🌿 Gut Health

Health Navigator Workbook

Understanding Your Digestive Health

Your gut is the gateway to whole-body health. Dysbiosis (imbalanced microbiome) and leaky gut (intestinal permeability) drive inflammation throughout the body. Let's assess your gut ecosystem.

Gut Health Symptoms

Check any digestive or systemic symptoms you're experiencing:

Bloating & distension — especially after meals, tight abdomen

Gas & cramping — discomfort, visible distension, urgency

Diarrhea or constipation — or alternating patterns, urgency

Food sensitivities — reactions to gluten, dairy, nightshades, histamine

Leaky gut signals — brain fog, joint pain, skin rashes, autoimmune symptoms

Nutrient deficiencies — fatigue, hair loss, weak nails, muscle weakness

Dysbiosis signs — constant infections, antibiotics history, fungal issues

Inflammatory markers — joint pain, skin conditions, autoimmune diseases

Mood & brain changes — depression, anxiety, brain fog, memory issues

Visible dysbiosis — low stomach acid, GERD, bad breath, sluggish metabolism

💡 Gut-health connection: Your gut microbiome produces 95% of your serotonin, regulates immunity, and controls nutrient absorption. Healing the gut heals the whole system.

Page 1 of 3

🌿 Gut Health — Lab Work

Gold-Standard Stool & Blood Testing

The Genova GI Effects Test (Gold Standard)

This comprehensive stool analysis reveals everything about your gut ecosystem:

📋 Microbial Diversity & Dysbiosis Profile
Beneficial bacteria (Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus) vs pathogenic overgrowth (E. coli, Klebsiella, Clostridium).

📋 Zonulin (Leaky Gut Marker)
Elevated zonulin = intestinal permeability. Drives autoimmunity, brain fog, joint pain, skin issues.

📋 Secretory IgA (sIgA)
Low sIgA = weak mucosal immune barrier. Can't fight dysbiosis or prevent infections.

📋 Calprotectin (Inflammation Marker)
Elevated calprotectin = intestinal inflammation. May indicate IBD, dysbiosis, food sensitivities.

📋 Fat Digestion (Triglycerides)
High stool fat = gallbladder dysfunction, pancreatic insufficiency, malabsorption.

📋 Parasites & Dysbiosis Organisms
Blastocystis, Entamoeba, Candida, Cryptosporidium — common "silent" dysbiosis drivers.

📋 pH & Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs)
Dysbiosis lowers butyrate production. Low SCFA = intestinal wall weakening, dysbiosis.

Supporting Blood Tests

🔹 Celiac Panel — tissue transglutaminase (tTG-IgA), deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP)

🔹 Food Sensitivity IgG Panel — gluten, dairy, eggs, nightshades, histamine-rich foods

🔹 Inflammatory Markers — hs-CRP, ESR, zonulin (serum), lipopolysaccharide (LPS)

🔹 Nutrient Status — B12, folate, iron, vitamin D, zinc (often depleted with dysbiosis)

Page 2 of 3

🌿 Root Cause Discovery

Identify Your Dysbiosis Driver

Key Questions for Root Cause

1. Antibiotic history?
Even one course damages microbiome for months. Multiple rounds = severe dysbiosis. Oral antibiotics are strongest driver of dysbiosis.

2. Dietary triggers?
High sugar/processed foods feed dysbiosis. Low fiber = starves beneficial bacteria. Gluten = intestinal damage & dysbiosis.

3. Glyphosate exposure?
Roundup (glyphosate) directly damages gut lining and kills beneficial bacteria. Found on wheat, corn, soy, oats.

4. Chronic stress?
Stress hormones (cortisol) directly damage intestinal wall and dysbiosis. Stress disrupts gut-brain axis.

5. PPI or H2 blocker use?
Acid-suppressing medications disable stomach acid needed to kill pathogenic bacteria. Creates dysbiosis paradox.

6. Inflammatory diet pattern?
High omega-6 (vegetable oils), low omega-3 (fish), high refined sugar = chronic intestinal inflammation & dysbiosis.

7. History of food poisoning or parasites?
Post-infectious IBS (PI-IBS) is common dysbiosis driver. Parasites can persist undetected for years.

Gut Healing Protocol Components

Remove dysbiosis triggers — Eliminate glyphosate, inflammatory foods, antibiotics when possible
Restore stomach acid — Apple cider vinegar, betaine HCl (if safe) before meals
Repair intestinal lining — L-glutamine, bone broth, slippery elm, zinc carnosine
Rebalance microbiome — High-potency, multi-strain probiotics + soil-based organisms
Restore prebiotic foods — Asparagus, garlic, onions, slightly underripe bananas, inulin-rich foods
Anti-parasitic phase — If dysbiosis parasites detected; may need targeted antimicrobial protocol

🔑 Remember: Gut healing takes 6-12 months. Intestinal lining regenerates fully every 3-5 days, but dysbiosis rebalancing is slower. Consistent protocol + targeted testing is key.

Page 3 of 3