The relationship between minerals and gut health is not always apparent. I’ve learned from personal experience and years of coaching clients that the function of the gut depends on how well other systems in the body function.
The liver, adrenals, thyroid and mitochondria all effect how well the gut functions, and all these systems depend on mineral support. The immune system and nervous system are also vital to gut function. And they work worse with mineral depletion. When minerals are lacking these systems and organs can’t function well and the gut is affected.
I started offering the Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis test, along with stool and breath tests, to help clients who’ve been physically depleted by years of stress, gut distress, lack of self care and/or trauma. These stressors deplete minerals and thus the energy the body needs to heal.
When inflammation is rampant, it can tax energy and keep us stuck in fight or flight. In this situation, healing can’t happen, no matter how dialled in the supplement protocol. If this is you, the way to heal is to work on the basic foundations of health essential to gut function. Minerals are one of that and lifestyle changes are another.
Functional lab testing finds the root cause of gut symptoms. Half the battle is identifying infections or overgrowths. The other half is getting the gut into balance when these infections are present. This can be hard when the body has limited energy, and an overwhelmed immune system and nervous system.
The first step is to support these systems so the body can properly heal and the supplements can do their job better.
It is good to understand your root cause ( h. pylori, bacterial/fungal overgrowth, or parasites) so you know it’s “not just in your head.” But building a strong body to overcome overgrowths and infections takes a bit of work. And this ground work makes the supplements more effective.
If you have done a protocol that does not work, it does not mean you will live like this forever. It means you have to prepare your body for healing.
When protocols don’t work, do this..
When you know what’s driving symptoms after taking the GI Map, it is time to look at your body’s ability to deal with what was found.
Some things can prevent successful resolution of the problem. When people have been running on stress hormones for a long time and have poor sleep and dietary habits, it is challenging for the body to heal. There can also be toxicity, liver stagnation, adrenals weakness or nervous system imbalance that slows or stalls the healing process.
In this case, we do foundational work to get the body ready for healing. Your body needs the energy and resources to mount a proper attack and win the battle.
Supplements help, but when the body is depleted we need to build it back up.
Stronger supplements/protocols are not enough.
Supplements don’t heal you, your body heals you. Supplements lend support. To build up the adrenals, thyroid and mitochondria we need the right minerals and lifestyle habits.
Knowing your immune system
You may know your immune system is an issue if you get sick all the time or never get sick (overactive immune system).
The Sig A marker on the GI Map measures the state of the immune system. Sig A between 1000 to 2000 is ideal. Below 500 means the body will struggle to heal and needs more support.
The body can also be challenged even if Sig A is ideal. When the adrenals, liver, thyroid and nervous system are not functioning well, those need support also.
Working to support these systems will speed up healing.
How minerals help with gut healing
The 4 primary minerals are the backbone of adrenal health, immune status and nervous system function. Magnesium and calcium calm the nervous system and potassium and sodium are essential for healthy adrenals. Zinc is the primary mineral of the immune system.
Magnesium is one of the most important minerals for gut health and the nervous system. Sodium + zinc are the building blocks of stomach acid.
Heavy metal toxicity in the body can also displace minerals in the cells, leading to weak mitochondrial function. The mitochondria, produce most of our body’s metabolic energy and need minerals to function.
Mineral ratios
A mineral test can give us clues to how well the systems of our body are functioning.
The sodium and potassium ratio is the vitality ratio and tells us how much energy. the body has to heal.
The calcium and phosphorus ratio measures the state of the nervous system. If it is low it means we are in fight or flight. If it is high it means we are exhausted (depletion or freeze).
The calcium and potassium ratio tells us about the state of the thyroid. A sluggish thyroid can be a root cause of depression, constipation, sleep issues, anxiety and weight gain.
The zinc and copper ratio measure hormone health. Both zinc and copper play a big role in the stress and immune response. They support our emotions and mental health. High copper is linked to estrogen balance and zinc is linked to testosterone and progesterone.
The sodium and magnesium ratio measure the strength of the adrenals.
Calcium and magnesium measures our blood sugar stability and iron and copper is the immune function and infection ratio.
The GI Map and SIBO tests measure the state of your biome, gut lining and digestion but mineral analysis tells us which other faltering systems are affecting the gut.
If the thyroid, adrenals or blood sugar are imbalanced the gut struggles to heal. If there is low immunity or vitality (energy) the body doesn’t have the resources to heal.
Balancing sodium and potassium can provide adrenal support. The thyroid needs selenium or iodine. Zinc and copper influence hormones, immunity and mental health.
When I had IBS, high copper was a big part of my issue, driving stress, candida overgrowth, adrenal issues and anxiety.
The nervous system needs minerals to calm down (magnesium, calcium and phosphorous). When the nervous system is struck in survival mode, stress becomes a vicious cycle of physical stress driving emotional stress and vice versa.
When there are gut issues we focus on the gut. But the gut relies on the function of other body systems and organs to repair itself.
If you struggle with stubborn SIBO, parasites, yeast, leaky. gut or h. pylori the right mineral support for the adrenals, nervous system and immune system could make the difference.
Mineral test basics
The mineral test requires a hair sample. 1 Inch of hair cut from the root. Hair can’t be colored or chemically treated for two month before collection. If you just coloured you must wait 2 months for hair to grow out.
You need one teaspoon of hair, at 1 inch length.
Collection instructions are below.
There’s a reason your body has become a good host to pathogens and overgrowths. Because it’s too depleted or toxic to heal.
Understanding how minerals affect health and using them to support the body is an effective way to address stubborn gut infections. You will create an environment they can no longer thrive in. And that means no relapses, ever.
Just like my story.
Collection instructions
RIOR TO COLLECTION:
- Hair should be free of dye, bleach, and/ or hair products
- If you have recently dyed your hair, please wait a minimum of 3 weeks (8 weeks is better) before collection
- If you use Head and Shoulders, Selsun Blue, or any other anti-dandruff shampoo, please discontinue for 2 weeks prior to collection and note this on your submission form. If it is impossible to stop temporarily, please make sure to indicate use on the submission form
- Please avoid the use of public pools for at least one week prior to collection
- If you shower in softened water, this can affect mineral levels. Please wash your hair for 2 weeks with distilled water prior to collection (at least 2-4 washes at minimum). This will help you get the most accurate result.
- Don’t store the hair in plastic or aluminium foil.
COLLECTION:
- Collect hair sample at least 6 (24 hours maximum) hours after washing it
- Scalp hair should be used whenever possible (hair can’t be taken from a brush)
- Hair needs to be taken from 3-4 locations at the base of the skull
- Hair must be cut as close to the scalp as possible, as this is where the most current mineral information will be found
- You will need 1 heaping teaspoon full of hair to be tested. Not collecting enough will mean needing to collect again, so do your best!
- Once the hair has been cut from the scalp, cut off the long ends (further away from the scalp) so that the total length of the hair sample is ¾-1 inch for the most recent and accurate readings.
Here are some instructional videos to watch for further clarification:
Long hair — https://youtu.be/bcY4r_Yprv8
Short hair — https://youtu.be/oD6y0FhmGa4
Angela Privin is proof that IBS is NOT an incurable disease, but a cry for help from a gut out of balance. When the body AND mind are complaining, it’s an opportunity to examine what’s not working and change it. After solving her own IBS mystery almost two decades ago, Angela became as a health coach to help others. Angela uses root cause medicine protocols personalized to the individual to solve each IBS mystery. Her tools are lab testing, dietary changes, supplementation, subconscious mind work and nervous system rebalancing . Learn more here.