PCOS/PMOS Treatment with Functional Nutrition - Seattle Nutrition Expert

Successful PCOS/PMOS Treatment Starts with Repairing the Gut

You’ve probably heard all kinds of advice about PMOS (formerly known as PCOS) — things like “just lose weight,”“eat less and move more,” or “cut out gluten.” None of that feels helpful when you’re already dealing with the frustration and grief of feeling like your body is fighting against you.

PCOS/PMOS doesn’t exist on its own. It’s a condition caused by mix of deeper imbalances — digestion, gut health, liver function, inflammation, and insulin regulation all play a role. When those systems aren’t supported, it can snowball into issues like thyroid slowdown, adrenal fatigue, and weight changes.

The good news? When you address those root causes, your symptoms can shift in a meaningful way. I’ve experienced that firsthand, and in this post I’m sharing what truly made a difference for me.

Hi lovelies. I’m Hilary Beckwith, ex-dieter and functional nutrition expert. Women with PCOS/PMOS or who are in perimenopause 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:

• my PCOS/PMOS story

• types of PCOS/PMOS

• PCOS/PMOS and leaky gut

• PCOS/PMOS and insulin resistance

• why repairing the gut should be your first step in PCOS/PMOS treatment

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my PCOS/PMOS story

Like many women with PCOS/PMOS, I had many of the classic PCOS/PMOS symptoms.

• Got my first period later than most females I knew (age 17)

• Periods were highly irregular and unpredictable (1-2 periods per year)

• Severe cystic acne from adolescence and into my late 20s (when I finally decided to go on Accutane)

• Belly weight (referred to as "PCOS belly”) that simply would not budge

• Migraines (that I now know, for me, are caused by low estrogen)

• Blood sugar symptoms - I was hungry All. The. Time. and my hunger was paired with irritability, shakiness, and brain fog - classic symptoms of blood sugar dysregulation.

• Nearly zero libido

I was under-tested and over-medicated

I was put on the pill at 17 to regulate my periods. I was put on loads of antibiotics and topical meds for acne for many years before opting for Accutane.

No provider ever tested my hormones. No provider ever tested my blood sugar levels. Despite my symptoms of dysfunction in both. I didn’t know what I didn’t know, so I didn’t know how to advocate for myself, or that I even needed to.

I only knew I was miserable and felt broken and totally alone.

My PCOS Diagnosis

I was diagnosed with PCOS (now more accurately called PMOS - Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome) in my late 20s, right after my spouse and I decided to start trying for a baby. I stopped the pill and waited for my cycle to return… but it never did. After months of nothing, my provider put me on two rounds of Clomid to try and stimulate ovulation.

Looking back, it’s pretty clear that if they’d checked my hormones first, they probably would not have given me a medication that inhibits estrogen production — but here we are.

When Clomid didn’t work, my GYN finally ordered a pelvic ultrasound, and that’s when we got the classic PCOS/PMOS image: enlarged ovaries, lots of follicles, no ovulation. We were told our chances of conceiving naturally were low and that our only “real” option was expensive fertility treatment — something we absolutely couldn’t afford at the time.

We were devastated and felt hopeless.

But here’s the part they got wrong: not the PCOS diagnosis, but the idea that nothing could be done.

Addressing the root causes of PCOS/PMOS can shift symptoms in huge ways — and you don’t always need medication or costly fertility interventions to see real progress. I know because that’s exactly what happened for me.

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types of PCOS + PMOS

Depending on who you talk to, there are four main types of PCOS. It may not always be useful to classify your PCOS/PMOS symptoms, since the starting point should be to uncover the hidden dysfunctions behind those symptoms.

But for the sake of understanding and information, here are the three main types of PCOS/PMOS:

#1: Classic PCOS/PMOS characteristics:

• high androgen levels

• visible polycystic ovaries on ultrasound OR normal-looking ovaries on ultrasound

• anovulation (does not ovulate, or rarely ovulates), irregular cycles

• insulin resistance

• high insulin levels

• high triglycerides or other out-of-range cholesterol levels

• weight gain, difficulty losing weight

#2: Ovulatory PCOS/PMOS characteristics:

• high androgen levels

• regular cycles

• visible polycystic ovaries on ultrasound

• higher insulin levels

• elevated lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides)

• belly weight gain (PCOS belly)

• elevated androgens

#3: Non-Hyperandrogenic PCOS/PMOS characteristics:

• androgen levels within range

• mostly regular cycles, although without ovulation (all or most cycles)

• visible polycystic ovaries on ultrasound

• fewer cases of insulin resistance

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PCOS, PMOS, and leaky gut syndrome

When I see clients with digestive symptoms such as chronic constipation or diarrhea (or both), bloating, sensitivities to foods, especially wheat or dairy, or who have adult cystic acne, eczema, or blood sugar regulation issues - all of which are common with PCOS/PMOS - I look to the gut for answers.

If you take anything from this post - take this:

Inflammation of the digestive tract tissue, whether due to poor digestion, pathogenic overgrowth, or both, will cause the symptoms I just listed. Additional stress caused by pathogenic overgrowth will also disrupt sex hormone production and balance, and cause insulin resistance.

This is why so many women find relief from their PCOS/PMOS symptoms when they do the work to repair the gut lining and digestion first.

I’m going to say that again…

When addressing PCOS/PMOS symptoms, it is essential to address gut health and digestion as the first step.

This step is largely overlooked by Western medicine practitioners, and because of it, women with PCOS/PMOS are dismissed from clinics, having been told to “eat less, move more,”“cut out gluten,” or “reduce your stress”.

And if these women also happen to be trying to get pregnant, they are additionally sent to expensive infertility clinics and given medications they may not need.

There is another way, friend. You can treat PCOS/PMOS symptoms and get pregnant without expensive infertility treatments, harsh diets or food restrictions, and medications.

PCOS/PMOS and insulin resistance

Here’s the part that really sucks for females with PCOS/PMOS - most females with PCOS/PMOS have a predisposition to having insulin resistance. They’re born with it.

What does that mean?

It means that women with PCOS/PMOS have a higher propensity for cells to block out insulin, rather than allowing insulin to shuttle in glucose for energy production like they are supposed to. Click here for a more detailed look at insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance is a big driver of hormone imbalance, weight gain, fatigue, and that jittery, irritable, want-to-punch-someone-in-the-throat feeling you get between meals.

And because insulin resistance leads to higher insulin levels in the blood, this increase in insulin stimulates the ovaries to pump out androgens (testosterone and all its variants).

And remember that elevated androgens are a common characteristic in two of the three main PCOS/PMOS types.

This feels so unfair for women with PCOS/PMOS.

But at the end of the day, all it means is that we have to work a bit harder - and have a lot more self-grace - to keep insulin in check. But it is possible with the right support.

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PCOS/PMOS treatment with functional nutrition

I had PCOS/PMOS - and now I don’t. I was told by my doctors that I would likely become diabetic, that the only option for pregnancy was expensive fertility treatment, and aside from that, was given zero direction.

So I figured it out for myself - but you don’t have to.

Initially, it was just me doing research and trying different methods to improve weight loss and blood sugar. What I didn’t know at the time is that my efforts were also addressing gut health and adrenal health, and ultimately hormone balance. All of which improved my PCOS/PMOS symptoms immensely.

It wasn’t until I decided to get a degree in holistic nutrition that I connected the pieces - the reason why my methods had worked is because they addressed gut health and insulin resistance.

HERE’S HOW MY SYMPTOMS HAVE CHANGED SINCE WORKING ON MY GUT AND INSULIN:

• My hormones are all testing at optimal levels, with the occasional minor imbalance.

• My periods went from 1-2 per year, to 30-34-day cycles.

• My anxiety has greatly decreased.

• Insulin sensitivity has greatly improved, and I am more tuned in to my body when blood sugar symptoms start to show again.

• Lab hormone levels and cycle tracking confirm that I now ovulate on my own - While I no longer want to have children, I’m confident that I could successfully conceive.

• My skin remains clear, save for the occasional PMS breakout (which I’m quite happy to have - feels like a sign of normalcy after decades of feeling broken!)

• I have far more consistent energy every day than I used to.

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taking probiotic supplements is not gut repair

Healing the gut involves functional support - supporting healthy digestive enzymes, stomach acid, motility, and bowel movements - and tissue repair - signs of inflammation, food sensitivities, bloat, acne, bad breath, persistent pain, and anxiety are all signs of inflammation - especially in the gut.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO TREAT PCOS/PMOS HOLISTICALLY:

• Common PCOS/PMOS symptoms, such as bloat, weight gain, feeling hangry between meals, fatigue, acne, and irregular periods, are all signs of dysfunction and imbalance in multiple body systems. Treating or masking the symptom is profoundly different than addressing the root cause.

• Poor digestion can lead to tissue damage and inflammation - addressing the inflammation and symptoms is pointless without addressing what caused it to become dysfunctional in the first place.

• Poor digestion also increases susceptibility to pathogenic infection, including SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), h. pylori, parasites, and especially candida (yeast) overgrowth. A healthy digestive system should be able to kill off and eliminate pathogens before they become a problem. It is very common with my PCOS/PMOS clients to find such infections.

• Unaddressed gut infections put stress on the adrenal glands and thyroid, leading to increased inflammation due to a constant state of fight-or-flight response. Eventually, we see this show up as abnormal thyroid levels on labwork, chronic fatigue, anxiety, and a suppressed immune system.

• Stress on the adrenal glands interferes with hormone production and balance. Stress is modulated by the HPA axis (hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal). Female sex hormones are modulated by the HPO(vary) axis. Human bodies prioritize stress over most other functions in the body - including hormone balance. Constant activation of the HPA axis in response to an unaddressed stressor (such as a pathogenic infection) will cause disruption in hormones.

Hopefully you are beginning to see how addressing gut health is essential to PCOS/PMOS treatment and finding relief for your PCOS/PMOS symptoms. Addressing gut health reduces inflammation and opens up the necessary pathways for optimal hormone function.

This is where I come in. When clients come to me with a PCOS/PMOS diagnosis, the first thing I do is look into the gut. Here are some of the tools I use to assess gut health:

• Functional lab testing and food journals to evaluate digestive function.

• Subjective intake to get a clear picture of the client’s health history and patterns that might be relevant.

• Questionnaires designed to narrow down what type of lab testing would be most helpful.

• Dietary analysis to see how certain foods are affecting mood, energy, and sleep.

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Treating PCOS with Nutrition: Why Addressing Gut Health is Key

PCOS Symptoms

This is an exciting topic for me. (Nerd alert!)

But for real - I was once diagnosed with PCOS, and so whenever I am studying it, or hear that someone I know is dealing with it, I light up! It's such an interesting topic to me, and has impacted my life on a deeply emotional level.

It’s important to me that you know that I GET IT. More deeply than most, I am right there with you.

For those unfamiliar with the term, PCOS stands for PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome. It occurs when our body, for whatever reason (more on that later), cannot fully ovulate, meaning the egg cannot fully break through the follicle wall and ovary wall into the fallopian tube. Instead, the egg remains in the ovary wall and creates a cyst. When this happens repeatedly, the ovary becomes covered in cysts.

The really heartbreaking part is that female-bodied individuals who've been diagnosed with PCOS are often diagnosed while in the process of trying to get pregnant.

But why aren't our health care professionals looking into this when we come to them earlier on, with PCOS symptoms of irregular periods, cystic acne, blood sugar issues, weight gain or PCOS belly, and even chronic pain...

Why do they just throw 'the pill' at us instead of investigating the root cause?

Why do we have to wait until the moment we are in a super vulnerable stage (anyone who's ridden the roller coaster of trying to conceive...), when we could have addressed it sooner?!

This, to me, is truly maddening.

The most important takeaway from this post: PCOS is not an ovarian issue - it is a GUT issue. Addressing gut health will go a long way to improving PCOS symptoms.

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what are PCOS symptoms?

If you have been given a PCOS diagnosis and have been advised to seek infertility treatments, know that you have other options. PCOS treatment does not involve petri dishes, hormone shots, egg extraction, etc..

If PCOS is the causal factor in your infertility, it can be addressed dietarily, without the use of expensive infertility treatments.

PCOS IS NOT AN OVARIAN CONDITION - IT IS A GUT ISSUE.

Whether or not you are trying to get pregnant, are done having kids, or don't want kids - if you are a female-bodied person, then you, or someone you know, will probably encounter PCOS symptoms at some point.

Before we really dig in, I want to briefly share my story as it relates to PCOS.

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my PCOS story

I was a "late bloomer" (first red flag), did not get my first period until I was 16 or 17. They were irregular from the start and for decades after.

Add to that, I was pretty ignorant of how my body was supposed to function, due to my parents' religious beliefs and consequently a severe disconnection from my body’s needs.

(Um, side note: Can we PLEASE normalize talking to kids about their bodies?!)

Cystic acne from my teen years and many years into adulthood, I have always had excess belly and hip fat (commonly known as PCOS belly), difficulty losing weight, symptoms of low blood sugar, the works.

When I was 18 (ca. 2000) and my periods had still not regulated, I got my first gynecological exam. I was given a prescription for 'the pill' and was told that it would regulate my cycle (and it did).

I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I trusted that my doctor knew what was best. I didn’t understand until later that if that doctor had taken the time to help me find the root causes of my PCOS symptoms, I would have been spared decades of heartache and confusion.

Fast forward to 2009, my partner and I decided we wanted children, so I stopped the pill, and we began trying to conceive. It was a few months without a period that we started to get concerned.

My GYN ordered an ultrasound, and I was diagnosed with PCOS.

The GYN prescribed Clomid (my apologies to anyone who had to encounter me during this time). Clomid is a medication that stimulates an increase in hormones involved in ovulation.

When two rounds of Clomid were unsuccessful, we were left with the decision to come up with the money to pursue infertility treatment or to just keep our fingers crossed.

We left that appointment with broken hearts, as that kind of money was truly foreign to us at the time.

The short story is, we never did have children (and are now very happy with our lifestyle without children). We tried for many years before finally making a very intentional decision to NOT have children.

Being a holistic healthcare provider now has taught me a lot about my PCOS diagnosis and how to address them. And although I no longer want children of my own, I no longer have signs of PCOS symptoms!

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PCOS treatment

PCOS occurs when there is an imbalance of hormones. Period.

This imbalance can be caused by a number of things: Pituitary dysfunction, adrenal dysfunction, toxic overload, liver dysfunction...

It often (not always) has very little to do with the ovaries themselves.

PCOS is the end result of other dysfunctions in the body, and symptoms of PCOS can, and often do, make it difficult for a female to get pregnant.

Here’s a brief breakdown of the female reproductive system as it relates to PCOS symptom. For those who want a more thorough explanation, read this article.

Remember that this system requires our brain (hypothalamus) to communicate with the pituitary gland, which releases hormones to stimulate egg growth, which increases estrogen production, and once the egg matures and breaks through the ovary wall, then progesterone is produced. From there, we need our liver to detoxify the excess hormones that are now circulating throughout our body (yes, these hormones need a way out!).

Because other systems in our body use similar pathways, it is easy to create bottlenecks of dysfunction.

The most obvious example as it relates to PCOS symptoms, is blood sugar regulation. You might remember from an article I wrote recently in regards to blood sugar balance, that it is not just about what you eat. It, too, requires your hypothalamus to communicate with your pituitary gland, telling it to produce hormones, that travel to your adrenal glands, telling them to produce other hormones (epinephrine and cortisol), that stimulate the pancreas to release OTHER hormones.... (you get the idea).

When we are chronically stressed (meaning, our body produces cortisol more frequently than it needs to), or we overly consume sugar, processed foods, or medications, we create dysfunction in other systems of our body.

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THE GOOD NEWS IS…

Unless your body has an underlying dysfunction within your individual chemical makeup, all of these things can be addressed using dietary and lifestyle changes.

And for those of you who have been told PCOS is the cause of your infertility, knowing this is life-changing.

Effective treatment of PCOS symptoms starts by looking at the root cause. Here’s what individualized PCOS treatment means for you:

• reduce PCOS belly, or weight loss in the belly/hips

• regulate menstrual cycles

• improve ovulation cycle

• improve insulin sensitivity

• prevent Type II Diabetes

• improve skin clarity

Individualized assessments and a customized care plan based on your body’s unique health needs are essential to getting relief from your PCOS symptoms. Anything else is just throwing spaghetti at the wall, and aren’t you tired of doing this?

That being said, there are ways to effectively support common PCOS symptoms with more foundational recommendations.

how to get rid of PCOS

• Eat whole foods. Ditch anything that strays from its whole form in any way, as much as possible. Processed foods, and especially refined carbohydrates, lead to inflammatory conditions such as leaky gut, in addition to promoting insulin resistance.

• Stop counting calories. You are not doing your body any favors by restricting how many calories are consumed. This is a temptation for many female-bodied individuals, especially because excess weight is often harder to shed with PCOS. The quality of food you consume carries more value than the amount of calories, in regards to hormone balance.

• Regulate your blood sugar (here is a great article on how to do that). For many, it involves eating more quality fats & proteins each meal, increasing (whole) fiber, and decreasing the amount of starchy foods, grains, and sugars/sweeteners (yes, even 'low calorie'). Not only will this help your PCOS symptoms, you'll also get less "hangry" symptoms (your friends & family will thank you!)

• Stop snacking. Eating more quality fats/proteins and fiber each meal will likely help you feel more satiated (satisfied) and not want to snack anyways. However, a conscious effort to not snack will help improve insulin sensitivity, which will support your adrenal glands and liver function.

supplements to improve PCOS symptoms

**Always consult with a trusted health care practitioner before adding any supplements to your regimen. Additionally, taking supplements without addressing foundational factors (discussed above) is a waste of your money. Click here to read my full Medical Disclaimer.

• Myo-Inositol Plus (Bioclinic Naturals)- improves insulin response, and can help lower excess estrogens & testosterone.

• HPA Adapt (Integrative Therapeutics)- supports the cohesion of the Hypothalamus, Pituitary, & Adrenal (HPA) axis

• Calcium D-Glucarate (Integrative Therapeutics)- Supports the specific detox pathway, called glucuronidation, in the liver needed to deactivate and remove excess hormones, like estrogen and testosterone.

• BroccoProtect (Designs for Health)- supports Phase II detox pathways in the liver. Females with PCOS often have sluggish Phase II detox pathways, and BroccoProtect helps to support these pathways to ensure the deactivation and removal of excess hormones.

• Megaspore Probiotics (Microbiome Labs)- Introducing a good quality probiotic to support the elimination of excess hormones after they've been neutralized by the liver, is essential to making sure they don't get reabsorbed into your body. Elimination is key!

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was this helpful?

What’s your PCOS story?

Share your thoughts on PCOS in the comments below, and help another PCOS warrior feel less alone.

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Heartburn medications for Heartburn Relief and the Health Effects of Long-Term Use

Is It Safe to Use Antacids for Heartburn Relief?

Are you the person who always has a stash of TUMS in your purse?

Most medications are designed to be used on a temporary basis, not long-term. But how many people do you know that take antacids at most meals for heartburn relief?

If you take any type of heartburn relief medication, prescription or non, you are causing long-term damage to your digestive health and opening yourself up to viral gut infections, food sensitivities, and nutrient deficiencies.

It’s true we do need resources for symptom relief when they arise. But the more important question we (and our doctors) are not asking is, why do you have heartburn in the first place?

Hi friends. I’m Hilary Beckwith, ex-dieter and holistic nutrition expert. Clients come to see me with signs of adrenal stress 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 what their doctor is saying, and what their body is saying.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• the role of stomach acid

• what causes heartburn (spoiler alert - it’s not typically caused by too much stomach acid)

• three main types of heartburn relief medications

• how to improve digestion long-term, without medications

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what is stomach acid?

Stomach acid, known as hydrochloric acid, or HCl, is produced by cells that line the stomach, called parietal cells. It’s necessary to disinfect food and triggers the cascade of hormones and enzymes needed to further break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.

Additionally, HCl is needed to lower the pH (increase acidity) of the food you’ve eaten in order to trigger the next phase of digestion.

Think of it like the air conditioner in your home. You “set” a certain temperature that you want to maintain, and your thermostat monitors the temperature constantly and activates or deactivates the air conditioning as needed to maintain that temperature.

Digestion works similarly. In this case, the “thermostat” is monitoring pH levels of food in the stomach, and is “set” to somewhere in the range of 1.5-2.0. When the pH reaches 1.5, this triggers the opening of the pyloric sphincter, which allows food to pass through into the small intestine.

how stomach acid is produced

We’re about to get real nerdy.

The parietal cells in the lining of your stomach all have receptors for histamine, gastrin, and acetylcholine.

For the sake of this post, you do not need to understand what each of those is or does. Just know that when one or more of those factors interacts with its receptor on a parietal cell, this is what activates the process of stomach acid production.

Here’s how that works:

• Hydrogen (which has a positive charge, and is therefore, a proton) enters the parietal cell by way of carbonic acid, which is what you get when water and carbon dioxide molecules combine.

• Separately, bicarbonate within the parietal cells, is also being traded for chloride from surrounding blood vessels. The chloride is then transferred to the stomach.

• When parietal cells are activated by way of histamine, gastrin, or acetylcholine receptor activation, this triggers an enzyme called ATPase to provide enough energy to pump hydrogen into the stomach, in exchange for potassium (potassium enters the cell, hydrogen leaves the cell), known as a proton pump.

• When the hydrogen, now in the stomach, combines with the chloride, we get hydrochloric acid or HCl. This is stomach acid. (here is a really great video of how it is formed)

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what causes heartburn?

While it can be true that one can produce too much stomach acid, one common cause of heartburn is actually not enough stomach acid, or HCl.

Taking heartburn medications and antacids when you actually don’t produce enough stomach acid can be harmful to your health, leave you susceptible to pathogenic infections like parasites, helicobacter pylori, candida overgrowth, and bacteria.

Additionally, taking heartburn medications regularly can lead to poor breakdown of foods, causing digestive symptoms like foul-smelling gas, bloating, constipation, and indigestion.

HOW LOW LEVELS OF STOMACH ACID CAUSE HEARTBURN

Refer back to the thermostat analogy I used earlier, and remember that food will stay in your stomach until it reaches a certain “set” acidity level of 1.5-2.0. Once that acidity level is reached, the pyloric sphincter relaxes and opens, allowing food to pass through into the small intestine.

If you don’t produce enough stomach acid to reach that “set” acidity level in a timely manner, but you do produce some stomach acid, imagine how that still-very-acidic food sits in your stomach, not going anywhere.

This not only causes damage to the lining of your stomach tissue by eroding the protective mucosal tissue, but also creates an environment for pressure to build, especially as you continue eating.

Eventually, the pressure builds enough that the still-very-acidic food begins to regurgitate back into your esophagus (the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach).

This is heartburn.

While there is a place for heartburn medications in symptom relief, especially when peptic ulcers are present, taking heartburn medications and antacids long-term can actually make your digestive symptoms worse, and lead to other, more serious conditions.

The best option is to find and address the root causes of your heartburn symptoms, not just mask them. Later in the post, I’ll walk you through ways to improve your digestive health so you can ditch heartburn medications for good.

other health effects of low stomach acid production

• prevents bile production from the liver, needed to break down fats and eliminate toxins

• increases risk of pathogenic infection [2], such as h. pylori, candida overgrowth, parasites, and bacteria

• increases risk of food sensitivities

• increases inflammation by way of tissue damage within the stomach and intestines

• increases fight or flight activation, due to tissue damage and unaddressed pathogenic infections

• prevents conversion of pepsinogen to pepsin, the enzyme needed to break down proteins

• vitamin B12 deficiency - HCl is required to stimulate the production and release of intrinsic factor, which is essential to the absorption of vitamin B12

• other vitamin and mineral deficiencies - HCl is needed to properly digest food and absorb nutrients

• foul-smelling gas - incomplete breakdown of proteins leads to fermentation, and consequently, foul-smelling gas

• constipation

• bloating

• heartburn, GERD, ulcers, or indigestion symptoms

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3 main types of heartburn medications

1. Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI): Looking back to the diagram of how HCl is produced, you might recall the Proton Pump, which pumps hydrogen from the parietal cell into the stomach, where it combines with chloride to make stomach acid. PPIs are designed to stop the action of ATPase, the enzyme that powers the Proton Pump, thereby reducing the amount of HCl produced [1]. The less hydrogen we have in the stomach, the less HCl is formed.

   • Common names for PPIs include Omeprazole (Prilosec), Lansoprazole (Prevacid), Esomeprazole (Nexium), etc..

2. H2 Antagonist: Looking back at the same diagram, recall the Histamine receptors that trigger the production of ATPase when activated. These receptors are known as H2 Receptors, and therefore, H2 Antagonists block the receptor for histamine, preventing the activation of ATPase.

   • Common names for H2 Antagonists include Cimetidine (Tagamet), Famotidine (Pepcid), and Nizatidine (Axid).

   • H2 Antagonists, or H2 Blockers, are primarily used for relief from peptic ulcers.

3. Antacid (calcium carbonate): Calcium carbonate provides heartburn relief in two ways [3]:

   • Once in the stomach, the bond between calcium and carbonate is broken, and the carbonate binds to the free hydrogen, neutralizing it.

   • The influx of free calcium can stimulate peristalsis, or the mechanical movement of the stomach that works to push food into the small intestine.

   • Common product names include Tums, AlkaSeltzer, and Rolaids.

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3 ways to improve digestion that you can start today

If you think these actions are too small to make an impact, think again. These three action steps are fundamental to long-term digestive health, and are often the first things I recommend to my private coaching clients.

Practicing these steps without also working to find and address root-causes to your digestive symptoms, isn’t going to get you very far. In many cases, we need to dig deeper, and that looks different for every individual.

If you want help figuring out what’s at the root of your heartburn and other digestive symptoms and want to ditch the heartburn medications for good, we need to chat. Click here to book some time on my schedule for a free consultation.

1. CHEW YOUR FOOD: Think this is too simple to be true? Chewing adequately supports the activation of your rest and digest nervous system response, and activates important salivary enzymes to begin breaking down food. There is no magic number - chew until your food becomes a smoothie-like consistency.

2. AVOID/MINIMIZE BEVERAGES WITH MEALS: Fluids, especially non-caloric fluids, dilute stomach acid, and prevent or slow the movement of your food through your digestive tract. If you feel the need to “wash down” your food, you may not be chewing enough.

3. EAT WITHOUT DISTRACTIONS: One of the most important steps needed for good digestion, is the activation of your parasympathetic nervous system, known as rest and digest. Eating while working, driving, doom scrolling, or multi-tasking, even if it doesn’t feel like you’re highly stressed, actually keeps your body in fight or flight, which inhibits digestion.

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was this helpful?

Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!

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BLOG REFERENCES

1. Shin, J. M., & Sachs, G. (2008, December). Pharmacology of Proton Pump Inhibitors. Current gastroenterology reports. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2855237/

2. Yibirin, M., De Oliveira, D., Valera, R., Plitt, A. E., & Lutgen, S. (2021, January 18). Adverse effects associated with proton pump inhibitor use. Cureus. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7887997/

3. Fritz, K. (2023, August 5). Calcium carbonate. StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562303/

Effects of Coffee on an Empty Stomach - Caffeine in Coffee and Blood Sugar Levels

Is it okay to drink coffee on an empty stomach?

The short answer is, I wouldn’t.

But my body is different from yours.

There’s a lot of hype from fitness influencers on this subject, and I’m here to provide the research and give you a holistic practitioner’s point of view, so you can make an educated decision based on your own body’s symptoms and history.

Hi friends. I’m Hilary Beckwith, ex-dieter and holistic nutrition expert. Clients come to see me with signs of adrenal stress 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 what their doctor is saying, and what their body is saying.

Because the clients I see are navigating symptoms of adrenal insufficiency and issues with blood sugar levels, to those individuals, I typically recommend not drinking coffee on an empty stomach.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• benefits of drinking coffee

• risks of drinking coffee (or caffeine)

• who should not be drinking coffee on an empty stomach

Follow my email feed to stay up-to-date on new articles like this one. Click here to subscribe.

Looking for information more focused on how caffeine affects the body? CLICK HERE.

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benefits of drinking coffee

Not everyone will agree, but the first benefit I think of is taste. I love the dark, rich, nutty taste of a good cup of coffee.

Opinions aside, below are some benefits of coffee found in research. In some cases, the benefits are specific to coffee or caffeine in coffee, and sometimes both. I’ve been careful to note the differences in this list.

EVIDENCE-BASED BENEFITS OF DRINKING COFFEE:

• the caffeine in coffee is an antioxidant, but only in very high doses (1)

• coffee (even decaf) reduces risk of gallstones (2)

• coffee increases salivary amylase secretion - Amylase is an enzyme responsible for breaking down sugars and carbohydrates, and when coffee is ingested, the polysaccharides contained in the coffee tell your brain to secrete amylase.

• coffee (even decaf) increases hydrochloric acid (HCl, known as stomach acid) temporarily, although caffeinated coffee much more so - this can aid in digestion, but can also be a risk

• coffee (even decaf) increases bile flow - aids in the digestion of fats and elimination of toxins

• coffee (even decaf) increases pancreatic juices - these are enzymes that aid in the digestion of food

• coffee can support microbiome in the gut - this can be a benefit to some, but not to others. Coffee consists of polysaccharides, undigestible fibers that, when fermented in the large intestine, support the growth of “good” bacteria, and thus produce short-chain fatty acids that support the mucosal barrier of the large intestine. Polysaccharides may present more of a risk if fermented in the small intestine, or when there is a higher “bad” bacteria to “good” bacteria ratio.

risks of drinking coffee

EVIDENCE-BASED RISKS OF DRINKING COFFEE:

• coffee (even decaf) increases hydrochloric acid (HCl, known as stomach acid) for 30-60 minutes after ingesting (2). The increase in HCl can aggravate ulcers, but does not cause them (5). This aggravation can lead to discomfort, pain, increased inflammation due to the irritation of the stomach tissue, and worsening of the ulcer(s).

• coffee alters microbiome in the gut - As I mentioned earlier, the polysaccharides in coffee, which are a type of fiber, can help support good bacteria in the gut. This can be good for some, but harmful to others.

  • Gut bacteria, specifically bacteroidetes, firmicutes, and prevotella, are supposed to live in the large intestine. Ther they ferment the undigestible polysaccharides, and produce short-chain fatty acids that help protect the lining of the digestive tract, acting as part of your immune system. For someone with bacterial imbalances, or bacteria populating in the small intestine (upper digestive), this could be a problem. In some cases, coffee was shown to enhance the growth of a certain clostridia species, which can be very harmful to health.

• caffeine increases cortisol levels (3) - Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, known as a glucocorticoid, meaning, it stimulates the pulling of stored glucose from tissues and metabolizing them into cellular energy known as ATP, or Adenosine Triphosphate.

  • Why is this a risk? This process is part of your body’s stress response, and activates the Sympathetic Nervous System (fight or flight), while also utilizing the HPA axis (Hypothalamus Pituitary Adrenal). If you are someone who drinks coffee often, or throughout the day, this will negatively impact your adrenal health, blood sugar levels, and sleep. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ADRENAL HEALTH AND CORTISOL

• coffee damage to gastric mucosa (4) - This is interesting because research shows no association between coffee or caffeine in coffee, with the development of ulcers (5). However, there is evidence that coffee causes damage to tissue lining the stomach, as well as increases intestinal permeability (you may have heard this called leaky gut), both of which would seem to contribute to ulcers.

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who should not be drinking coffee on an empty stomach?

A few things to consider when reading this section:

• This article is meant to provide education and resources to help you make more educated decisions about your own health. It is meant to be used for information purposes only, and not to be construed as health advice, medical advice, treatment, or prescription.

• Every body is different, having unique biochemical makeup and experiences that influence all aspects of health. Nutritional and lifestyle changes should never be considered without an individualized assessment by a qualified practitioner.

• The focus here is to help you determine whether or not it is okay to drink coffee on an empty stomach. We’ve seen already how the caffeine in coffee has an impact on blood sugar levels - let’s find out how that might affect you if consuming coffee without any food in your stomach.

WHO SHOULD NOT BE DRINKING COFFEE ON AN EMPTY STOMACH

• BLOOD SUGAR SYMPTOMS - If you have symptoms of poor blood sugar levels, such as feeling jittery after coffee, getting “hangry” between meals (shaky, loss of focus, headache, irritable), craving sugar, carbs, or salt, or feeling better after you eat. These are symptoms, that, on their own may indicate adrenal insufficiency, and drinking coffee on an empty stomach may worsen the problem.

  • caffeine in coffee (and other sources) stimulates cortisol release, and in essence, a stress response from your body, activating your Sympathetic Nervous System and HPA axis, as we discussed earlier. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ADRENAL HEALTH AND MANAGING BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS.

• DIGESTIVE SYMPTOMS - If you have symptoms of poor digestion, such as bloat after meals, excess fullness, chronic constipation or diarrhea (or alternating), heartburn, or cramping in lower abdomen.

  • These are all common symptoms of poor digestion, typically leading to (or may be a result of) a bacterial imbalance or other pathogenic infection. The research we looked at earlier in this article suggests that since caffeine in coffee irritates the mucosal lining in your colon, stimulates stomach acid production, and increases motility in the colon (makes you run to the bathroom), drinking coffee on an empty stomach may worsen these symptoms.

• ANXIETY OR OTHER MOOD VARIANCES - Anxiety can be caused by a number of things, including lack of protein/amino acids, chemical imbalance, chronic stress, and trauma. One thing we do know is that caffeine in coffee stimulates the fight or flight response. We also know that pairing caffeine with foods focused on quality protein, fats, and fiber, can help slow this process. Drinking coffee on an empty stomach may have the opposite effect, and may exacerbate anxiety symptoms.

• SLEEP ISSUES - You might argue that people with sleep issues may want to cut out caffeine in coffee altogether. Some have a genetic factor that changes the way they process caffeine, no matter what time of day they consume it, or whether or not they pair it with food. However…

  • Sleep issues can often be indicative of blood sugar issues as we discussed earlier. Fun Fact: Waking up around 2:00 am to pee is usually due to a drop in blood sugar levels (and a spike in cortisol), NOT because your bladder is full. READ MORE ABOUT IT HERE.

  • If you are someone who has trouble with sleep, consider how the caffeine in coffee may be impacting your adrenal health and blood sugar levels.

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what can you do instead?

• PAIR YOUR COFFEE WITH QUALITY, WHOLE FOODS - Wait to consume your coffee until you have a good solid meal balanced with quality proteins, fats, and fibers.

• TRY OTHER STIMULATING ACTIVITIES, FIRST - Instead of dragging yourself sleepily to the coffee pot each morning to “get going”, drag yourself sleepily out for a brisk walk first thing, getting sunlight on your face to let your adrenal glands know it’s time to wake up. Or drag yourself sleepily to a yoga class your Pelaton, or other activity that boosts cortisol levels first thing in the morning.

• SWITCH TO DECAF - I know, I know. I hear myself, too. As a coffee lover, myself, this feels like a big ask, but it may be just the right thing for your body that enables you to still enjoy coffee without the impact of caffeine in coffee.

• GET FOUNDATIONAL SUPPORT - If you are someone who deals with the digestive symptoms mentioned above, trouble managing blood sugar levels, trouble with sleep or anxiety, I have developed a number of resources that will help:

  • Reclaim Your Health program - A 3-month private coaching program to help pinpoint the root causes of your symptoms, and work to make foundational changes to repair and heal the underlying issues.

  • REBALANCE - a 4-week online course that specifically targets adrenal health, sleep, blood sugar, and hormone balance.

  • GET TESTED - Are cortisol levels an issue for you? There is a simple saliva test that will help you know how your cortisol levels look throughout the day, so you can understand the potential causes of blood sugar, sleep, and anxiety symptoms. Includes a free follow-up call with Hilary to review the results. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE.

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was this helpful?

Please share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!

NUTRITION SERVICES

• Private Coaching

• Functional Lab Testing

• Get a Health Assessment

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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BLOG REFERENCES

1. Iriondo-DeHond, A., Uranga, J. A., Del Castillo, M. D., & Abalo, R. (2020). Effects of Coffee and Its Components on the Gastrointestinal Tract and the Brain-Gut Axis. Nutrients, 13(1), 88. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13010088

2. Nehlig, A. (2022, January 17). Effects of coffee on the gastro-intestinal tract: A narrative review and literature update. MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/2/399

3. Lovallo, W. R., Farag, N. H., Vincent, A. S., Thomas, T. L., & Wilson, M. F. (2006, May 2). Cortisol responses to mental stress, exercise, and meals following caffeine intake in men and women. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091305706000645

4. Iriondo-DeHond, A., Uranga, J. A., Del Castillo, M. D., & Abalo, R. (2020). Effects of Coffee and Its Components on the Gastrointestinal Tract and the Brain-Gut Axis. Nutrients, 13(1), 88. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13010088

5. Shimamoto, T., Yamamichi, N., Kodashima, S., Takahashi, Y., Fujishiro, M., Oka, M., Mitsushima, T., & Koike, K. (2013). No association of coffee consumption with gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, reflux esophagitis, and non-erosive reflux disease: a cross-sectional study of 8,013 healthy subjects in Japan. PloS one, 8(6), e65996. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0065996

Mold Toxicity Symptoms | Treatment for Hidradenitis Suppuritiva

Mold toxicity symptoms

Mold toxicity symptoms often get overlooked by healthcare professionals, because they overlap with other types of conditions that are commonly treated separately without looking at the root cause.

In this article, we’ll discuss mold toxicity symptoms, and how they are commonly associated with autoimmune diseases like Hashimotos thyroiditis, hidradenitis suppuritiva, multiple sclerosis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or chronic fatigue syndrome.

Hi friends. I’m Hilary Beckwith, ex-dieter and holistic nutrition expert. Clients come to see me with signs of adrenal stress 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 what their doctor is saying, and what their body is saying.

Mold toxicity is a common root cause of many inflammatory conditions.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• what mold toxicity symptoms look like

• what conditions are commonly associated with mold toxicity

• the difference between mold and mold toxins

• sources of mold and mold toxin exposure

• my three-pronged approach to treating mold toxicity symptoms

Follow my email feed to stay up-to-date on new articles like this one. Click here to subscribe.

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how do mold toxicity symptoms show up?

Mold toxicity symptoms will manifest different in everyone, and it’s possible there are multiple causes for these symptoms.

Our healthcare system is missing the mark when someone presents with many of these symptoms, and potential root causes are never tested for. Traditional healthcare providers are trained to suppress symptoms, but in and of itself, symptom suppression blatantly ignores the root cause, which ultimately makes the symptoms worse over time.

If you regularly experience any of these symptoms, mold toxicity is worth considering as a root cause.

COMMON MOLD TOXICITY SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:

• dizziness

• low blood pressure

• electric shock sensations, tremors, or vibrations

• tinnitus (ringing in ears)

• GI (gastrointestinal) or digestive issues

• sensitivity to chemicals, perfumes or smells

• night sweats and body temperature dysregulation

• chronic fatigue

• depression and/or anxiety

• hormone imbalances (blood sugar issues, irregular periods, PMS symptoms, etc.)

• body pain, chronic pain

• nosebleeds

• frequent urination or excess thirst

• memory loss or brain fog

conditions associated with mold toxicity

When the body is exposed to mold toxins, whether from environmental sources, food sources, or produced by mold in the body, and if the condition is not addressed in a timely manner, this leads to an inflammatory response called the Cell Danger Response.

If the mold toxicity (the root cause) remains unaddressed, this develops into a chronic condition known as Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, or CIRS.

Cell Danger Response and CIRS can both develop as a result of any pathogen that goes undiagnosed or unaddressed, not just mold toxicity. Other pathogens that commonly fall into this category (and are not commonly tested for by your traditional Western Medicine practitioner) are candida albicans, H. pylori, parasites, and bacterial overgrowth.

WHAT HAPPENS IN CELL DANGER RESPONSE?

Pulling directly from a recent article I wrote about conditions related to Candida, here is what happens during a Cell Danger Response (2):

• Mitochondria (the powerhouse of cells) begin by producing more fuel and releasing metabolic intermediates, like oxygen and reactive oxygen species.

• When this does not resolve the threat, energy production begins to shut down in order to preserve energy. Digestion is also disturbed as it is non-essential to dealing with the pathogen, and your fatigue increases.

• Cell membranes (also known as cell walls) stiffen, preventing nutrients from transferring in and out of cells for energy production.

• Mitochondria release antiviral and antimicrobial chemicals into the fluid surrounding the cells.

• Sends chemical signals to warn neighboring cells, and signal for help from immune cells such as eicosanoids and cytokines.

• The Sympathetic Nervous System (“fight or flight” response) is kicked on until the threat is resolved. If candida goes unnoticed or undiagnosed, your “fight or flight” response will be in ON-mode indefinitely.

When the stressor is left unaddressed, this cascade of inflammatory response can lead to chronic illness, chronic pain, and autoimmune disease.

CONDITIONS THAT MAY BE LINKED WITH MOLD TOXICITY

• Asthma (1)

• Autoimmune diseases, such as Irritable Bowel Disease (IBS), Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Hidredenitis Suppuritiva, Rheumatoid Arthritis, or Multiple Sclerosis

• Leaky Gut Syndrome

• PCOS (PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome)

• Interstitial Cystitis

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Balance issues

• Dementia

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the difference between mold and mold toxins

Molds are a type of fungi made up of multi-cellular filaments called hyphae (1). It is commonly heard that black mold is the only type of toxic mold, but there is simply not enough evidence to support this claim. Mold can be found in air, soil, plants, animals, and humans, and grows in places with lots of moisture.

We’ll talk more about common sources of mold exposure further down in the post.

Mold is a living organism, and when it is threatened, it produces mold toxins as a defense mechanism. These toxins, known as mycotoxins, are known to disrupt the mucosal barrier of lungs, intestines, and other epithelial tissues throughout the body, in order to make the space more suitable for mold to grow and thrive.

This disruption of epithelial tissue causes an inappropriate inflammatory response.

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sources of mold and mold toxins

• PACKAGED OR FRESH FOODS - This goes for any food, although there are also foods that are naturally high in yeast and mold (below). Regardless of whether your food is past its expiration date, it’s possible mold is growing on it. Always look before you sniff.

• DUST

• INSIDE WALLS OR WINDOWS OF YOUR HOME

• BUILDINGS THAT HAVE TAKEN WATER DAMAGE

• WINDOWS OR VENTS OF YOUR CAR

• ANY SPACE THAT IS GENERALLY MOIST

• FOODS THAT NATURALLY CONTAIN HIGH AMOUNTS OF MOLD OR YEAST:

  • grains

  • cheese

  • mushrooms

  • fermented foods (yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, natto, kefir, aged cheese, etc.)

  • dried fruit

  • chocolate

  • coffee beans

  • wine and beer

  • processed meat

  • nuts

  • milk

treatment for mold toxicity symptoms

Pathogens like mold, mold toxins, candida, bacteria overgrowth, and parasites, are all potential root causes for autoimmune diseases and inflammatory conditions like IBS and leaky gut syndrome.

Treatment for any pathogen requires an individualized approach and specialized testing to know exactly which pathogens are causing the problem. But at the heart of it, treatment for mold toxicity symptoms boils down to three foundational steps:

1. Remove the Mold Source - Eradicating a pathogen is useless without also removing the contributing source(s). It would be like starting a diet without evaluating your digestive health, or considering your health history. Removing sources of mold from your home, your car, the foods you eat, and any other spaces you spend significant amounts of time in, is the very first step to a successful elimination of mold toxins.

2. Support Detox and Drainage - Your liver plays a big role in the elimination of pathogens like mold toxins. Ensuring your liver is not congested and can effectively deactivate toxins, and that your drainage pathways are clear (bowel movements, sweat, urine, and lungs), is the second step to a successful mold detox.

3. Eradicate the Pathogens - Once the first two steps have been evaluated and supported, using high-potency botanical or pharmaceutical intervention to kill off the pathogens is the next step to getting rid of your mold toxicity symptoms and finding relief for your autoimmune symptoms.

Important additional factors to consider when treating mold toxicity symptoms include:

• accurate testing - Working with a practitioner who is familiar with specialized testing that will help you understand what it is you’re fighting against, will make your treatment more successful. Secondarily, pathogens have ways of hiding, so working with a practitioner who understands how to draw pathogens out of hiding prior to testing, will get you a more accurate test result.

• binders - When actively killing off pathogens, binders are essential to removing debris and toxins from the body. There are many types of binders, and each is specific to certain types of pathogens. Working with a practitioner who understands which types of binders are best for the specific pathogens you are dealing with, is essential to a successful treatment.

• microbiome rebuild - Kill-off agents, whether pharmaceutical or botanical, kill off EVERYTHING - good and bad. It is especially important to repopulate the “good” bacteria and support healthy microbiome after, and sometimes during, the kill-off process, to ensure a more powerful immune support for future pathogenic infections. Without this step, you may be more susceptible to future infections, and an immune system that struggles to keep up.

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was this helpful?

Please share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!

DO YOU HAVE MOLD TOXICITY SYMPTOMS?

NUTRITION SERVICES

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• Functional Lab Testing

• Get a Health Assessment

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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BLOG REFERENCES

1. Kraft, S., Buchenauer, L., & Polte, T. (2021). Mold, Mycotoxins and a Dysregulated Immune System: A Combination of Concern?. International journal of molecular sciences, 22(22), 12269. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222212269

2. Naviaux, R. K. (2013, August 24). Metabolic features of the Cell Danger Response. Mitochondrion. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1567724913002390