Gut Healing Myths, Opportunistic Bacteria, Conventional Gut Testing

Welcome to Healthy Gut Healthy Thyroid!

This is your weekly roundup of the BEST actionable steps for those people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions who want to restore their health…by healing their gut. Whether you have hyperthyroidism or Hashimoto’s you will benefit from the content in this newsletter.

In today's issue:

• Main Topic: Debunking Common Gut Healing Myths

• Podcast Review: Fix Thyroid Issues Without Spending a Fortune

• Understand Your Tests: Understanding opportunistic bacteria

• Ask Dr. Eric: When should conventional gut testing be done?

Debunking Common Gut Healing Myths

Recently, there has been a surge in gut health awareness, which is wonderful; however, it has also led to a proliferation of misinformation. In this section, I’ll address and debunk some of the most common myths about healing your gut.

Some myths relate to food, while others involve broader factors, including the gut’s integrity and environmental influences.

Myth #1: Gut Healing Is a One-Size-Fits-All Approach

While the foundational process of gut healing involves removing harmful factors and incorporating strategies to promote recovery, individual “leaky gut triggers” vary. As a result, the specific approach must be personalized. Even after addressing the root cause, each person’s healing journey can look different.

Myth #2: You Can’t Heal Your Gut Through Diet Alone

This is often—but not always—true. For some, dietary changes alone may resolve gut issues, especially if food sensitivities are the primary trigger. However, environmental toxins and gut infections also play a significant role and should not be overlooked.

Myth #3: Gluten Only Affects Those with Celiac Disease

While gluten is a must-avoid for people with Celiac disease, research shows it can contribute to leaky gut even in those without the condition. For individuals with autoimmune diseases like Graves’ or Hashimoto’s, gluten avoidance can be critical for gut healing.

Myth #4: You Must Follow a Super Restrictive Diet Forever

I often recommend an autoimmune paleo (AIP) diet for 3-6 months to my autoimmune thyroid patients, but highly restrictive diets are not intended for long-term use. In fact, overly restrictive eating can negatively impact gut health if followed for too long.

Myth #5: Probiotics and Supplements Alone Will Heal Your Gut

While probiotics, digestive enzymes, and gut-healing supplements like SMT GI-Restore can support healing, they’re unlikely to be effective if someone continues consuming inflammatory foods.

Myth #6: H. pylori and Parasites Should Only Be Treated If You Have GI Symptoms

There’s debate around this, but I generally recommend treating H. pylori and parasites in my thyroid patients who test positive, even without the presence of digestive symptoms. These microorganisms can contribute to systemic inflammation and autoimmunity.

Myth #7: A Negative Leaky Gut Test Rules Out a Leaky Gut

I used to rely on Cyrex Labs Array #2 to assess leaky gut. However, false negatives are possible. Now, I often assume leaky gut is present based on the patient’s history and symptoms rather than testing alone.

Myth #8: Bone Broth Is Essential for Gut Healing

While bone broth can support gut health, it’s not a requirement. For example, I successfully managed my own Graves’ disease condition without it. Bone broth is beneficial, but not essential.

Myth #9: A Comprehensive Stool Test Isn’t Worth It Because It’s Not Perfect

Although no test is flawless, comprehensive stool panels like GI-MAP and GI Effects provide valuable insights. I don’t recommend them for every patient, but they can be a powerful tool in certain cases.

Myth #10: Gut Healing Is a Quick and Easy Process

Healing the gut is rarely fast. Even after removing the triggers, it takes time for the gut to fully recover. Patience and consistency are essential for long-term gut health.

Conclusion

Gut healing is complex and personal. While general principles apply, individual factors—including diet, environmental exposures, infections, and lifestyle—play significant roles. Avoid falling for common myths that oversimplify this process. Instead, embrace a holistic, personalized approach, and remember: healing the gut is a journey, not a sprint.

Find Your Hashimoto’s Triggers

If you have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, visiting an endocrinologist is likely to result in a prescription for thyroid hormone replacement. And while there is a time and place for thyroid hormone, the problem is that it doesn’t do anything for the autoimmune component of Hashimoto’s.

And so what happens is that many people will take thyroid hormone without doing anything to improve the health of their immune system, which means that over time further damage to their thyroid gland will take place.

The good news is that you can do things to reverse the autoimmune component of Hashimoto’s. And the best way to accomplish this is by finding and removing your triggers.

My book “Hashimoto’s Triggers” will show you how to do this. By reading this book you will discover the following:

• More than one dozen triggers of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

• The different diet options, and how to detect your specific food triggers

• Everything you need to know to heal your gut

• How to reduce fatigue, brain fog, hair loss, lose weight, and address other common symptoms

• Strategies to lower thyroid antibodies when nothing else has worked

• Nutritional supplements and herbs for Hashimoto’s

• A comprehensive list of the blood tests you should get, along with other specific tests that can help detect your triggers

• What you need to do to achieve optimal adrenal health

• Natural treatment options for viruses, pathogenic bacteria, parasites, Candida, and SIBO

Click Here to order the book “Hashimoto’s Triggers”

Save My Thyroid Podcast Review

I have a podcast called "Save My Thyroid", where I discuss how people with hyperthyroidism and Hashimoto's can save their thyroid and regain their health. And during each edition of this newsletter I'll briefly discuss a recent podcast episode.

In a recent podcast episode I discussed the following: “Fix Thyroid Issues Without Spending a Fortune” Most people think healing means eating pricey foods and taking endless supplements, but it doesn’t have to. This conversation breaks down which nutrients matter most and how to get them affordably. You’ll also hear tips on lowering daily toxin exposure, improving sleep, and making smart swaps at the grocery store. These are practical, doable steps even if you’re working with limited time and money.

Understand Your Tests

Understanding Opportunistic Bacteria

Opportunistic microbes are normal inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract, but they can become problematic under certain conditions, particularly in individuals with compromised gut health or immunity. These microorganisms are typically kept in check by the balance of the gut microbiome, but when this balance is disrupted, opportunistic bacteria can overgrow and contribute to various health issues.

Why Are Opportunistic Bacteria Elevated?

Here are several common reasons why opportunistic bacteria may become elevated:

✅ Low Stomach Acid. Low levels of hydrochloric acid (HCl) can reduce the stomach’s ability to sterilize incoming food, allowing opportunistic microbes to proliferate in the gastrointestinal tract. This can occur due to chronic stress, aging, or infections such as H. pylori.

✅ Disruption of the Gut Microbiome. The use of antibiotics, poor dietary habits (e.g., high sugar or refined carbohydrate intake), and chronic stress can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria, creating an environment where opportunistic bacteria thrive.

✅ Immune System Dysregulation. Conditions such as autoimmunity or chronic infections can compromise immune function, reducing the body’s ability to keep opportunistic bacteria in check.

✅ Increased Intestinal Permeability (Leaky Gut). A compromised intestinal barrier allows bacteria and other antigens to pass into the bloodstream, where they normally shouldn't be, which can cause an immune reaction.

✅ Infections and Toxin Exposure. Exposure to environmental toxicants, mold, or mycotoxins, as well as infections with certain pathogens, can create a dysbiotic environment favoring opportunistic bacteria.

✅ Poor Bowel Motility or Constipation. Slow transit time can provide an opportunity for opportunistic microbes to proliferate.

In Patient Test #1, you can observe dysbiotic and overgrowth bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus spp., which are quite common in clinical practice. However, bacteria like Morganella spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are less frequently observed in thyroid and autoimmune thyroid patients.

It’s essential to remember that the presence of opportunistic bacteria doesn’t automatically warrant antimicrobial treatment. For instance, if a patient also presents with low stomach acid due to an H. pylori infection, the focus should first be on addressing the underlying cause.

In Patient Test #2, "Inflammatory & Autoimmune-Related Bacteria" such as Citrobacter freundii, Klebsiella spp., and Klebsiella pneumoniae are elevated. These bacteria can be associated with increased inflammation and immune activation. While it’s often necessary to address these findings, the approach should be comprehensive, considering gut imbalances, underlying infections, and lifestyle factors.

Ask Dr. Eric

During every issue I'll answer a question or two that I think can benefit most people with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition. If you'd like for me to consider your question for a future edition of this newsletter email your question to [email protected].

QUESTION: WHEN SHOULD CONVENTIONAL GUT TESTING BE DONE?

Dr. Eric, when should someone consider getting conventional gut testing, such as an endoscopy or CT scan?

Thanks for your question! There’s no doubt that conventional medical testing has its place, and some patients may opt for these tests before pursuing functional medicine diagnostics. For example, if someone presents with significant digestive symptoms, their primary care physician might refer them to a gastroenterologist. This often leads to an endoscopy or colonoscopy.

I have nothing against these procedures; they are valuable diagnostic tools. However, they are also quite invasive, which raises the question: Should you undergo them right away, or start with functional medicine tests like a comprehensive stool panel or SIBO breath test? The answer depends largely on your individual health history.

Case-by-Case Decision Making

Take, for instance, someone experiencing persistent heartburn and reflux. In such cases, testing for H. pylori through a breath or stool test may be a prudent first step before proceeding to an endoscopy.

If the H. pylori test is negative, the decision becomes trickier. Conventional medical doctors might suggest a trial of acid-blocking medications or refer the patient for further evaluation by a gastroenterologist, who may recommend an endoscopy or even a colonoscopy.

It's worth noting that while functional medicine testing like stool analysis or breath testing can provide useful insights, conventional tests such as endoscopy may detect conditions that functional medicine tests might miss. Additionally, conventional tests are often covered by insurance, whereas functional medicine tests are typically paid out of pocket.

Choosing Between Functional Medicine and Conventional Testing

It’s not necessarily “wrong” to prioritize conventional testing over functional medicine testing. However, given the invasive nature of procedures like an endoscopy and colonoscopy, I generally prefer to start with less invasive methods when possible.

That said, if someone pursues functional medicine testing and the results are inconclusive or insufficient to explain their symptoms, then it makes sense to consider more invasive options.

Other Conventional Tests Worth Considering

Ultrasound: This non-invasive test uses sound waves to visualize internal organs and assess blood flow. It's a good first step for many abdominal concerns.

CT Scan: This imaging test provides detailed cross-sectional views of bones, muscles, fat, and organs. However, it involves exposure to radiation, which should be considered.

MRI: Unlike CT scans, MRIs use magnetic fields and radio waves and do not involve radiation. They offer detailed images of organs and structures within the gastrointestinal tract.

Barium Swallow: This test involves drinking a barium solution, followed by X-rays of the upper digestive tract (esophagus, stomach, and duodenum). It’s useful for evaluating swallowing disorders and structural abnormalities.

Additional Thyroid-Related Resources

Click Here for Fix Thyroid Issues Without Spending a Fortune (episode 200)

Click Here to access hundreds of thyroid-related articles and blog posts

Click Here to join the Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s community

Click Here to purchase one of Dr. Eric’s thyroid-related books

Click Here to work with Dr. Eric and his team

That’s a wrap