Sound Integrative Health Blog

A recent 2016 study for 29 female patients with chronic constipation and Small Intestinal Bacteria Growth (SIBO) used 24 mcg twice per day of Lubiprostone (a prescriptive intestinal secretagogue). 41% of those people who tested positive for SIBO were SIBO negative after 2 weeks. This well designed (but albeit small) study also measured gastric emptying time, small bowel transit time, colon transit time (CTT), combined small and large bowel transit time (SLBTT) and whole gut transit time were measured using wireless motility capsule and showed improvement in those parameters. Stooling increased from 2x per week to 4x per week. As someone who treats a lot of SIBO and Chronic Constipation this is a promising new integrative treatment that may even have better results combined with natural therapies and even other conventional therapies. I am investigating more about the reported low side effects of Lubiprostone. The most exciting thing is that it helps us understand more of the mecha...

Before refrigeration how did we preserve vegetables? Fermentation. Fermentation adds lactobacilli and other helpful probiotic organisms to your food. . Helpful for preserving  food and  helpful for our gut When your digestion is stable and you want to keep it being stable, try adding fermented foods into your diet. Here are a few recipes to consider which  I  learned from Liz Lipski, PhD an expert in nutritional approaches to  address  the  microbiome. She recently spoke on Tap Integrative. Kefir : is fermented milk. What you will need: 1. Purchase a package of Milk Kefir grains (not dehydrated or powdered) at your local health food store.   These are re-usable. Or order from someone like www.culturesforhealth.com 2. 1 quart of pasteurized, raw, skim, 2%, or whole milk (cow goat, coconut, or other milk) How do  make it: 1. mix 1 tablespoon of Kefir "grains" with the one quart of your chosen milk. 2. cover the mixture  wit...

Many of my patients are on a low carb diet. Great for so many things. However it does put them at risk sometimes for constipation and also restless sleep. Likely due to overnight dips in blood sugar or due to reduced serotonin and  melatonin production that is derived from the food amino acid called Tryptophan. Healthy evening serotonin levels are also needed to reduce effects of elevated evening cortisol. There are some ways to help and my favorite way is this bedtime meal that I call "Sawing Oats" as in "Sawing Logs". I digress. Here is the simple recipe: 1/2 cup Oatmeal 3/4  cup Cashew Milk  (oat milk or almond milk is fine) 1 tablespoon of Almond Butter 1 teaspoon of cinnamon 1/8 tsp of poppy seeds Directions: Bring milk and oatmeal to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Simmer  down for 5-10 minutes until mixture is soft , moist, and but not drippy. Remove from stove Add 1 tablespoon of Almond  butter and stir until it blends with the oatm...