RT3-Adrenals Digestive

Constipation

• Resolves with optimized thyroid

• May be exacerbated by supplemental iron

• Address with

• magnesium citrate and/or oxide

• vitamin C

• moderate use of fiber supplements

Low stomach acid (hydrochloric acid) (evaluate with home test)

• Resolves with optimized thyroid

• Can cause

• slow digestion

• indigestion (bloating, burping, gas)

• constipation

• acid reflux (When the stomach does not empty properly, food sits

in it too long. Partially digested food, mixed with the acid that the

stomach does produce irritates the stomach lining and the

esophagus)

• poor appetite

• Food sensitivities can develop from absorption of food particles

partially digested due to low acid

• H. pylori flourishes in low acid environment

• Address with HCl (hydrochloric acid)

Gastric irritation

While adequate stomach acid is necessary for proper digestion, the

lining of the stomach and intestinal tract needs protection from these

acids. The lining consists of compact epithelial cells bound by tight

junctions and protected by a mucous covering secreted by surface

epithelial cells and Foveolar cells. This protective gel-like coating

protects the gastric mucosa from autodigestion and from erosion by

enzymes, acids and other caustic materials that are ingested. In

addition, bicarbonate ions are secreted by the surface epithelial cells

which act to neutralize acids. If this protective layer is not optimal,

taking DGL (deglycyrrhized) licorice root extract may help to increase

the mucous secretions and reduce stomach irritation.

Celiac disease

Gluten is a protein in many grains, most notably wheat, rye and barley.

Someone diagnosed with Celiac Disease (also called Celiac Sprue) is

recognized as having an immune response to consuming gluten. Over

time, the immune response damages the villi in the lower intestines,

compromising the absorption of nutrients.

Testing early in the disease may be negative and some people do not

have obvious gastrointestinal symptoms. It is possible that the only

symptoms are a variety of conditions caused by impaired absorption of

nutrients such as unexplained anemia, fatigue, joint pain, arthritis,

osteoporosis, neuropathy and infertility.

Celiac is autoimmune in nature, so anyone with another autoimmune

condition, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, is at increased risk to

develop it. Although it is frequently genetic, Celiac may be triggered at

any time of life by viral infection, pregnancy, childbirth, surgery or

extreme emotional stress.

Gluten sensitivity

There are many individuals who, although they do not suffer from

Celiac Disease, still react badly to gluten. Here again, there may be

overt gastrointestinal symptoms, or there my only be seemingly

unrelated effects such as fluid retention, aches and pains, fatigue,

flu-like symptoms, elevated heart rate, palpitations or headaches.

In the article "Spectrum of Gluten-Related Disorders: consensus on

new nomenclature and classification," the authors state:

“It is now becoming apparent that reactions to gluten are not limited

to C[eliac] D[isease] [(CD)], rather we now appreciate the existence

of a spectrum of gluten-related disorders. The high frequency and

wide range of adverse reactions to gluten raise the question as to

why this dietary protein is toxic for so many individuals in the world.

"One possible explanation is that the selection of wheat varieties

with higher gluten content has been a continuous process during

the last 10,000 years, with changes dictated more by technological

rather than nutritional reasons. Wheat varieties grown for thousands

of years and mostly used for human nutrition up to the Middle Ages,

such as Triticum monococcum and T. dicoccum, contain less

quantities of the highly toxic 33-mer gluten peptide. Apparently the

human organism is still largely vulnerable to the toxic effects of this

protein complex. . . .

“Additionally, gluten is one of the most abundant and diffusely

spread dietary components for most populations, particularly those

of European origin. In Europe, the mean consumption of gluten is

10 g to 20 g per day, with segments of the general population

consuming as much as 50 g of daily gluten or more. All individuals,

even those with a low degree of risk, are therefore susceptible to

some form of gluten reaction during their life span. Therefore, it is

not surprising that during the past 50 years we have witnessed an

'epidemic' of CD and the surging of new gluten-related disorders,

including the most recently described G[luten] S[ensitivity]. . . .”

Addressing Celiac or gluten sensitivity

The only treatment for either Celiac or gluten sensitivity is to eat a

gluten-free diet. This is harder than it might sound. In addition to the

obvious grain products, gluten is hidden in many products. Anything

that lists “hydrolyzed vegetable protein” or “modified food starch” as an

ingredient can have gluten. Food cooked in oil that has been used to

fry breaded items can contaminate something that would otherwise be

gluten free. Regular soy sauce and anything made with it has gluten.

Gluten can be found in surprising places such as in a coating used for

french fried potatoes and in ice cream.

Wheat allergy

Separate from gluten sensitivity or Celiac, wheat allergy is an

immunologic reaction to wheat proteins. It can manifest as a food

allergy affecting the skin, the gut or the respiratory tract; it can take the

form of wheat-dependent, exercise-induced anaphylaxis, occupational

asthma (baker's asthma) and rhinitis, or contact urticaria. IgE

antibodies are present in these conditions.

Leaky Gut

Even if a person is not diagnosed with Celiac or a wheat allergy, any

sensitivity to gluten or other foods, the presence of candida, some

fungi, some toxins and other causes may result in an immune response

in the intestinal tract. This may appear to only cause symptoms such

as gas or loose stools. However, over time, the immune response may

actually damage the lining of the digestive tract, causing miniscule

perforations or "increased gut permeability."

This can allow unfriendly bacteria and toxins, as well as incompletely

digested food, to leak into the blood stream rather than stay where it

belongs: within the small intestine before entering the lower intestine.

This increased intestinal permeability then starts a cycle where the

leaking triggers additional immune response, exacerbating both

symptoms and damage. This condition of “leaky gut” is not currently

recognized by the mainstream medical community although the subject

of “gut permeabiliity” is the focus of a tremendous amount of research.

Supplemental glutamine may help reverse leaky gut.

H. Pylori

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a very common “hidden” bacterial

infection, most often without any symptoms. Unless treated, infection

with H. pylori will last for life. The older you are, the more likely you

have H. pylori.

Fifty percent of the world population is infected. In the U.S., some

estimates are that 30 percent of the adult population is infected. There

is strong evidence that poor sanitary conditions play a role in higher

incidence of H. pylori. In countries with poor sanitation, approximately

90 percent of the adult population can be infected.

H. pylori is also statistically more common in people with autoimmune

diseases, especially autoimmune thyroid diseases.

The possible symptoms of an H. pylori infection are broad. The most

common, easily recognized symptom of H. pylori – stomach ulcer –

affects only about 17 percent of those infected. H. pylori can cause

atrophic or autoimmune gastritis (atrophy of the stomach lining). This

damages the parietal cells that make stomach acid, causing an inability

to digest proteins and properly absorb various vitamins and minerals.

H. pylori can result in leaky gut which can cause food intolerances,

Candida overgrowth and even acne.

• If H. pylori has caused a magnesium deficiency, symptoms could

include fatigue, depression and headaches

• By damaging the parietal cells, H. pylori can cause autoimmune

Pernicious Anemia, because parietal cells also make Intrinsic Factor,

which is required to absorb vitamin B12. B12 malabsorption and

deficiency can also be involved in fatigue and depression, as well as a

host of other symptoms

• H. pylori is usually treated with a cocktail of antibiotics. Once it is

eradicated, the digestive tract can heal

• It is possible that, in some people, high cortisol may primarily be a

result of the body’s attempt to control inflammation in the stomach

and/or the small intestines that is caused by an H. pylori infection

• Recent research has shown a link between H. pylori and a variety of

conditions including diabetes, infections and elevated HbA1C levels

C. difficile

• Clostridium difficile is a bacteria known to flourish during antibiotic use

• Responsible for up to 20% of antibiotic-associated diarrhea

• One of the primary causes of pseudomembranous colitis

• Very difficult to treat

• Recurrence is common

• Treated with antibiotic therapy and S. boulardii

Digestive issues