Celiac disease is a big risk factor for SIBO, and yet, it’s often an overlapping condition that many doctors miss. In today’s conversation, I’m joined by Dr. Lisa Shaver to discuss the relationship between leaky gut, gluten, and the body’s autoimmune response in someone with celiac disease—and how these mechanisms can lead to other gut disorders like SIBO.
We also get into why gluten has become public enemy number 1 in today’s modern food culture, whether non-celiac gluten sensitivity is a legit condition, and the dangers of someone going on a gluten-free diet without proper medical due diligence.
Dr. Shaver is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist in Portland, Oregon whose private practice focuses on celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, GERD, SIBO, IBS and other digestive disorders.
A quick taste of what we’ll cover:
- The genetic components of celiac disease and what triggers its expression
- How leaky gut is impacted by the vagus nerve, emotional traumas or stressors, and the downwind impact for both autoimmune conditions like celiac and SIBO
- Why celiac disease is on the rise
- Common mistakes people make when testing for celiac or unpacking patients’ symptoms
- The most important lifestyle changes celiacs need to make in addition to eliminating gluten
- Whether non-celiacs with SIBO should eliminate gluten from their diet
- How the gluten-free diet and the low FODMAP approach can be explored in tandem
- The difference between food sensitivities and autoimmune-based food reactions
- And so much more…
Resources, mentions and notes:
- Dr. Shaver’s website
- Episode 3 on the gut hormone connection with Dr. Jolene Brighten
- Phoebe’s book, The Wellness Project – which has the whole story of how I detoxed my life!
- Join the SIBO Made Simple Facebook Community Page
- Subscribe to receive a free low FODMAP cookbook
Today’s episode is brought to you by Fody Foods, a whole array of condiments, sauces and spice blends that are low FODMAP and use real ingredients to promote digestive health. Everything is Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, non-GMO, and most importantly, delicious. You can now purchase Fody Foods products at the regular grocery store! Keep an eye out for their purple logo on the shelves of Whole Foods, Sprouts, Fairway, and other grocers. Or you can head directly to fodyfoods.com to purchase online. SIBO Made Simple listeners in the US and Canada can get 15 percent off their order by using code SIBOMADESIMPLE15. Click here to learn more.
Disclaimer: The information in this podcast does not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, or treatment. The information discussed is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or professional care.
Loved the podcast. So, If I am off gluten for say 6 months and have the biopsy done and it comes back negative for Celiac, does that mean the damage has been healed if I am actually Celiac? Or, I was not/ am not Celiac? I’m a little confused. Thanks!
It’s a good question Christine, and I am in the same boat. For what it’s worth, my GI doesn’t believe that you can’t get a proper diagnosis via biopsy if you haven’t been eating gluten. This is Dr. Shaver’s perspective that you can’t confirm a negative result if you haven’t been eating gluten. If your intestines looked good though, I wouldn’t worry about it. My guess is if you have only been GF for 6 months that you’d still be seeing long term damage of celiac disease, but I’m not a doctor so I would ask yours.
Phoebe, my biopsy showed no Celiac, so if there was damage it’s healed. I did show Collagenous Colitis which I’m told is from a gluten intolerance, which caused leaky gut which is in turn causing SIBO.
Since there is no know cure for Collagenous Colitis I wonder if I will ever be rid of the SIBO? So little is known about microscopic colitis. Ugh… such a viscous cycle.