82 | Healing SIBO and Acid Reflux Naturally with Dr. Norm Robillard

Norm Robillard, Ph.D., is the Founder of the Digestive Health Institute and is a leading gut health expert. He turned his own suffering from chronic acid reflux into a mission to create the drug and antibiotic free Fast Tract Diet Protocol for functional gastrointestinal disorders like small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), GERD, acid reflux, heartburn and related health conditions. This is the first episode of the podcast where we’re really digging in to SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) and acid reflux, and how we can help treat those with a functional medicine and nutrition approach. SIBO-related conditions affect more than 100 million Americans, so it’s about time we tackled that huge issue on this podcast on healing SIBO and acid reflux naturally! We’re also discussing how to approach any therapeutic protocol (or even listening to information about therapeutic protocols for specific health conditions) when you have a history of a complicated relationship with food and your body.

On today’s episode, we’re discussing:

* Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth 101: Why do we have bacteria in our intestines in the first place? What is their purpose?

* The most common causes of SIBO? 

* Why is there so much confusion about the symptoms of low and high stomach acid?

* How GERD, low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria), and heartburn are related to SIBO

* What is Fermentation Potential, how is it calculated, and how can it help us discover what specific types of foods we should be focusing on in the treatment of SIBO to help eliminate the overgrowth of bacteria

* The problem with trigger-happy antibiotic treatment in SIBO

* The dangers of a therapeutic protocol for those with a history of disordered eating or yo-yo dieting

* Differentiating between the main symptoms of SIBO vs. some other more common gut issue or autoimmune issues

* Methane vs. Hydrogen-dominance in SIBO, Hydrogen Sulfide SIBO, and the respective symptoms you will see with these different types 

* A 3-step approach to discovering and treating digestive conditions

Resources Mentioned:

Dr. Norm Robillard

Fast Tract Digestion Protocol

The Digestive Health Institute

Fermentation Protocol calculator

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