What to Do If Your GI-MAP Shows High Zonulin
By J. Dette Avalon, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC If you just got your GI-MAP results back and saw the word “elevated” next to zonulin, I want you to take a breath before you do anything else. I hear from people almost every week in this exact spot. They ordered the test because...
Continue ReadingH. pylori, Zonulin & Leaky Gut: What the Research Really Shows
By CJ Faucher, FNP-BC If you’ve been dealing with bloating, reflux, fatigue, food sensitivities, brain fog, or digestive symptoms that haven’t resolved with diet changes or supplements, it’s worth understanding a research area that’s still developing: the relationship between H. pylori, a protein called zonulin, and intestinal permeability sometimes called...
Continue Reading15 Surprising Symptoms That Could Mean Your Gut Is Crying Out for Help: Why the GI-MAP + Zonulin Test May Hold the Answers
You’ve Been Told Everything Is “Normal”… So Why Don’t You Feel Normal? You’ve changed your diet. You’ve tried probiotics, digestive enzymes, supplements, and maybe even prescription medications. You’ve cut out gluten. You drank the green smoothies. You downloaded the meditation apps. You tried to get more sleep. And yet… You’re still bloated. Still...
Continue ReadingZonulin: The Master Regulator Nobody Is Talking About Honestly (And Why It’s Wrecking Your Health)
The Protein That Changed How I Practice And That Most People Still Get Wrong Twenty-five years into functional medicine, I’ve watched a lot of ideas come and go. Trends, testing fads, supplements that had their moment and faded. I’ve been wrong about things. I’ve updated my thinking more times than...
Continue ReadingCould Leaky Gut Be Sabotaging Your Body’s Ability to Make Natural Peptides?
Discover how intestinal permeability and bile acid dysfunction block your body’s natural peptide synthesis—and what to do about it. When I am asked about peptide therapy—whether it’s BPC-157 for gut healing or thymosin for immune support—I always ask the same question first: “Have we figured out why your body stopped...
Continue ReadingGI-MAP Test Review: Why Functional Medicine Doctors Call This the Gold Standard for Gut Health Testing
Let me tell you about the day Jessica walked into my office and said, “I’ve been to seven doctors. They’ve all told me it’s just IBS. They’ve given me pills that don’t work, told me to ‘reduce stress,’ and suggested therapy. But I KNOW something is actually wrong with...
Continue ReadingWhy AI Can’t Read Your Health Story: The Truth About Automated Lab Interpretation
Artificial intelligence is everywhere these days. It writes emails, helps doctors analyze X-rays, and even predicts tomorrow’s weather. Now, AI tools promise to interpret your lab results instantly, generating automated reports that sound confident and comprehensive. But here’s the reality: Dr. Google and Nurse Chat GPT can read numbers, but...
Continue Reading“Is My Gut Really Leaky?” Understanding Zonulin Tests and What Your Results Actually Mean
You’ve probably heard someone mention “leaky gut” or maybe your practitioner suggested testing your zonulin levels. Now you’re wondering: is this real science or just another wellness trend? Here’s the truth: your gut health matters more than you might think, and understanding intestinal permeability can be genuinely helpful. But zonulin...
Continue ReadingYour Gut Is the Root Cause of Your Chronic Inflammation (And Why Wasn’t it Tested)
Table of Contents Why Nobody Tests Your Gut What Is Leaky Gut How Inflammation Spreads Complete Testing Protocol Healing Your Gut Order Testing Why Hasn’t Your Gut Been Tested? You’ve been sick for years. Maybe it started with digestive issues—bloating, gas, irregular bowel movements. Or maybe it started differently: Chronic fatigue that never lifts Brain fog and difficulty concentrating Anxiety or...
Continue ReadingButyrate: Your Gut / Brain Connection and the Importance of Butyrate
Butyrate and Brain Health: The Gut Compound That Could Save Your Memory Your gut might be screaming warnings about Alzheimer’s disease—right now—and you’re not hearing them. That “gut feeling” isn’t just metaphorical. It’s a sophisticated communication network that could hold the key to preventing cognitive decline, and it all comes...
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