It has been said “you are what you eat”. In alternative medicine, we are more likely say “you are what you digest”! There are many health conditions that have their root in gastrointestinal problems. GI disorders including intestinal yeast infection, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohns disease, acid reflux and numerous others are frequently part of the picture in other seemingly unrelated conditions. Health problems such as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue, food allergy, hypoglycemia, stress related fatigue and a long list of others often have a GI component which, when undetected leaves the patient and physician with less than satisfactory outcome. Of all, intestinal yeast infections are probably the most overlooked or even denied by physicians.

There are many symptoms related to these three conditions which are frequently overlooked by physicians, even gastrointestinal specialists. The symptoms range from the obvious such as gas, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea to those not usually thought of as relating to the digestion including arthritis, muscle and joint pain, allergies, food sensitivities, yeast infection, immune disorders, asthma, headache and many others. Good digestion is paramount for good health. If you have a health condition that is not responsive to medical diagnosis and treatment and you have anything but the best of good regular eating, digestion and elimination habits, you should carefully consider the following information.

Hypochlorhydria is a condition of insufficient hydrochloric acid (HCl) levels in the stomach. As acid secretion decreases with age, many people are deficient in HCl and do not know it. Medical literature states that 40% of people past the age of 60 are low on HCl. There are even studies of asthmatic children being low on HCl who, upon receiving supplemental HCl experienced improvement in their asthma symptoms. There is a problem. It lies in the fact that the symptoms of low HCl are nearly identical to the symptoms of excess HCl and consequently we find people taking antacids looking for relief of excess HCl when they in reality have LOW HCl. Just exactly the opposite of what they should be doing. HCl insufficiency leads to incomplete digestion, poor absorption and resultant symptoms related to poor nutrition in spite of the fact that you may be eating well and even taking supplements.

Malabsorption occurs for a variety of reasons. These include hypchlorhydria (low stomach acid), pancreatic digestive enzyme insufficiency, and intestinal dysbiosis (an imbalance in the intestinal bacterial colonies called “flora” which normally resides in the gut). Malabsorption occurs when, though a person is eating well and maybe even taking supplements, the nutrition that is being consumed is not making it into the blood stream. Rather than being absorbed it is being eliminated through the stool.

Parasites come in many different forms. Usually, when we think of parasites, we think of intestinal worms or some other disgusting critter. However, the smaller microscopic organisms are much more common findings than worms. These organisms include yeast, amoeba (that's the single cell one you looked at under a microscope in school), giardia, and several strains of bacteria. All of these “unfriendly” organisms can be found in the intestinal tract under normal conditions living in balance or synergy with normal healthy “friendly” bacteria. It is when an overgrowth of the unfriendly cultures occurs at the cost of lost friendly cultures that it becomes a deterrent to good health. If you have spent time in foreign countries, even a little, had parasites as a child, lived in close proximity to animals, have ever had food poisoning or unexplained diarrhea, or have a history of parasites, you could be entertaining these unwanted visitors