Thrive GI Blog
A Magnesium Breakdown: The best type of magnesium by ailment
Magnesium is an essential mineral that plays a vital role in numerous bodily functions. Scientists estimate that up to 75% of us may be deficient in this essential mineral due to depletion in our food supply. Not everyone is aware that there are different forms of...
What is Fatty Liver Disease and How is it Treated?
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a medical condition characterized by the accumulation of excess fat in the liver of people who consume little to no alcohol. It is one of the most common liver disorders worldwide and can range from simple fatty liver (aka...
Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice: a Powerful Herb for Intestinal Health
Deglycyrrhizinated licorice, often abbreviated as DGL, is an herb that I often use with patients in my naturopathic medical practice. DGL is a form of licorice root extract that has most of the glycyrrhizin compound removed. This makes DGL a safer option as...
How does fasting improve gastrointestinal health?
While we tend to think of supplements and dietary changes as the primary natural treatments for chronic intestinal symptoms, the health benefits of fasting are often overlooked. Fasting, particularly intermittent fasting, has been shown by research to have numerous...
Herbal Spotlight: Slippery Elm for Gastrointestinal Health
Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) is an herbal remedy that has been used for centuries in traditional medicine, particularly by Native American tribes. It is known for its ability to support gut health in a variety of ways. Here are some of the mechanisms through which...
The Digestive Health Benefits of Spore-Based Probiotics:
Spore-based probiotics are a specific type of probiotic supplement that contains bacterial strains in their spore form. These strains are typically from the Bacillus family, such as Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus clausii, and Bacillus subtilis. This differs from...
What Causes Chronic Gastritis and How is it Treated?
Chronic gastritis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the stomach lining that lasts more than three months and is not resolving on its own. Chronic gastritis is a common reason why patients reach out to Thrive GI requesting naturopathic care. There are...
What Exactly is Leaky Gut Syndrome and How is it Treated?
leaky gut
Saccharomyces boulardii: an alternative probiotic with major gastrointestinal benefits
While many of my patients are familiar with probiotics and their numerous health benefits, far fewer have heard of the “cousin” of probiotics: Saccharomyces boulardii. Saccharomyces boulardii is actually a specific strain of yeast, but it is considered a probiotic...
The Digestive Health Benefits of Berberine
Berberine is a natural compound found in various plants, such as barberry, goldenseal, and Oregon grape. I often use berberine-containing herbs as part of a comprehensive digestive treatment protocol for my patients and find these herbs to be both effective and...
A Naturopathic Doctor’s Three Top Supplements for Intestinal Health
As a naturopathic doctor who specializes in the treatment of chronic and complex gastrointestinal issues, I use a wide variety of supplements in my practice daily. One of the founding principles of naturopathic medicine is to identify and treat the underlying cause of...
Should you get tested for food allergies and intolerances? A naturopathic doctor’s viewpoint:
Many people seek out my clinic wondering if their intestinal symptoms are related to food allergies. They want to know if they should be avoiding certain foods to improve their health or help treat certain diseases. Food allergies and food intolerances can be a...
Why the FODMAP diet won’t cure your IBS:
The low FODMAP diet has gained a lot of popularity in recent years, and it is now being promoted as one of the top treatments for IBS. FODMAP is an acronym for a certain class of carbohydrates called fermentable short-chain carbohydrates. These carbohydrates are not...
The Thyroid-Gut Connection: Why Doctors Need to Practice Comprehensive Medicine
More than 12% of Americans will experience a thyroid disorder at some point in their lives according to the American Thyroid Association. The two most common thyroid disorders are hypothyroidism (an under-functioning thyroid gland) and hyperthyroidism (an...
Three reasons why naturopathic doctors excel at treating gastrointestinal symptoms
Many patients who seek out my care for their IBS, SIBO, GERD, or chronic constipation/diarrhea have never seen a naturopathic doctor before. Often, they find my office after failing multiple times to resolve symptoms on their own or with their medical doctor. When I...
Featured Blog Posts
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Five Reasons Why Probiotics Didn’t Help with Your Digestive Symptoms
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How Low Digestive Enzymes (and Not High Acid!) Could be the Real Cause of Your GERD Symptoms
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SIBO Series: Five top causes of SIBO – – What does acid have to do with it?
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What do allergies have to do with gut health? Turns out, almost everything.
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SIBO Series: Five Top Causes of SIBO — Migrating Motor Complex Dysfunction