contribute to a wide range of physical and emotional disorders, especially in women. A pioneer in the field of addiction treatment, Dr. Sponaugle is changing the way “brain” conditions are treated and has seen incredible breakthroughs using natural therapies to balance brain chemistry, correct nutritional deficiency, and balance the body’s hormones. If you or someone you love suffers from anxiety, depression, insomnia or addiction, don’t miss what Dr. Sponaugle has to say about the remarkable treatment techniques that can accelerate your recovery.

Log on and listen to Brenda’s Poop Scoop LIVE every Wednesday from 4-5 pm (EST) right from your computer. Missed an episode? Visit the Episode Directory on my website and listen to past shows from the archive!

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Wow, it’s just amazing the benefits that Omega-3s provide. It seems like every week another round of studies comes out that gives us more and more reason to love these good-for-you “good fats,” and I’m happy to say that Omega-3s are just one of those unstoppable nutrients even the masses can’t ignore—check out these cool findings!

• DHA is now associated with better cognitive performance (like working memory and vocabulary) in middle-aged adults. And while a lot of DHA studies look at the benefits in older adults and children, this study may help bridge the gap, suggesting the beneficial effects of DHA throughout life. 
• An EPA/DHA fish oil supplement improved lung function in 40 amateur male wrestlers. This is the first fish oil study that looked at lung function in athletes, so it will be interesting to see what other studies come after this one.
• In a recent study published in the Quarterly Journal of Significant Omega-3 Research, experts found that low intake of Omega-3 EPA and DHA is attributed to a yearly average of 84,000 deaths by ischemic heart disease and stroke in the United States, and is more highly associated with a risk of death than high intake of trans fats; low intake of polyunsaturated fats; low fruit and vegetable consumption; and alcohol use.

And even NASA is getting in on the action! They’re currently investigating the effects of Omega-3 EPA (found in fish oil) on bone loss during the weightlessness of space flight. Pretty cool, huh?

With everything we know about Omega-3s, I wonder when an Omega-3 level blood test will be part of regular bloodwork?? In the meantime, you might want to think about eating more fish or taking a daily Omega-3 fish oil supplement!

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What if there was a better, safer way to help people we love who are suffering from depression, anxiety, even insomnia? What if we could find a way to deal with addiction—from everyday food cravings to a need for alcohol and even drugs—that focused on the body as a whole rather than just the symptom? Well, guess what? When it comes to your health, everything’s connected—and nobody knows that better than Dr. Rick Sponaugle, founder of Florida Detox® and my guest on tomorrow’s Poop Scoop.

Join me and Dr. Sponaugle to learn more about the link between hormonal imbalance and how it affects the body’s brain chemistry and may contribute to a wide range of physical and emotional disorders, especially in women. A pioneer in the field of addiction treatment, Dr. Sponaugle is changing the way “brain” conditions are treated and has seen incredible breakthroughs using natural therapies to balance brain chemistry, correct nutritional deficiency, and balance the body’s hormones. If you or someone you love suffers from anxiety, depression, insomnia or addiction, don’t miss what Dr. Sponaugle has to say about the remarkable treatment techniques that can accelerate your recovery.

Log on and listen to Brenda’s Poop Scoop LIVE every Wednesday from 4-5 pm (EST) right from your computer. Missed an episode? Visit the Episode Directory on my website and listen to past shows from the archive!

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It’s a subject you’ve heard me talk about before, but considering new research it’s definitely worth repeating. A recent CBS news segment revealed that not one but five new studies showed that using acid-blocking drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can be potentially dangerous to your health, and that “more than half of prescriptions for these drugs are unnecessary”. Folks, this is an eye-opener if there ever was one!

Every year more than 100 million Americans are prescribed PPIs to help relieve symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux, but what many people don’t know is that these drugs often come with some pretty serious side effects—including a nearly 75 percent greater risk of developing a severe intestinal infection known as C. diff, according to new evidence. Essentially, taking PPIs upsets the healthy bacterial balance in your intestines (which is where the majority of your natural immune defenses can be found), leaving your body vulnerable to illness and infection.

Widespread PPI use has also been linked to higher rates of pneumonia, as well as esophageal candidiasis (yeast overgrowth), inflammation of the stomach lining, increased permeability of upper GI tract lining, and even osteoporosis-related bone fractures due to the fact that PPIs block calcium absorption in the body. Because long-term PPI use also leads to hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid secretion), bacterial overgrowth and acetaldehyde production, PPI users have an increased risk of developing gastric cancer. 

The good news? There are simple things we can do every day to help prevent heartburn and acid reflux without relying on harmful drugs. Diet changes like limiting our intake of caffeine, alcohol, chocolate and fatty or spicy foods can make a big difference, along with maintaining a healthy body weight, getting plenty of exercise and quitting smoking—all pretty good advice if you ask me! Natural supplements made with ingredients such as ellagic acid (from raspberries and pomegranates) can also provide soothing relief for occasional heartburn, and digestive enzymes with added HCl can help ensure complete digestion and reduce the chances of heartburn and acid reflux happening in the first place.

The bottom line is this: why take a potentially dangerous drug when smarter, safer alternatives exist? My hope is that the more people learn about PPIs and their side effects—including why they may not even need them in the first place—the more people will take steps to improve their digestive health naturally.

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Are you one of the millions of people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome? Do you sometimes find yourself wondering “Why me?” or wishing there was something you could do about it? Well, all month long we’re focusing on IBS, and today we’re going to take a look at what causes IBS. Now keep in mind that there are many contributing factors when it comes to IBS, but here are some of the most common:

• Irregularities in intestinal hormones and nerves responsible for bowel motility (muscle contraction)
• Bacterial, fungal or parasitic infection
• Food sensitivities
• Inadequate enzyme production
• Imbalanced gut flora
• Inadequate diet
• Stress

And because there are so many contributing factors, treatment for IBS can sometimes be difficult. BUT…the more you know, the better chance you have of finding relief, especially if small changes in your diet or lifestyle could be the answer.

Ruling out an underlying food sensitivity is an important step in dealing with IBS, which is why most experts recommend following a “food elimination diet.” This just means that the most common dietary offenders are eliminated from the diet for a period of time, and then reintroduced one by one to determine if a reaction occurs because of a certain type of food. The following is a list of the top foods shown to cause sensitivity:

• Dairy products
• Wheat and gluten
• Eggs
• Corn
• Citrus
• Caffeine
• Alcohol

Keeping a food journal during this process is also extremely important. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had people tell me, “Wow! I had no idea what I was really eating until I started writing it down!” So grab a pen and start keeping track of what you eat and drink throughout the day—along with any digestive symptoms that might occur after eating. Eventually you’ll begin to notice patterns when you eat certain foods. 

Now I know the food elimination diet can be difficult, but it really is the best way to determine if you have a food sensitivity, which believe me is very common in people with IBS. And remember—if you can get to the bottom of your IBS symptoms, relief will come…so good luck!

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