FAQ
What are some signs that my gut health is off?
Believe it or not, nearly every health symptom can be tied back to the gut. There’s the more obvious signs like bloating, constipation, diarrhea, reflux, or burping…but skin issues (acne, eczema, hives, rashes, psoriasis), sleep issues (insomnia, fatigue), hormonal issues (PCOS, PMS, PMDD, endometriosis), autoimmune issues (Hashimoto's, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus), and histamine related issues (MCAS, allergies, hives, asthma) can all be signs that your gut is off. Check out this blog post to learn more about why:
What is the difference between a food allergy, a food sensitivity, and a food intolerance?
A food allergy is an immediate reaction to a food, often associated with an IgE response (a certain part of the immune system). True allergies often have a genetic component, and their symptoms are typically hives, swelling, itching, and sometimes difficulty with breathing or even anaphylaxis. Food sensitivities are developed over time, when there is leaky gut and the immune system starts to react to certain foods. This is typically an IgG mediated response. Symptoms can develop within hours or 2-3 days. Food sensitivity symptoms include: bloating, headaches, fatigue, joint pain, or skin flares. A food intolerance does not involve the immune system. Rather, it is related to an insufficiency or absence of enzymes required to break down a compound. For example, lactose intolerance is a lack of lactase, the enzyme required to digest lactose.
Is leaky gut real, and what actually causes it?
Leaky gut, known in the research as intestinal permeability, is a well-documented phenomenon. Your gut barrier, only one cell thick and protected by a mucus layer, is designed to only allow digested food particles and other healthy substances into the body. However, overgrowths of inflammatory bacteria, insufficiencies in beneficial bacteria, chronic stress, exposure to toxins (e.g. alcohol), and food sensitivities can all weaken the integrity of the gut lining, causing it to become leaky. When the gut becomes 'leaky', inflammation can become systemic, autoimmune conditions can develop or worsen, and the liver can become over-burdened. The downstream consequences of leaky gut are vast and far-reaching.
Can you heal your gut without medication?
Absolutely. Dietary, lifestyle, and supplement interventions are extremely effective to heal the gut. This is especially true when paired with data from functional lab testing (the GI-MAP stool test is particularly helpful) to create a plan that addresses your individual imbalances. Gut imbalances may be due to a plethora of reasons (inadequate digestive juices, motility issues, nervous system dysregulation, overgrowths of opportunistic bacteria, fungi, and/or parasites, or insufficient beneficial bacteria populations), which is why it is better to test, not guess.
How long does it actually take to heal your gut?
First let's ask, how long did it take you to get to this place? Often, the gut environment has been struggling for years before someone is ready to work on their gut health. However, in my practice, clients often see major improvements in 3–6 weeks and nearly full resolution of their symptoms in 4–8 months (everyone is different).
What is functional nutrition, and how is it different from seeing a regular dietitian?
The functional medicine approach aims to address the whole person, as a unique, complex, interdependent being, using data from functional labs combined with dietary, lifestyle, and targeted supplement interventions. Functional nutrition aims to understand the "why" behind your symptoms, rather than only masking and addressing symptoms. A dietitian will typically stick to standardized nutritional guidelines to treat specific conditions. Their work is very symptom oriented.
Why does my doctor say my bloodwork is "normal" when I still feel terrible?
This is incredibly common. The reason is, doctors go by lab ranges when they analyze your bloodwork. Lab ranges are based on statistical population data and often do not reflect what is optimal for human health. In addition to that, lab ranges are often very broad, generally only catching dysfunction once the body is starting to show much more dramatic symptoms. Another way to look at your bloodwork is through a functional medicine lens. The ranges for functional bloodwork are narrower and have been determined by what is optimal for human health. Oftentimes, when you are having symptoms but your doctor says "everything is normal," you are actually out of the functional range. In my practice, I use functional ranges in order to more deeply understand why my clients might be experiencing certain symptoms.
What is a GI-MAP stool test, and what can you learn from it?
The GI-MAP is a stool test, collected at the client's home. It gives valuable insight into what is happening in the microbiome, such as acute infections like E. coli , the standing of the beneficial bacteria community, opportunistic or inflammatory bacteria, fungal overgrowths like candida, viruses, H. pylori, and parasite infections. The GI-MAP also gives the client information about their digestive capacity (fat absorption, pancreatic enzyme output), immune system function, inflammatory markers, immune reactions to gluten, and hormonal health (beta-glucuronidase). This test is extremely valuable to anyone that is experiencing digestive symptoms, hormonal imbalances, skin flares, mood disorders, sleep disorders, autoimmune conditions, and/or inflammatory conditions. If you would like to learn more, check out this blog:
What labs should I get to find the root cause of my digestive, skin, or hormone symptoms?
It depends! There are a ton of amazing options for functional labs that can offer valuable insight into your health situation, but you don't need to do all of them. The guidance from a functional medicine expert can be a big help when deciding which labs to invest in. Two labs that I find most people could benefit from are the GI-MAP stool test and a comprehensive blood panel. The GI-MAP offers in-depth information about the microbiome, gut terrain, and digestive capacity. A comprehensive blood panel, analyzed with a functional lens (looking at ranges that are optimal for health), gives valuable information about liver, thyroid, immune, kidney, nutrient status, and metabolic function.
Can diet and gut health affect autoimmune disease?
Yes! Genetics can set the stage for autoimmune disease development, but diet, lifestyle, and your environment are usually what bring forth autoimmune symptoms. Leaky gut, or intestinal permeability, is a contributing factor to autoimmune disease, so your gut health plays a very large role. Certain foods, typically those containing gluten, soy, and/or dairy proteins can also have molecular mimicry effects, which can exacerbate autoimmune symptoms and severity. Investing in improving your gut health is one of the biggest levers you can press in putting autoimmune disorders into remission.
How are gut health and hormones connected?
Your body keeps your hormones balanced by excreting 'spent' hormones through the bile and the gut (they get pooped out). However, certain overgrowths of bacteria can lead to an overproduction of an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase, which allows hormones tagged for excretion to re-circulate. Additionally, when there are overgrowths of inflammatory microbes in the gut, this can lead to high production of LPS (endotoxins), which can add a lot of extra work for the liver. When the liver is over-burdened, it can struggle to process spent hormones, which can further contribute to imbalances. Finally, for your body to produce hormones, it needs fats, cholesterol, protein, vitamins, and minerals. If digestion is suffering due to inadequate stomach acid, pancreatic enzymes, or bile, then the body may be under-resourced in building hormones.
What causes acne in adult women?
Chronic acne is an inflammatory condition spurred on by infections, hormonal imbalances, and/or immune dysregulation. There are several reasons someone may be experiencing adult acne: blood sugar dysregulation, nutrient deficiencies, metabolic disorders, impaired detoxification pathways, sub-optimal thyroid function, insufficient beneficial bacteria in the gut, or overgrowths of yeast/bacteria/parasites. Oftentimes, it is a confluence of many factors. This is why getting some labs done can be extremely useful in determining the path forward to clear skin.
Why won't my acne clear up even though I've tried everything?
When acne continues to come back, and you have already worked on diet, sleep, exercise, and stress management, that is strong evidence that something deeper is going on. A common reason that I see is there are underlying infections that need to be resolved. Another underlying factor may be related to thyroid imbalances or PCOS/PMOS.
What does working with you actually look like, and is it all virtual?
We begin with a 90-minute intake session. During this virtual video call (yes, all of our meetings will be virtual), we will discuss the details of your health history, symptoms, potential contributing factors, as well as your eating, sleeping, and exercise patterns. This call allows us to determine which labs and what kind of care would be best for you. I offer bespoke gut healing packages that allow clients to choose the level of support they need to achieve their health goals.
In the simplest of packages, we get your labs, I perform expert analysis, and I use what I learned from our intake session to create a custom, personalized protocol for you that includes dietary, lifestyle, and targeted supplement recommendations.
Have other questions? I'd love to answer them.
You can email me at eatwell@jacquimeehannutrition.com,
or schedule a free 20 minutes consult call.