PCOS to PMOS | Here’s What You Need to Know
In this post I will go over everything from what PCOS + PMOS mean, to PCOS symptoms, to effective and holistic PCOS treatment. But the thing I want you to hold onto right now is that this new metabolic perspective on PCOS is not new information. And more importantly, the rename from PCOS to PMOS does not mean your medical providers instantly know how to address the root causes of your PCOS symptoms.
I’ve been helping females with PCOS symptoms by addressing their gut health, metabolic health, and endocrine health, for as long as I’ve been in practice - including my own PCOS!
I’ve Been Saying it for Years…
Your PCOS diagnosis has been rightfully renamed to PMOS - a win for female-bodied folx everywhere!
In this post I will go over everything from what PCOS + PMOS mean, to PCOS symptoms, to effective and holistic PCOS treatment. But the thing I want you to hold onto right now is that this new metabolic perspective on PCOS is not new information. And more importantly, the rename from PCOS to PMOS does not mean your medical providers instantly know how to address the root causes of your PCOS symptoms.
I’ve been helping females with PCOS symptoms by addressing their gut health, metabolic health, and endocrine health, for as long as I’ve been in practice - including my own PCOS!
Hello, my muffin tops. I’m Hilary Beckwith, ex-dieter and functional health expert. Women with PCOS/PMOS, IBS, and autoimmune conditions come to see me with signs of adrenal stress, insulin resistance, and inflammatory conditions, and my job is to find the root causes so we can address their symptoms more effectively and fill in the gaps between their lab values and how their body actually feels. Before you continue, click here to read my Medical Disclaimer.
In this article, you’ll learn:
Differences between PCOS diagnosis and PMOS
Why the rename is so important
PCOS treatment with functional nutrition
Ways you can start advocating for your health in more meaningful ways
the name PCOS has always been a problem
And this is a huge disservice to female-bodied folx everywhere. When I got my PCOS diagnosis nearly 20 years ago, I was told, “you will probably become diabetic” and that I would not be able to get pregnant without expensive medical intervention. That was the only guidance I received from my gynecologist.
I didn’t know then how to advocate for my health, ask questions, or seek out a second opinion, or even holistic support. But I know now, and that’s why my ongoing mission is to educate and empower a new generation of women to do the same by holding their practitioners accountable, asking questions, and getting heard, no matter what it takes.
The first step is to educate yourself.
WHAT DOES PCOS STAND FOR?
PCOS stands for PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome. Getting a PCOS diagnosis primarily requires a female to meet at least two of these measures:
elevated androgen levels
irregular or absent ovulation
an ultrasound confirming multiple “cysts” on the ovaries
more recently, low egg count was added to this list
You can see, these criteria largely point to a gynecological focus - here’s why that’s a problem:
Elevated androgens and sex hormone imbalances don’t just happen. In general, are often caused by a disruption in the HPA axis (brain and adrenal glands), blood sugar instability (also tied to HPA axis), prolonged chronic stress (oh hey, that’s HPA axis, too!), and liver functionality.
Ovulation issues stem from these same hormonal imbalances, caused largely by - yep! - HPA axis dysfunction and blood sugar instability or insulin resistance. While it’s true that the ovaries themselves can contribute to the problem, the root cause is often in communication between the brain and ovaries, not the ovaries themselves. Chronic stress, insulin resistance, and liver health can all be supported to improve ovarian function.
PCOS ovaries are not covered in “cysts”: The classic visual of PCOS is this picture of an ovary covered in what looks like a string of pearls - these are not cysts - they are follicles that were not able to release an egg into the fallopian tube, and thus became stuck. Your ovaries can develop cysts, but what is seen in PCOS is not cysts.
What’s more, the cause of these stunted follicles is commonly caused by an increase in androgens (testosterone, DHEA) produced by the ovaries in response to elevated insulin levels, caused by insulin resistance - again, not a gynecological issue.
Egg Count: The quality of eggs is vastly more important than the number of eggs. Think about it - does it do you any good to have a drawer full of dead batteries, if only 2-3 of them have any juice left?
WHAT DOES PMOS STAND FOR?
PMOS stands for Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome. Polyendocrine, meaning it involves many factors in the endocrine system, including metabolic, or blood-sugar-regulating endocrine glands such as the adrenal glands and pancreas.
Take a close look at the diagram below to see the differences between a PCOS diagnosis and PMOS.
renaming PCOS to PMOS does not mean your doctors instantly know how to support you
Whether we call it PCOS, PMOS, or the acne-bloat-crazy-bananas-plague - PCOS is a complex interplay of dysfunction in metabolic health, hormones, liver, gut, and brain.
The renaming of PCOS to PMOS is a step in the right direction, but the medical community still has a long way to go when it comes to understanding how to treat PMOS effectively. This rename will bring more awareness to the medical community, leading to better research and education for medical providers, but that is YEARS down the road.
After all, it took decades before medical doctors even started to become aware (awareness does not equate to action) that more nutrition education would be helpful to their patients. The minuscule amount currently required for medical licensing is largely focused on biochemistry, not patient care.
And while it would be a dream come true to find that one-stop shop for full-body PCOS and PMOS treatment, it simply does not exist, and probably won’t for some time.
That’s why practitioners like me exist - I am in practice to help female-bodied folx uncover hidden causes of their dysfunction that are keeping them stuck in their PCOS symptoms.
Through a focus on gut health, digestion, inflammation, stress, and blood sugar stability, I have helped my female-bodied clients (myself included) break free from PCOS symptoms such as:
painful and embarrassing adult acne
“PCOS belly” - weight in the belly and hips that came out of nowhere
thinning hair
irregular and unpredictable periods
PMS or PMDD (despite what you might have learned, PMS is a sign of hormone imbalances, and is not normal to experience)
hormone imbalances reflected on labs
fatigue + energy crashes
2am wake-ups
increased body or facial hair (hirsutism)
“hangry” between meals
poor mood - feeling unstable, depressed, or anxious
whole-body PCOS treatment
Most females who seek my help present with some form of hormonal imbalance, signs of prolonged chronic stress, and systemic inflammation. So, PCOS diagnosis or not, the main goal is to assess and pinpoint what the root causes of dysfunction are, so that we can create a care plan that is targeted to their specific needs.
After years of throwing spaghetti at the wall, the women who work with me walk away feeling seen, heard, and revitalized - a stark contrast from the providers’ offices that, in the past, left them feeling dismissed, ignored, and alone.
TARGETED, WHOLE-BODY PCOS TREATMENT THAT GETS RESULTS:
LIFESTYLE + DIETARY ANALYSIS:
I’m not interested in how many calories you eat per day, nor will I ever ask you to step on a scale. However, day-to-day stress levels, food quality, meal timing and atmosphere, sleep, bowel movements, body movements - all of it matters.
Chronic stress disrupts the brain’s communication with endocrine glands. This is because your brain’s priority in stress response is protection - or better yet, survival. Nothing else is important until that threat (stress) is successfully dealt with. And when the stress keeps coming, you stay stuck in survival mode, and this plays havoc on your hormones. The first thing I do is gather information so that I can meet you where you’re at.
ASSESS DIGESTIVE HEALTH:
This is a big one with PCOS. Digestive dysfunction is more than just gassy evenings, heartburn, and constipation. When your body does not produce enough stomach acid, digestive enzymes, or cannot efficiently move food through your intestines and eliminate waste - intestinal tissues become damaged and inflamed, toxic burden builds due to waste that is not eliminated, and your susceptibility to opportunistic bacterial overgrowth, candida, and even parasites, increases significantly.
Your digestive system is wired to kill off harmful pathogens and prevent their proliferation - and the biggest inhibitor of digestion is stress.
FUNCTIONAL LAB TESTING:
For cycling females, getting a one-time blood panel is not enough information to understand the big picture, and quite frankly, if you are a cycling female, it is a huge disservice to use hormone levels on a single blood panel as a starting point. Chances are that provider is simply just ticking off the boxes required by insurance to diagnose you (Click HERE to learn more about how this impacts your access to quality health care).
Working with quality functional labs, we can create a plan that is fine-tuned to your body’s specific needs, as opposed to suppressing symptoms alone. Here are the labs I most commonly recommend with PCOS symptoms:
GI-MAP (Diagnostic Solutions) - measures microbial balance, pathogens, inflammatory markers, and digestive markers.
Organic Acids Test (Mosaic) - measures for yeast and mold, neurotransmitter dysfunction, mitochondrial health, and nutrient deficiencies.
Expanded Female Hormone Panel (eFHP - Diagnostechs) - Spanning across your entire cycle, this test measures FSH, LH, Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone, and DHEA, and helps us locate patterns and sources of dysfunction (e.g. is the source of the problem brain-ovary communication, or is it in the gland itself?)
DUTCH Adrenal (Precision Analytics) - Measures daily cortisol rhythms, DHEA-S, and your body’s cortisol clearance and detoxification ability.
DUTCH Complete (Precision Analytics) - Measures multiple reproductive hormones as well as their metabolites and your body’s ability to detoxify each of them. It does not measure FSH or LH but is a powerhouse of information for males and females alike.
You can see that the focus with functional nutrition is not calories, diet, or weight loss - or even the lab values themselves - the focus is function.
Uncovering the root causes of dysfunction that are keeping you stuck in your inflammatory state, your constant bloat and discomfort, your debilitating fatigue, sugar cravings, and overall well-being.
ways to advocate for your own health right now
The PCOS-to-PMOS change only happened recently. It is highly unlikely that you will walk into your OBGYN tomorrow and get whole-body, root-cause support for your PCOS diagnosis. It may take years or even decades for medical providers to start receiving training that will help you the most.
The medical system trains doctors to know what to do when your health fails. It’s not their fault, but “conventional” medicine does very little to help connect your symptoms to your data.
You are among a generation of cycle-breakers, friend. The ripples have to start somewhere - let it be with you!
HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO START ADVOCATING FOR YOUR HEALTH STARTING TODAY:
Stop waiting until self-care “fits”: Now is when your body needs help. And now is when you’re worthy enough to receive it.
Stay curious. Your healthcare providers, including me, are humans just like you. We each have our own set of knowledge, skills, and biases that influence how we show up in the world and with our patients/clients. HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERS ARE NOT ALWAYS RIGHT. Ask questions and don’t believe everything you hear (including from me!). Ask for evidence and make your own interpretations.
Stop scrolling TikTok. Stop falling for bio-hacks, supplement packs, expensive wearables, and cleanses that were not recommended based on a personalized assessment of your body’s needs.
Talking is free. Leave comments below or email me with your questions. I love connecting with health-curious folx.
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Food Sensitivity Testing and Parasites | The Missing Piece
Having food allergies does not mean you have parasites, just as having parasites doesn’t necessarily mean you will develop food allergies.
But when working with 1:1 clients, and I see food (or seasonal) allergies that developed later in life, that is information worth digging into.
The Missing Piece in Your Food Sensitivity Test
Food allergy testing and food sensitivity testing have been all the rage in the past few years in the holistic health world. I get more into the differences (and they’re big) between food allergies and food sensitivities in a recent post. But in this article, I want to talk about an important, and often overlooked, hidden cause of food allergies that your practitioner may be overlooking: parasites.
Hi lovelies. I’m Hilary Beckwith, ex-dieter and functional health expert. Women with PCOS, IBS, and autoimmune conditions come to see me with signs of adrenal stress, insulin resistance, and inflammatory conditions, and my job is to find the root causes so we can address their symptoms more effectively and fill in the gaps between their lab values and how their body actually feels. Before you continue, click here to read my Medical Disclaimer.
In this article, you’ll learn:
how your body responds to food allergies
how your body responds to parasites
how to find and address parasites
is your food allergy actually a food sensitivity?
Some use the terms food allergy and food sensitivity interchangeably, and here’s why it’s important to know the difference. They’re two different types of responses by the immune system that require two different types of testing.
If you go to your doc and tell them you think you have food allergies, they’re going to run a food allergy test, which will provide negative results if you actually have a food sensitivity.
Let’s explore the differences in the diagram below:
your body’s response to parasites
The most relevant takeaway from the above table is that food allergies involve IgE antibodies. In fact, most allergies, not just food, involve an IgE response.
What does that have to do with parasites?
Studies have shown that IgE levels increase with parasite presence in humans. Not all parasites - but most.
This is meant to be a protective mechanism against the parasite; however, the increase in IgE levels in the body increases susceptibility to having an allergic reaction to foods. Although more research is needed, the current thought is that proteins from foods that are structurally similar to certain parasites are attaching to IgE antibodies and activating an allergic response.
It’s why when I meet a client who has developed food allergies later in life, and somewhat suddenly, my first suspicion is parasites.
HERE’S HOW IGE ANTIBODIES WORK
IgE antibodies develop as a defense against an allergen - an antigen that causes an allergic response.
These Y-shaped antibodies attach themselves to mast cells - cells that primarily line mucosal tissues, such as lungs, intestines, sinuses, under the skin, etc. - and wait for an allergen to show up.
When said allergen arrives, it attaches to one or more IgE receptor points(the two points at the top of the Y). When two IgE receptors have been activated, this triggers mast cell degranulation - meaning, the cell opens up and releases a surge of toxic, inflammatory substances that damage surrounding cells and molecules, including the allergen.
This is a great video description for all you visual learners.
do you need a parasite cleanse?
Having food allergies does not mean you have parasites, just as having parasites doesn’t necessarily mean you will develop food allergies.
But when working with 1:1 clients, and I see food (or seasonal) allergies that developed later in life, that is information worth digging into.
Parasites are sneaky. They are really good at evading lab testing and the immune system, due to their ability to signal “everything is fine - nothing to see here” to the immune system. In fact, there is ongoing research into the effects of a specific few parasite types that might actually have a protective impact on those with autoimmune conditions.
Personally, I scored very low on the very same screening questionnaire I offer clients, and I lab-tested negative (twice) - yet I still found parasites when doing a cleanse.
We need a clearer picture of overall health to know whether a parasite cleanse is right for you. Here are some things I consider when assessing a client for parasites:
digestive health
inflammation markers on lab testing
immune markers on lab testing
parasite symptoms
potential parasite exposures (swimming in standing water, consuming raw or undercooked meats and fish, allowing pets on furniture, pets licking your face, frequent interactions with children, etc.)
before you rush into a parasite cleanse
Parasite cleanses are a trendy topic right now, and that means there is a huge influx of influencers (and some practitioners) wanting to sell you parasite eradication products you may not need. Many of these influencers and practitioners do not have proper training to assess for and address parasite infections - but I do.
As a Restorative Health Practitioner, I have been trained in parasite eradication and have even experienced success with it myself.
Parasite eradication is not a one-and-done event. Parasite cleanses are a whole-body problem, and require:
healing and repair to tissues damaged by parasites
functional support to address the digestive mechanisms that, if working optimally, should prevent you from getting a parasite infection in the first place
a knowledge of the parasite’s life cycle - many parasite cleanses only address mature parasites, not their eggs or larvae
the ability to adjust supplements and methods according to your body’s response to the process
Before you jump into some expensive product line from someone who happens to be really good at talking, consider getting a more functional perspective to help you reduce food allergies, lower inflammation, and repair the mechanisms that are meant to protect you from parasite infections.
The first step is answering a few questions about your symptoms. This is the same parasite screening questionnaire I give to my 1:1 clients.
Food Sensitivity Testing - Is It Legit?
As an inflammatory health expert, I can tell you that using food sensitivity tests to address inflammation is a big piece of the puzzle, and has the ability to reduce pain, improve long-term health, and prevent chronic illnesses such as diabetes and autoimmune disease.
In this article, we’re going to cover the following topics:
What are food sensitivities?
How are food sensitivities different from food allergies?
What’s the best food sensitivity test available?
Can I recover or heal from food sensitivities? Or am I stuck with it?
Food Sensitivity Testing
Food sensitivity testing has been a hot topic in the media for the past few years.
And quite frankly, until I began to educate myself on the effects food sensitivities in long term health and whole-body health, I thought it was a load of hot garbage.
The media has not done a great job at educating us on what food sensitivities actually are, what causes them, and how they affect your health.
So, I’m here to fill the gaps for you.
As an inflammatory health expert, I can tell you that using food sensitivity tests to address inflammation is a big piece of the puzzle, and has the ability to reduce pain, improve long-term health, and prevent chronic illnesses such as diabetes and autoimmune disease.
In this article, we’re going to cover the following topics:
What are food sensitivities?
How are food sensitivities different from food allergies?
What’s the best food sensitivity test available?
Can I recover or heal from food sensitivities? Or am I stuck with it?
Much of the information in this article is referenced from experiential knowledge, in addition to the book Food Allergies and Food Intolerance (Brostoff, J., & Gamlin, L. (2000). Food Allergies and Food Intolerance: The complete guide to their identification and treatment. Healing Arts Press.).
Additional research was done to fill in the gaps. Those references can be found throughout the article.
what are food sensitivities?
A food sensitivity occurs when a food particle, known as an antigen, is recognized as foreign, triggering an immune response. Antibodies known as immunoglobulins, recognize and bind to these foreign “invaders” and work to eliminate them as though they would a virus or other pathogen.
Once initially recognized as foreign (more on why that occurs later in the post), the immune system creates antibodies that remember and recognize when the culprit food is present, causing an immune reaction each time the food is ingested. This type of reaction and memory is known as the adaptive immune system.
There are three main types of immunoglobulins involved in food sensitivities:
IgA - Primarily lives in, and protects, the mucosal barrier of tissues in the digestive tract, lungs, and sinuses.
IgG - Patrols the blood throughout the body, and the most common type of food sensitivity responder.
IgM - The initial antibody produced by the adaptive immune system in response to an antigen (1).
These types of immune responses trigger inflammatory mediators and cytokines. Cytokines are various types of proteins whose roles are to fight, destroy, and even “eat” pathogens (2).
Common Symptoms of Food Sensitivities Include:
headache
migraine
fatigue (feeling tired/low energy, without explanation)
depression/anxiety
hyperactivity (more common in children)
recurrent mouth ulcers
aching muscles
vomiting
nausea
stomach ulcers
diarrhea
diagnosis of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
constipation
flatulence/bloat
diagnosis of Crohn’s
joint pain/Rheumatoid Arthritis
edema (swelling or water retention in joints)
When a food becomes an antigen, and it’s consumed often, you can imagine the impact this would have on inflammation and pain levels.
food sensitivities vs. food allergies
It’s important to understand the difference between food sensitivities and food allergies mainly for two reasons:
Reactions to food allergies can be potentially fatal
Reactions to food sensitivities are more likely to cause long-term health conditions that can be confused for other issues.
So, what’s the difference?
We discussed how the immunoglobulins (antibodies) responsible for food sensitivity reactions are IgA, IgG, and IgM.
The immunoglobulin responsible for food allergy reaction is known as IgE.
Think of it this way:
Think of the ‘G’ in IgG (remember, this is the most common responder in food sensitivities) as standing for ‘Gradual’ (it doesn’t in actuality, but play along). Food sensitivities have a more gradual reaction, often manifesting within 12-72 hours of consuming the culprit food.
Whereas the ‘E’ in IgE could stand for ‘Emergency’. Food allergies typically have a more immediate response (within seconds or minutes), and often require emergency care.
IgE molecules bind to receptors on mast cells (a type of immune cell that lines connective tissues such as under the skin, nerves, lungs, and intestines (3)) and look for allergens - factors (in this case, foods) that cause an allergic response.
Once the allergen binds to the IgE molecule, the mast cell ruptures and releases mediators to fight or engulf the invader (this rupturing is called degranulation). These mediators trigger an inflammatory response, signal other immune cells, and cause blood vessels to widen.
This is why food allergy symptoms often include:
hives
itching
trouble breathing
redness
swelling
abdominal cramping
diarrhea
food sensitivity testing
Depending on who you talk to, there is no one test that is superior to others. The best tests are going to reflect the type of work you are doing with your practitioner.
Because I specialize in helping individuals reduce inflammation and repair gut health, it’s important to me to use a test that differentiates between the types of antibodies, helping you recognize symptoms much more easily, re-establishing your intuition, and growing connection with your body.
For this reason, I prefer to use a panel that tests for both IgA and IgG, and differentiates between the two. The test kit you get from me is an at-home dried blood spot kit, no need to go to a lab.
HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER ONLINE FOOD SENSITIVITY TESTS?
There is a big piece missing when using online testing services you might have heard of.
That missing piece is support in getting rid of food sensitivities.
Yep! You read that correctly.
Food sensitivities are most commonly caused by poor digestion and damaged intestinal lining (leaky gut). While food allergies often have a genetic factor, food sensitivities are more commonly caused by food experiences, and can be reversed!
READ MORE ABOUT HOW LEAKY GUT CAUSES FOOD SENSITIVITIES IN THIS ARTICLE
These online food sensitivity tests might tell you which foods to avoid, but they are not able to assess your body’s unique digestive health needs. Getting tested under the care of a holistic provider like myself enables you to get the individualized support you need to overcome food sensitivities by addressing the root cause.
Getting tested for food sensitivities does not mean you have to give up the foods you love.
With the right support, it is possible to enjoy those foods again without having an immune reaction.
How cool is that?!
takeaways
Think you might have food sensitivities?
Want to ditch your diarrhea, constipation, anxiety, fatigue, congestion, chronic pain, and headaches?
You are in the right place.
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Leaky Gut: Your Chewing Technique May Be the Problem (and how to fix it)
Leaky gut is probably more common than you'd imagine. So if you have been told you have it, you are certainly not alone in that boat.
What is (arguably) most important to understand about leaky gut, is that it is often the beginning of many cyclical conditions, such as Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), food allergies or sensitivities, seasonal allergies, dermatitis, adult acne, eczema, & candida (yeast) overgrowth. If unaddressed, many of these factors can often lead to autoimmune disease.
What causes Leaky Gut Syndrome?
Leaky Gut.
You have heard that term before, (you may have even been told you have it) but what does leaky gut syndrome even mean?!
When I first heard the term, I thought, 'is goo going to start oozing out my belly button?'
News flash: The answer is no.
Leaky gut is probably more common than you'd imagine. So if you have been told you have it, you are certainly not alone in that boat.
What is (arguably) most important to understand about leaky gut syndrome, is that it is often the beginning of many cyclical conditions, such as Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), food allergies or sensitivities, seasonal allergies, dermatitis, adult acne, eczema, & candida (yeast) overgrowth. If unaddressed, many of these factors can often lead to autoimmune disease.
Keeping that in mind, if you've ever been told you have any of those conditions, leaky gut is likely to be at the root of it.
You can hack at the symptoms or condition all you want, but without addressing the root, you will end up back where you started.
What a waste!
leaky gut symptoms
To determine whether you might have leaky gut syndrome, look for symptoms, like:
bloating within 1-2 hours after eating
excess farting or belching
chronic heartburn
seasonal allergies
food sensitivities (these can manifest more subtly, like congestion, phlegmy cough, aches/stiffness, eczema, & chronic inflammation)
chronic constipation or diarrhea (or both!)
malnutrition (this is difficult to gauge without proper assessment)
excess hunger
The good news is, treating leaky gut syndrome is not difficult. It can often be resolved with some simple lifestyle changes and temporary supplementation. But before we get in to that, let's talk about what this all has to do with your CHEWING?
digestion 101
To grasp the relationship between your chewing habits and leaky gut symptoms, you've got to have a basic understanding of digestion.
DIGESTION 101:
Brain: Touching food, smelling it, seeing it - these senses all tell the brain to prepare the body for digestion. So long as you are in a relaxed state, our brain will increase blood flow to digestive organs, and increase the production and release of digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid (ie. stomach acid, or HCl).
Mouth: The first two enzymes needed for digestion are released in the mouth - salivary amylase (breaks down carbohydrates) and salivary lipase (breaks down fats). The components of your food also tell your body what other digestive juices will be needed. Think of your mouth as a second brain. While you chew, your body is working to produce enough enzymes and HCl to properly break down the types of food you consumed.
Stomach: More mechanical digestion occurs here, in addition to the release of HCl (stimulates pepsin to break down proteins, and disinfects food), this is also where more digestive enzymes are released and further the breakdown process.
Small Intestine: As food enters the SI, bile (emulsifies fats & carries toxins out of the body) and bicarbonate (neutralizes the now acidic food) are released. The SI is where a majority of nutrients are absorbed into the body. Cells that line finger-like protrusions called microvilli transport the nutrients through the SI wall and to the liver where they are filtered. A layer of mucous protects the microvilli from any acidity still left in the food, and provides protective immune response to any pathogens left over. The smooth muscles in the SI also contribute to mechanical digestion.
Large Intestine: Fats and some water are absorbed through the LI. This is also where your "microbiome" lives - bacteria that feed on indigestable foods and produce certain other nutrients, like vitamins A, K, & butyrate. Again, more mechanical digestion occurs here, too.
Colon: what is left after this process moves into the colon and eliminated.
Ok, now that we know how digestion is SUPPOSED to work , it will be easier for you to understand what leaky gut syndrome is. (if you're looking for a more in-depth explanation, download this free guide)
We’re getting closer - stay with me!
what is leaky gut syndrome?
LEAKY GUT
When healthfully intact, the mucous lining and microvilli in the small intestine act as a sort of filter for food particles that are too large to pass through. When the cells and tissue are healthy, they form what are called "tight junctions."
When the cells are unhealthy and the tissue is damaged, these junctions loosen up, creating larger openings. Larger, undigested food particles slip through these larger openings and into your bloodstream. This "leakage" causes a whole slew of problems, in the form of the symptoms I listed earlier in the post.
So, what the heck does that have to do with chewing??
I'm so glad you asked. Let me tell you!
WHEN WE DON’T CHEW PROPERLY:
Our body does not produce enough HCl. Remember, this is what is needed to disinfect foods, and stimulate protein breakdown.
The valve through which food passes from the stomach into the SI, requires that food be a certain acidity before it can enter the SI. If this acidity is not reached, the food just sits there, building pressure and causing tissue damage with what acidity there is (also a common cause of heartburn but that's for another post!)
As the pressure builds, the valve is opened by force. The acidity is not strong enough to stimulate bicarbonate release to neutralize what acid is present, so the acidic food, not disinfected, & not digested in the beginning stages, now passes into the SI.
The existing acidity causes damage to the mucous lining and microvilli.
The undigested foods and potential pathogens enter the bloodstream where our immune system reacts, causing systemic inflammation, and creating antibodies against the now "foreign" food particles (food sensitivities).
Bacteria and pathogens not properly disinfected by HCl will also enter the SI and the bloodstream (and as we know, bacteria multiply and feed on the nutrients intended for the rest of your body!)
HOW TO TREAT LEAKY GUT SYMPTOMS
Proper assessment is needed to understand the severity and sub-sequential consequences of leaky gut, to treat them effectively.
However, there are a few simple things you can begin doing right now that will still be helpful!
Sit down to eat: Multitasking while eating is a form of stress for our body. It stimulates our "fight or flight" response (yes, even scrolling Facebook can do this). Practice mindful eating by sitting down to eat, turning off all screens, and simply enjoying your meal.
CHEW!: I mean, that was the entire purpose of this post, right? As part of a mindful eating practice, take small bites and chew your food until it becomes liquid. Depending on the food you are eating, this could be 15-35 times. If you have the urge to 'wash down' your food, you have not chewed enough.
Avoid beverages with meals: Washing down your food will actually DILUTE your HCl and can contribute to all that dysfunction we discussed earlier.
Get your family involved: Want your kids to have healthy digestion, too? Think of how many of these poor eating habits we prooobably picked up from childhood. When you start involving them in the shopping, the cooking, the preparing, and then sitting down to a table in conversation together, you are promoting healthy eating habits. (And I bet your relationship will improve, too!). Avoid eating in the car, with TV's on, or phone-scrolling.
Supplementation: It is important to consult your healthcare provider before adding any supplementation to your routine. However, there are certain nutrients that are known to support healthy digestion and gut lining (which can be purchased here):
l-glutamine - supports healthy mucosal linings of the digestive tract
zinc - needed for HCl production
digestive enzymes/bitters - bitter foods support the release of enzymes and HCl.
vitamin B6 - supports HCl production and is needed for the healing of the mucosal lining.
vitamin A - supports healing of tissue lining
probiotics (strain types matter!) - supports proper elimination of waste, and eradication of excess "bad" bacteria
learn something new?
How has leaky gut syndrome affected your life? What has been helping you get through it? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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