380: The best & worst grains for your gut | Cardiologist William Davis, M.D.
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Episode Highlights
SIBO Basics
explains that Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) occurs when unhealthy microbes from the colon proliferate and ascend into the small intestine, causing various health issues. He highlights that food intolerances occurring within 90 minutes of consumption can be a telltale sign of SIBO, as it indicates the problem is in the upper GI tract 1 2. Davis also mentions that conditions like fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome are frequently associated with SIBO, making it a widespread issue 2.
If you say, if I eat beans, I know I'm going to have diarrhea or bloody or abdominal discomfort or emotional effects, anger, panic attacks, anxiety, it's suicidal thoughts. If that occurs within 90 minutes, it's diagnostic for SIBO.
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Detecting SIBO can be done using devices like the AIRE device, which measures hydrogen and methane levels in the breath, providing a non-invasive way to map out where the GI tract microbes are living 1.
Microbiome Health
Davis emphasizes the importance of feeding the microbiome with prebiotic fibers to maintain gut health. He warns that extreme diets lacking these fibers can lead to the starvation of beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia, which can then consume the mucus lining of the GI tract, causing inflammation 3. He also shares fascinating research from MIT on Lactobacillus reuteri, a microbe that has shown numerous health benefits in mice, including faster wound healing, better hair growth, and preserved muscle mass 4.
When you deprive Akkermansia of fibers, it turns to human mucus. Its full name is Akkermansia mucinophila mucus lover. And it starts to eat through your intestinal wall.
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Davis suggests that incorporating these beneficial microbes into our diets can lead to similar positive effects in humans 4.
Gut Health
Gut health has far-reaching implications for overall wellbeing. Davis explains that poor gut health can lead to endotoxemia, where microbial breakdown products enter the bloodstream, potentially causing conditions like Alzheimer's, rheumatoid arthritis, and depression 5. He stresses the importance of maintaining a healthy gut to prevent these chronic diseases 5.
All modern common chronic diseases need to be reconsidered, re-examined in light of the human microbiome.
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Davis also discusses the potential of stool banks for microbiome transplants, emphasizing the need for healthy donors and the powerful impact of microbiome research on health strategies 6.
Fungal Overgrowth
Davis introduces Small Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth (SIFO), a condition often following antibiotic use or high sugar consumption, leading to fungal proliferation in the small intestine. He notes that symptoms like insatiable sugar cravings, eczema, and mood swings can indicate SIFO 7. Managing SIFO involves using non-absorbed treatments like berberine and curcumin, which are effective yet safe 8.
Fungi love sugars. So whenever there's a lot of sugar in the vicinity, or antibiotics kill off some healthy bacteria that kept fungi in check, fungi proliferate.
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Davis also highlights the importance of addressing SIBO first, as it often precedes SIFO, to achieve better health outcomes 7.