Brian Woeller
About Brian Woeller
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SIBO Testing & Other Essential Lab Testing
SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) is a condition in which abnormally large numbers of bacteria – the types that are normally found in the large intestine – are present in the small intestine. When not functioning properly, the migrating motor complex (MMC) fails to effectively sweep intestinal contents into the colon during periods of fasting. Once in the small intestine, these bacteria proliferate and feed off carbohydrates from food, creating fermentation gases, specifically methane and hydrogen. SIBO breath testing measures these gases.
SIBO can be a cause of many health problems, including diarrhea, abdominal pain, and protein/fat malabsorption. In recent years, there has been renewed interest in SIBO since it has now been implicated in the pathophysiology of certain diseases previously not classically associated with overgrowth. The World Journal of Gastroenterology claims a definitive association between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and SIBO, suggesting that SIBO be excluded before diagnosing a patient with IBS.
Common conditions associated with SIBO:
Nausea
Flatulence
Diarrhea
Constipation Malnutrition
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Acid Reflux
Rosacea
Fibromyalgia
GERD
Yeast Problems & Symptoms
Yeast problems and symptoms are a common complaint for women who have recurrent vaginal yeast infections. It is also a common complaint from parents who see persistent diaper rash turn into a red and blotchy irritation around their infant’s genital area. However, yeast problems and symptoms extend far beyond the ordinary vaginal infection and fungal skin infections. Millions of people suffer from a myriad of yeast problems and symptoms significantly affect their quality of life. Many of these yeast problems and symptoms cause persistent digestive problems, chronic headaches and body aches, fatigue, and poor mental performance. Before we can describe the myriad of yeast problems and symptoms let’s first describe what yeast really is and many of the symptoms it presents with.
Yeast Problems and Symptoms – A Common Form of Yeast
Yeast within the human body can take on many forms, but the most well-known is called candida, or more specifically Candida albicans. There are many different types of candida, but the albicans variety is most common. This particular yeast can be found on the skin, in the vagina, the mouth, and throughout the entire digestive tract. When our immune system is functioning properly this yeast is kept under control. However, when our body becomes stressed from a poor diet, excess sugar, chronic illness, and overuse of antibiotics candida can proliferate leading to a host of symptoms. Listed below are some of the more common issues experienced by people with yeast problems and symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Bad Breath
- Bladder Infections
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Dry Mouth
- Dry skin and itching
- Fatigue
- Food sensitivities
- Gas and bloating
- Headaches
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Low libido
- Mental fog
- Memory problems
- Muscle aches
- Sugar cravings
These yeast problems and symptoms are not well recognized by traditional medicine. Most traditional medicine doctors only think of yeast problems and symptoms when the more obvious issues occur such as oral thrush (candida in mouth), and the before mentioned skin and vaginal infections. However, the yeast problems and symptoms listed above are commonly found in people dealing with chronic candida, and often resolve when they are placed on anti-yeast medication.
Yeast Problems and Symptoms – Getting the Appropriate Tests Done
Obtaining proper diagnostic testing is important for anyone suffering with yeast problems and symptoms. The Organic Acids Test (OAT) from Great Plains Laboratory is specific for detecting candida toxins and other metabolic imbalances. Also, the Comprehensive Food IgG Sensitivity (Food IgG) test from Great Plains Laboratory, and the Gastrointestinal Pathogen Screen (#401-H) from BioHealth Laboratory are both helpful too to analyze for food sensitivities, parasitic and bacterial infections, all of which make yeast problems and symptoms worse.
Recommended: Yeast Infections
Foods With Amino Acids
There are many foods with amino acids – some higher in content than others. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and proteins play a vital role in cellular function within every organ system of the body such as the brain and nervous system, heart and cardiovascular system, immune function, musculoskeletal system, etc. There are two primary categories of amino acids – essential and non-essential. The essential amino acids we must obtain from food and the non-essential are amino acids that our own body can produce. Listed below are the main amino acids found in the essential and non-essential categories:
Foods With Amino Acids – Essential Amino Acids List
• Histidine
• Isoleucine
• Leucine
• Lysine
• Methionine
• Phenylalanine
• Threonine
• Tryptophan
• Valine
Foods With Amino Acids – Non-Essential Amino Acids List
• Alanine
• Arginine
• Aspartic acid
• Cysteine
• Glutamic acid
• Glutamine
• Glycine
• Proline
Amino acids in general make up approximately 75% of human body and are vital for every body function. For example, cysteine, methionine, and glycine are necessary for the methylation cycle. Methylation is a system in the body that supports brain function and detoxification. In fact, cysteine, glycine, and glutamic acid (all non-essential amino acids) come together to form glutathione, the most powerful antioxidant in our cells. Glutathione is necessary to protect us c against toxins and support detoxification of poisons.
The foods generally highest in all around amino acids are animal proteins such as meats, eggs, and dairy. However, vegetables and grains have can have amino acids too. Listed here is the top 10 list of vegetarian food choices that contain a high amount of amino acids:
• Quinoa
• Buckwheat
• Hempseed
• Chia
• Soy
• Rice and Beans
• Ezekiel Bread
• Hummus and Pita
• Grain, oats, and nuts
• Peanut butter
These foods are considered to be complete proteins providing a wide variety of amino acids in various ratios.
Other foods such as those listed here provide a variety of amino acids:
Pumpkin, cabbage, spinach, sunflower seeds, avocadoes, figs, raisins, dates, peanuts, almonds, mushroom…
For a complete list of foods with amino acids please see the following link, here.
Recommended: Benefits of Amino Acids Tests
Candida Symptoms
Candida (particularly Candida albicans) is a common yeast organism that resides in the digestive system, and when found in abundant amounts can give rise to a number of candida symptoms. When it is kept in low levels candida is generally not a problem. Unfortunately, candida can be opportunistic and become problematic by flourishing within its colonies and invading the mucosal lining of the digestive system. There are many different types of candida, but most have the ability to become invasive when the opportunity arises. For many people the presence of candida is not recognized as anything serious. They have enough healthy bacteria (natural flora) in the digestive system that keeps the candida in check. However, for others the existence of candida and the toxins it produces creates a myriad of symptoms that is quite bothersome. Listed below are some of the more common issues experienced by people with candida symptoms.
Candida Symptoms – Common Issues Recognized By Traditional Medicine
Traditional medicine recognizes certain problems that can come about from candida infections. These candida symptoms are usually obvious and easily recognized by most medical professionals. An oral overgrowth of candida called ‘Thrush’ often occurs in infants and young child who still have developing immune systems. There can be a whitish coating and cottage cheese like material in the mouth if the candida overgrowth is severe enough. Often children will complain of mouth discomfort or avoid food because of the irritation from the candida.
Another outward manifestation of candida is skin infections that appear red and blotchy. These usually occur around the groin or rectum and can be a manifestation of an overgrowth of candida. Most skin infections of candida can be treated successfully with topical antifungal medications.
Vaginal yeast infections are another problem associated with candida and the candida symptoms of these infections causes irritation, swelling, and pain around the vaginal area. Vaginal yeast infections affect millions of women every year and often link back to an imbalance of the natural flora in the vagina. Certain medications can be taken to help with vagina yeast infections.
Candida Symptoms – Common Issues Recognized By Many Integrative Medicine Practitioners
Candida symptoms can present with a wide range of “other” issues than just ‘thrush’, skin and vaginal infections. In fact, the list of complaints attributed to candida is extensive. Listed below is a short list of suspected “other” candida symptoms recognized by many integrative medicine practitioners:
• Allergies
• Anxiety
• Bad Breath
• Bladder Infections
• Constipation
• Depression
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Dry Mouth
• Dry Skin & Itching
• Food Sensitivities
• Gas/Bloating
• Headaches
• Heartburn
• Hormonal Imbalance
• Indigestion
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Infertility
• Joint Pain
• Low Blood Sugar
• Menstrual Problems
• Mental Fogginess
• Muscle Aches
• PMS Symptoms
• Poor memory
• Sugar cravings
• Water Retention
If you suffer from more than a few of these issues it is likely candida could be a problem. Even though not all of these are uniquely specific to candida (meaning there can be other causes too), the list above is often found highly represented in individuals with chronic candida problems.
Testing To Identify Certain Candida Symptoms and Problems
One of the best tests to perform to analyze for candida toxins and other metabolic disturbances is Great Plains Laboratory’s Organic Acids Test (OAT). Other tests to consider are the Comprehensive Food IgG Sensitivity (Food IgG) test from Great Plains Laboratory.
Recommended: Candida Causes
Amino Acids Testing Procedure
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and the amino acids testing procedure for comes in different forms. There are many benefits to doing amino acid testing, and the information provided by amino acid tests can be useful for a wide variety of health complaints. All proteins in the body are essentially larger chains of peptides which come together through the various sequencing of amino acids. Without amino acids and the corresponding proteins our body’s ability to regulate cardiovascular, immune and neurological function would be greatly compromised. Therefore, following amino acids testing procedure is very important when evaluating amino acids.
Amino Acids Testing Procedure – Blood Testing
Amino acids can be tested through blood sampling. The blood test should be done fasting (not having eaten for at least 6 to 8 hours, but 4 hours is generally okay unless otherwise specified via the test kit instructions) to provide more accurate results. Blood amino acid testing provides a snapshot of amino acids in general blood circulation and an overall picture of essential and non-essential amino acids. Essential amino acids are those that we must obtain from our diet, and non-essential amino acids we can produce internally. This means our diet should be replete in essential amino acids to maintain healthy levels. One reason amino acids testing procedures calls for a fasting blood sampling is that various supplements (particularly if they contain amino acids) can cause the values on the test to appear artificially elevated.
Amino Acids Testing Procedure for Urine Testing
Amino acids can also be tested through urine sampling. The urine test is normally done as a 24-hour urine collection. The sampling of amino acids from a 24-hour urine collection provides detailed information about total body storage and circulation of amino acids. It also accounts for what amino acids are being obtained from your diet over a 24-hour period of time. The 24-hour urine amino acid test often is the best way to measure total amino acids. Unfortunately, obtaining a 24-hour urine test can be difficult, especially in children. Therefore, another amino acids testing procedure is to do an 8 hour urine collection through the night. This method will still provide useful information, as along as the diet the previous day wasn’t manipulated artificially with amino acid supplements or exceptionally high amino acid foods.
What to Avoid with Amino Acids Testing
The amino acids testing procedures call for some specific action to take place prior to and during the collection process. For blood testing having not eaten for a minimum of 4 hours is required (make sure to check the specific instructions for blood amino acid test you will have done). Blood is drawn from a vein in the arm (elbow region) or back of hand. In young children or infant a sharp tool called a lancet may be used to puncture the skin. The blood draw process normally takes less than a minute.
The amino acids testing procedure for urine collection also has some specific actions that need to take place prior to and during the collection process. A regular diet should be consumed during the 24-hour urine collection time frame. To get the best indication of diet with relation to amino acid supplements the avoidance of amino acid supplements should be avoided during this time frame. For an 8 hour urine collection this is best done by collecting a first morning urine after a night’s sleep. If it is necessary to get up in the middle of the night to urinate this urine should be collected too.
Summary of Amino Acids Testing Procedure
Amino acid testing is a useful diagnostic tool to assess overall amino acid deficiencies and imbalances. When doing amino acid testing make sure to always read and follow the specific instructions of your particular amino acid test kit, and follow the labs amino acids testing procedure to ensure the most accurate sampling of your particular amino acid status.
Recommended: Lab Tests
Constipation Problems
Constipation is most commonly defined as having less than 3 bowels movement per week. It normally is associated with difficulty passing stool and hard stools overall. There is pain while trying to pass stools, or a complete inability to have a bowel movement even after straining to do so. There are many causes for constipation, and it is an affliction that affects millions of people throughout the United States and around the world. For the vast majority of people constipation is a transient problem that resolves with changes in diet, improved hydration, or the incorporation of dietary fiber. For others constipation can be a sign of something more serious such as intestinal cancer, neurological disease, or intestinal obstruction from an infection. If constipation persists for many months, or is associated with other health complaints such as rectal bleeding, weight loss, increasing fatigue, and intense abdominal pain being evaluated by a trained medical professional is absolutely necessary.
However, there are many cases where constipation is a functional problem linking back to a food sensitivities, chronic bowel infection, or poor digestion overall from consuming unhealthy food or poor digestive enzyme production.
Constipation Problems – Food Sensitivities
Constipation problems can come about from eating food that your body is immune sensitive too. There can be almost anything that a person can develop a sensitivity too, but the following list of foods are quite common in food sensitivity tests:
• Wheat, gluten
• Dairy (cow) – including milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream
• Corn
• Rice
• Soy (and soy products)
One of the best tests to do to see if food sensitivities are causing a problem is the Comprehensive Food IgG Test (finger prick). This easy to do test at home involves no blood draw, and only requires a small amount of blood via a non-painful finger prick procedure. The test analyzes for over 90 foods. It is an efficient way to assess for a wide range of food reactions.
Constipation Problems – Chronic Infections
Constipation problems can occur from long-standing infections in the digestive system. Bacteria, yeast, and parasites if left untreated can harbor in the digestive system leading to chronic irritation and constipation overtime. Not everyone with chronic constipation has infections, but a certain percentage of people do and analyzing the digestive system for pathogens can help uncover an important cause or contributing factor for constipation problems. The Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis (CDSA) helps to identify a myriad of normal and abnormal bowel bacteria, as well as yeast, parasites, and digestive markers which suggest inflammation and poor digestive enzyme production. The CDSA is a complete digestive stool analysis. The Gastrointestinal Pathogen Screen w/H. pylori – #401-H (from BioHealth Laboratory) is a more specific stool test for parasites and bacterial overgrowth.
Constipation Problems – Digestive Enzyme Production Issues
Constipation problems can also come about from faulty production of digestive enzymes. The stomach produces hydrochloric acid to help breakdown proteins in the stomach, and the pancreas produces a wide variety of enzymes need to breakdown protein, fats, and carbohydrates. Without adequate digestive enzyme production poor food assimilation occurs and this stress can lead to constipation for some people. Just like the discussion in the ‘chronic infection’ section the Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis (CDSA) is an excellent test to perform for constipation problems to assess all around digestive markers, including those for enzyme production.
Recommended: Lab Tests
Digestive System Problems
Digestive health problems are a common issue for millions of people in the United States and around the world. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t experienced some type of digestive system problem at some point in their life whether it be indigestion from a food reaction or diarrhea from acute viral gastroenteritis. There are a multitude of digestive system problems that people commonly complain of, here is a short list:
• Acid Reflux – also known as heartburn
• Indigestion – can manifest as stomach discomfort and nausea
• Cramping – discomfort throughout the entire digestive system
• Constipation – a common occurrence for children and adults which leads to significant
discomfort.
• Diarrhea – usually associated with an infection or inflammatory bowel problems
• Gas/Bloating – this causes discomfort in the digestive system and is commonly associated
with adverse food reactions and/or bacterial or yeast overgrowth.
Rectal pain – this can be associated with constipation, negative food reactions, intestinal infections such as Helicobacter pylori, hemorrhoids, or inflammation.
Digestive System Problems – What Makes Up the Digestive System
The digestive system is a long tube that runs through our body and is directly involved in food stuff assimilation (food digestion), nutrient absorption, and toxin elimination. The digestive system is also a major player in the immune system as well. The digestive system actually begins in the mouth through the process of chewing and saliva production of enzymes. It then extends downwards through the esophagus (tube between mouth and stomach) into the stomach. The stomach is the main area for acid production and via the churning of food stuff significantly begins the process of food breakdown. From there food stuff enters the upper part of the small intestine called the duodenum and is acted upon by pancreas enzymes, and bile acids from the liver. Therefore, the liver and pancreas are considered part of the digestive system as well.
In the small intestine more food digestion takes place along with nutrient absorption into the blood stream. The major parts of the digestive immune system are also found in the small intestine primarily in the jejunum and ileum. After passing through the small intestine waste material bound to bile passes into the large intestine. The large intestine is also called the colon. The colon is the last part of the intestinal tract and makes up the ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid colon (the small region between the descending colon and rectum), and rectum.
Digestive Health Problems – Common Diagnostic Testing
There are standard recommendations put forth from preventative medicine agencies for assessment of digestive health, primarily colon health, via colonoscopy and rectal blood assessment starting at age 50. These screening assessments are primarily for colon cancer prevention and detection. However, there are other integrative medicine tests that can be performed to assess the overall health of the digestive system, and not just the colon.
The Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis (CDSA) is an excellent way of assessing digestive health through digestion and inflammation markers, blood, and bacteria, yeast and parasite detection. Doing this test along with an Organic Acids Test (OAT) provides great insight into yeast and bacterial toxins and other biochemical markers which can compromise health. Food sensitivities can lead to a lot of digestive system problems and the Comprehensive Food IgG Test helps to identify various food sensitivities.
Finally, assessing for Helicobacter pylori (a bacteria that causes stomach and duodenal ulcers), along with in-depth parasite detection can be done via the Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis from Doctor’s Data or the OAT, and Comprehensive Food IgG from Great Plains Laboratory, and all of these together are a comprehensive way of assessing for digestive system problems.
Recommended: Gastrointestinal Health
Gastrointestinal Pathogen Screen Test – Video 401H
Get The Gastrointestinal Pathogen Screen Test Here.
Gastrointestinal Pathogen Screen #401h
Gastrointestinal pathogens such as bacteria, candida (yeast), and parasites can be a problem for anyone dealing with chronic health issues such as fatigue, loose stools or constipation, joint inflammation, headaches, etc. Often times chronic intestinal pathogens persist for years draining the body of energy reserves, necessary nutrients, and can be a leading problem for ongoing stress leading to poor adrenal hormone cortisol production. In fact, anyone who is assessing themselves for adrenal hormone balance at some point should perform stool testing to rule out chronic infection. The Gastrointestinal Pathogen Screen, aka. #401 profile from BioHealth Laboratory is an excellent test for intestinal pathogens (candida, bacteria), particularly parasitic infections. The parasite detection methods from BioHealth Laboratory are extensive and not only look for parasites through visual inspection of the stool through microscopy, but through specialized staining techniques to identify hidden infections as well. The Gastrointestinal Pathogen Screen (#401) from BioHealth Laboratory also evaluates for Clostridia difficle (C. difficle) Toxins A and B. Clostridia difficle can be a serious infection that predisposes an individual to an inflammatory bowel condition called Pseudomembraneous colitis. C. difficle is contagious and is quite problematic as resistance to antibiotics is high. C. difficle is also known to produce a biotoxin which can interfere with brain chemistry pathways by inhibiting Dopamine. This can create behavior and attention problems often seen in various mental health disorders. A follow-up test for anyone with Clostridia difficle Toxin A and/or B from the BioHealth Laboratory Gastrointestinal Pathogen Screen (#401) would be the Organic Acid Test (OAT) from Great Plains Laboratory. With the OAT there are two clostridia toxins than can be present called 4-cresol and HPHPA which are linked to faulty Dopamine metabolism. The #401 Gastrointestinal Pathogen Screen is an excellent stool analysis for the detection of intestinal pathogens such as parasites and C. difficle.