August 1st, 2022
What’s the deal with H. Pylori?
Let’s get into it!
Most people are not familiar with H. Pylori unless they are experiencing GI discomfort and are looking for the underlying cause. It turns out H. Pylori is actually relatively common despite its lack of recognition, with an estimated 30-40% of people infected in the United States. This post breaks down what H. Pylori is, the symptoms of H.Pylori, how it is at the root of many GI conditions, and treatment options.
What is H. Pylori
H. Pylori (Helicobacter pylori) is a bacteria that resides in the stomach or upper part of the small intestine (duodenum) and may cause irritation and inflammation in the lining of these areas. As mentioned above, H. Pylori is fairly prevalent and can be completely asymptomatic in some but more problematic in others.
To further understand the mechanism of H. Pylori and why it may be problematic, you have to understand the importance of the mucosal layer – where this bacteria lives. The mucosal layer acts as a barrier between the interior lining of the GI tract and the lumen (the space inside the intestines), playing essential roles in the health of the GI tract and microbiomes, immune system, nervous system, and more. H. Pylori is smart and releases an enzyme called urease, converted to ammonia, which ultimately neutralizes the stomach’s acidic environment to protect itself enabling it to replicate and further break down the mucosal layer. This results in inflammation, a weakened stomach and small intestine lining, and can result in gastritis (inflammation of the stomach) or a gastric ulcer.
H.Pylori can be found in contaminated water and foods and can spread from person to person via saliva and stool. Interestingly, children are most at risk for H. Pylori and in those who are living in crowded living situations and in third-world countries (FYI we see a bunch of people with H. Pylori in the US too!).
Signs and Symptoms of H. Pylori
While the symptoms and severity vary from person to person they typically present as digestive distress and abdominal discomfort.
Signs and Symptoms:
- Dull or burning sensation in the stomach (typically happens on an empty stomach)
- Abdominal bloating and distention
- Acid Reflux and Belching
- Abdominal Pain
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Loss of Appetite
- Low stomach acid
- Low Iron, Zinc, or Vitamin B12
- Stomach Cancer (less common – long-term untreated infection and genetic predisposition)
It is important to recognize that many of these digestive symptoms can be caused by low stomach acid due to the H. Pylori which negatively affects the stomach lining and is responsible for the production of stomach acid (via parietal cells). Adequate stomach acid is needed to properly break down and digest foods, is a key for nutrient absorption like Vitamin B12., and acts as a defense mechanism for pathogens (and more H.Pylori) from entering and residing in your GI tract.
This is why we believe that H. Pylori can be the underlying cause of many symptoms like bloating, belching, reflux, diarrhea, and more!
Conventional and Functional Treatment and Diagnosis
H. Pylori will often be diagnosed via a stool test, breath test, or upper endoscopy. Conventionally, H. Pylori is treated with antibiotics and or proton pump inhibitors (which further decrease stomach acid!). In contrast, an integrative/functional approach may utilize these modalities if necessary and appropriate, however, they will often take a more natural (and effective) approach using herbs, diet, and lifestyle to help eradicate H. Pylori and heal the gut lining.
Using a specific blend of herbs can be an effective way to kill H. Pylori without killing off other beneficial gut bacteria. Alongside herbs, practitioners may suggest probiotics to help repopulate the gut with beneficial bacteria, make diet modifications to help reduce inflammation and rebuild the gut lining and suggest engaging in practices to reduce stress.
Our favorite herbs/supplements to treat H. Pylori:
- Slippery Elm
- Mastic Gum
- Zinc Carnosine
- Marshmallow Root
- DGL
- Probiotics (S. boulardii and Lactobacillus may be especially helpful)
In addition to the above supplements, your health practitioner may suggest digestive enzymes or bitters, and/or betaine HCL to help support digestion while stomach acid is low.
Before consuming any herbals/supplements, please reach out to a health professional before consuming any herbals/supplements to ensure they are right for you!
Diet modifications for H. Pylori:
- Eat an anti-inflammatory diet full of omega 3’s (chia and flax seeds, walnuts, wild-caught fish, berries, cruciferous veggies, avocado, olive oil, etc.)
- Hydration!! (key for the mucus layer)
- Incorporate bone broth (contains key nutrients like collagen, l-glutamine, and others which are great for the gut lining)
- Eat broccoli sprouts (contains sulforaphane which helps combat h. Pylori and the gut lining)
- Try Omega-3, L-glutamine, Curcumin, and Quercetin supplements (under the guidance of a healthcare professional)
- Limit foods that will cause inflammation or irritation ( alcohol, caffeine, carbonated beverages, spicy foods, fried foods, inflammatory oils – canola oil, vegetable oil, rapeseed oil, etc).
- Avoidance of NSAIDs! (think Advil, Aleve, high-dose aspirin, etc. these are detrimental to the mucus layer!)
Lifestyle Modifications for H. Pylori:
- Engage in daily practices to reduce stress (think: meditation, journaling, yoga/pilates, walking, a hobby, reading, etc. – stress negatively impacts immune function, may increase inflammation and can worsen or even cause stomach ulcers!)
The Bottom Line
While H. Pylori is fairly common, many are unaware that is it often the underlying cause of uncomfortable GI symptoms like bloating, belching, abdominal pain, etc. This is why H. Pylori should be tested for if one presents with these symptoms without an explanation. Once diagnosed, it can be treated in a number of ways using antibiotics, herbs, diet, lifestyle, etc. However, we believe the key is to treat the underlying cause (H. Pylori) and the damage it has caused rather than just its symptoms which means supporting digestion and the immune system by reducing inflammation and helping to rebuild the gut lining.
