When most people think about gut health, they think about food. Maybe they need to eliminate gluten. Maybe they have SIBO. Maybe they need probiotics, digestive enzymes, or more fiber. While all of those tools can be helpful, there's another piece of the puzzle that often gets overlooked: Your nervous system.
If you’ve been dealing with bloating, gas, or unpredictable digestion, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of SIBO—or you’ve been told everything is “normal” when it doesn’t feel that way. In this blog, we walk through it simply.
One of the most common themes we see in functional medicine is a compromised gut barrier—sometimes called “leaky gut,” but more accurately described as impaired intestinal integrity. This shows up clinically as bloating, food sensitivities, inflammation, fatigue, autoimmune flares, and even hormone dysregulation.
At Tendwell, we talk a lot about the gut—and for good reason. Your gut is not just about digestion. It’s central to immune function, hormone balance, brain health, and inflammation throughout the body. One of my favorite tools for getting a truly comprehensive picture of gut health is Vibrant Wellness’s Gut Zoomer 3.0.
At Tendwell, we know that true wellness starts in the gut. Your digestive tract is more than just a place where food is broken down—it's home to a complex ecosystem that influences everything from your hormones to your mood, immune resilience, and even how your body clears toxins. That’s why, when patients come to us with symptoms like bloating, fatigue, brain fog, skin issues, or hormone imbalances, we often start by looking closely at the gut.
In functional medicine, we often say, “All health begins in the gut.” This is especially true when it comes to autoimmune conditions. Whether you're dealing with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or multiple sclerosis, there’s a common theme: immune dysregulation—and often, gut dysfunction lies at the root.
At Tendwell, we’re always looking to uncover the why behind symptoms—not just put a Band-Aid on them. One of the most powerful tools we use to do that is comprehensive stool testing. One of our favorite tests is the Gut Zoomer 3.0 from Vibrant Wellness because it gives us a detailed window into what's happening in the gut, far beyond what standard tests can tell us.
Metabolic health is the foundation of overall well-being, influencing energy levels, weight, mood, and even longevity. From a functional medicine perspective, achieving optimal metabolism goes beyond just counting calories or exercising more—it requires addressing underlying imbalances that can sabotage the body's ability to maintain a healthy weight and energy balance. Two critical yet often overlooked factors in metabolic health are toxins and weight loss resistance and gut health and the microbiome.
The thyroid gland plays a critical role in regulating your metabolism, energy levels, and overall well-being. However, thyroid dysfunction, particularly hypothyroidism, is becoming increasingly common. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) estimates that nearly 10% of the U.S. population was affected by hypothyroidism between 2009 and 2012—and these numbers appear to be on the rise.
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is a condition that occurs when bacteria, which are normally present in the large intestine, begin to grow excessively in the small intestine. This imbalance can lead to a range of uncomfortable digestive symptoms and is often challenging to diagnose and treat effectively. Here, we’ll explore the symptoms, causes, and why treatment can be particularly tricky.
In our Denver-based functional medicine practice, we frequently see patients struggling with gut health issues, and one of the most common complaints is abdominal bloating. Many people report feeling bloated, even without having eaten anything, while others experience bloating after consuming seemingly harmless foods. This persistent and uncomfortable symptom can be incredibly frustrating, and I often hear patients say, "I look like I’m six months pregnant."
Many clients struggle to get the recommended levels of protein in daily…me too. At my house, we know that including healthy fats and protein in each meal, especially breakfast, sets a you up for a better day. This translates into more stable blood sugar, steady energy, stable moods, a sharp mind and feelings of satiety which means less snacking though the day. I know many traditional cereal based breakfasts (including oatmeal) are lacking in protein power. Here is a quick list of protein forward breakfast ideas to bring to the table. Pun intended!
One of my favorite tests that we run at Tendwell as part of the comprehensive functional medicine assessment is a stool analysis. We generally recommend Vibrant Wellness’ Gut Zoomer 3.0. This stool test looks at digestive enzyme levels, inflammatory markers, pathogens, and the total gut microbiome, among other things. One of these other things is a fecal zonulin test. This is a diagnostic test that measures the levels of zonulin in a person's stool sample. Zonulin is a protein that regulates the permeability of the intestinal barrier. What does this mean? It means that zonulin controls the openings between the cells of the intestinal lining, allowing nutrients to pass through while preventing the entry of harmful substances.
At Tendwell, we use a comprehensive approach to balancing the gut microbiome. “Test don’t guess.” We use advanced stool testing to fully assess your unique gut milieu. We can identify potential pathogens (parasites), Ph levels, digestive enzymes, and bile salt levels. We can see which gut “bugs” are deficient and which ones are present in abundance. It’s fascinating. And, above all, it helps us guide you to a personalized functional medicine treatment plan.
As we continue the journey of finding balance within our bodies, let’s discuss what happens when bacteria from your large intestine travels into your small intestines and makes a home there. Your small intestine facilitates the digestive process and works in concert with enzymes you need to digest food. Your large intestine uses bacteria to continue the final breakdown of the foods you take in. Water and salts are absorbed from the undigested material and any waste products left over are excreted. Occasionally, the bacteria which help your large intestines work properly get displaced and end up in your small intestine. This can cause a type of dysbiosis known as Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), an often painful and very uncomfortable condition.
Wherever I turn these days, I encounter articles discussing the gut microbiome. This makes sense to me as a functional medicine and integrative medicine clinician. From day one in functional medicine education, we learn: “All disease begins in the gut.” This statement is attributed to Hippocrates, the father of medicine, from around 2,000 years ago. Amazingly, this message still rings true today. When the gut microbiome is disrupted, processes regulated by the gut, such as immunity and brain function, are impaired. This ultimately may lead to the development of chronic conditions such as autoimmune disease, metabolic dysfunction, and mental health issues, among many other health problems.