Alpha-Gal Syndrome Starts With a Tick… But Recovery May Begin in the Gut
Understanding the Gut – Immune Connection, Intestinal Permeability, and Why Optimizing Gut Health May Support Healing By J. Dette Avalon, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC Important: This article discusses established science, emerging research, and my clinical perspective as a Family Nurse Practitioner living with Alpha-Gal Syndrome. While optimizing gut health may support overall...
Continue ReadingCan Mold Cause Histamine Intolerance? The Gut Connection Most People Miss
Can Mold Cause Histamine Intolerance? “This article is written from two perspectives: my experience as a Family Nurse Practitioner and my personal journey living with Alpha-Gal Syndrome, mold illness, and histamine sensitivity. While every person’s story is different, my hope is that sharing both the science and my experience helps...
Continue ReadingWhat 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 Reading7 Powerful Reasons the Vibrant Wellness Gut Zoomer Is the Health Test You’ve Been Waiting For
If you’ve been living with bloating, fatigue, brain fog, skin issues, autoimmune flares, or just that nagging feeling that something is off and your conventional labs keep coming back “normal” I want you to hear this loud and clear: your gut may hold every answer you’ve been searching for....
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 ReadingFood Sensitivity Testing: A Root- Cause Approach to Understanding Your Body’s Hidden Triggers
When “Healthy” Foods Make You Sick: A Clinical Perspective After 25 years as a Family Nurse Practitioner, I’ve heard this story hundreds of times: “I’m eating clean, avoiding junk food, exercising regularly… but I feel terrible. I’m bloated, exhausted, and my brain feels foggy.” Sound familiar? Here’s what I’ve learned in my...
Continue ReadingThe Gut-Brain Axis: Why Testing Your Barriers Could Change Everything
Your Gut – It’s Not Just About Digestion Most people think about gut health in terms of bloating, gas, or food sensitivities. While these are common issues, the gut does much more than digest food. It operates as your body’s “second brain,” engaging in constant bidirectional communication with your central...
Continue Reading1-800-GI-MAP: What Your Gut Wants to Say to You
Ring, ring. You (groggily): “Hello?” Caller: “Yeah, hi, this is H. pylori. Sorry to call at 3 AM, but we need to talk about the burning sensation you’ve been ignoring. The acid reflux? The GERD symptoms? That’s ME trying to get your attention!” You: “Wait… who is this?” H. pylori: “Your stomach lining....
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