Ileocecal Valve Dysfunction Contributes to SIBO By Functional Medicine Nutritionist Angela Pifer The ileocecal valve is a sphincter type valve named for the two sections in the intestine that it falls between – the last section of the small intestine, called the ileum, and the first section of the large intestine, called the cecum. Its… Read More >

Is IBS an Antibiotic Responsive Disease? Dr. Pimentel and his group have just launched a new blood test called “IBS (check)” that they claim identifies an IBS diagnosis and, with this new diagnostic tool, that IBS is now a disease – quote, “IBS is an antibiotic responsive disease.” Here is the announcement on You Tube: HERE IS… Read More >

Is SIBO an Autoimmune Condition or Triggered by One? Gut motility issues are center stage when addressing SIBO (small intestinal organism overgrowth). Food and digestive contents must be kept moving forward through the digestive tract, at a reasonable speed, both during meals and in between meals. This needs to happen to both prevent SIBO from… Read More >

I will say this from the start, if there is a medication out there that will help a patient fix SIBO and the daily, often debilitating symptoms that they are experiencing, I am first in line. I also want people to recover – long term. Though I have seen xifaxan and the combination of xifaxan… Read More >

I have had so many new patients call me after they have been struggling to pull the foods listed on a food sensitivity panel – trying to figure out what they can eat. They come into my office and show me their lab, which is covered in red lines showing reactions to just about everything…. Read More >

Should Probiotics be Part of SIBO Treatment? If you are looking at SIBO, like I am – that SIBO is a symptom of an extreme imbalance in the gut and not a primary condition, or infection, then probiotics must be part of your SIBO treatment therapy. Otherwise there is no way that you will be… Read More >

by Angela Pifer, Functional Medicine Nutritionist SIBOGuru.com Are you prone to sinus infections, get sick often, allergies… or a functional gut condition or disease? If so, knowing if you have low Secretory IgA, an antibody that plays a crucial role in your mucosal immunity, will help you target your treatment, and, if recovered, can improve… Read More >

SIBO can be extremely difficult to knock out. It takes patience and stamina, the right plan, the right treatment and retesting at specific time intervals. Though the work can be quit intensive, it is incredibly rewarding. I can’t tell you how much I LOVE my job. I hesitate to even call it a job sometimes… every week… Read More >

 When Your Stomach Growls, It Isn’t Telling You it is Hungry When you eat food, there are muscles along the digestive track that help to move food from your mouth, down your esophagus, through your digestive tract, and out the other side. These are rhythmic, peristaltic wave like patterns that help to move the food… Read More >

Last week I discussed the often overlooked condition of low stomach acids and its implication. Low stomach acid may be a symptom of a larger issue – this is where we really need to be a nutritional detective to try to put all the pieces together. The parietal cells in your stomach produce both gastric… Read More >