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My Antibiotic/Medicine Gut Rebuild & “Detox” Protocol

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Hello friends! I thought I would be able to get this post up yesterday, however, this is the second go around of me publishing this post, as the first I wrote it, everything got deleted when WordPress signed me out randomly. So, that was disappointing, but I got up, worked out, and ate lunch. Then, I set out on rewriting it, but wasn’t quite able to finish it yesterday! I promised you guys this post, and I wanted to get it to you today, so here we go!

So last month, when we moved from Arizona to Texas, I ended up on antibiotics, an anti-fungal, and then an antiviral.  I had pain that started in my chest/breast, then moved to my armpit, and it felt like fire.  It got extremely painful.  It was first diagnosed as mastitis (I had just stopped nursing a few weeks ago, and apparently, you can still get mastitis up to six months after stopping nursing), then thrush (when the antibiotics weren’t working), then finally shingles.  It was either shingles (without a rash) or it was a neck injury, as my chiropractor believed, but it felt like my armpit and chest were on fire in the worst way. A couple of weeks after I was finally feeling better, our family got a GI bug that I could not kick. I’m usually the one who hardly feels the GI bug when it goes through our family. But not this time, I got it the worst, and I knew it was because my gut microbiome had been negatively impacted by the medications (aka wiped out.) Not only that, but that’s a whole lot of medications for one person to take at one time, gut-depleting medicines specifically.  

Detoxification

Here is the thing about the word “detox.” You absolutely have organs such as the liver and kidneys that can break down medicines and help you excrete them.  If your liver and kidneys are healthy, your body does this well.  You do not NEED to buy fancy detox kits or do anything fancy. I have a lot of dietitian friends on social media calling out other influencers who say you need to “detox” and then try to sell you a subsequent product to help your body do just that.  

I don’t necessarily share their view that absolutely nothing needs to be done, but I don’t think you need to buy some BS tea either. I can explain my view on “detoxing” with the bathtub analogy.  (Adapted from Dr. Carrie Jones’s hormone bathtub analogy, which is a slightly different but similar concept.) You have the inputs; that’s the water or faucet in the bathtub.  You also have the drain, which “filters” and can get clogged.  You also have the pipes/sewer line, which can get clogged. If there are too many inputs and not enough flow, you get an overflowing bathtub.  All kinds of things are inputs. Basically, anything you’re exposed to via skin, lungs, or consumed can become an input.  Many detox programs limit what you eat attempt to limit the inputs by making you eat SUPER clean.  This gives your body time to catch up with the other processes, time for a slow drain to drain or time for backed up sewer pipes to become clear.  But, if those processes are slow, we need to address them as well because as soon as you stop limiting inputs you’re back to the same problem.  

The way I view detoxing is more about restoring my body’s normal processes and functioning, not about starvation and “teas.” For example, antibiotics as we know them today can wipe out your gut microbiome; my aim is to restore it. Medications make the liver work harder. Whether or not the liver was ever meant to handle as many things as we throw at it today (again, remember, skin, lungs, and digestive tract can all absorb substances) is a philosophical evolutionary question I can not answer for you. But as you can see from the graphic above, there are many nutrients needed to support the liver to do it’s job well.  

How well a person “detoxes” can be determined by both genetic and lifestyle factors. The liver has two phases of detoxification and several modes which it accomplishes its goal (as seen above), and most people have strengths/weaknesses in each pathway. These pathways can be targeted and supported specifically, which is why I often recommend genetic testing for clients 30 and over so they know what they will need to supplement with long term.  For me, I need some support long term in detoxification.  See screenshot below of a blurb in the genetic test I did.  

So, that being said, I’m doing the following to support or restore normal body processes after a kind of intense medical experience.  My goal is to rebuild my gut microbiome and support liver health/detoxification processes, kidney health, and gastrointestinal health.  

Supplements

I created a fullscript link with links to all these supplements, but remember, what is right for my body may not be right for yours. Be sure to consult a healthcare professional before beginning any new supplements. I also included Amazon links because I know some of you will go buy it off Amazon. I don’t love Amazon for supplements. There are a lot of fakes, but I know we all do it anyway. It’s just so convenient, but it is risky.  So, I recommend fullscript over Amazon.  

I’m being more consistent with the normal supplements I take:

I’m also adding the following:

  • High-dose probiotics – I’ll go up to 300 billion CFU for 30 days, then kick it back down to around 100 after. Again, I was on a lot of gut-depleting medicines, so this is a rebuild protocol similar to what I would do for a GI MAP client. VSL 3 is a good option as well for high dose probiotics.  Saccharomyces Boulardii – a yeast based probiotic would be a good add too since I was on an anti-fungal but, I haven’t yet!  I’ll probably do that next month.  Remember probiotics are place holders, you will not replete your gut microbiome without feeding them with lots of fiber!

therbiotic

  • Fiber – I’ll take acacia fiber when I can’t get enough fiber in.  
  • Add LIVER GI DETOX by Pure Encapsulations – this supplement I first found about from a naturopath I used to work with. It’s a really supportive supplement to enhance detoxification and support liver, GI, and kidney health. I generally take this supplement once every few months or as needed after heavy medication use.  There is nothing weird in it, everything has been heavily researched and each ingredient are supplements I regularly recommend for various reasons to clients.  Combined all in one it’s just a really great supportive supplement with a purpose.  
    • N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) – can be a potent regeneration of glutathione (a very important antioxidant in the body, arguably one of the most important) and works to protect the liver. In fact, it’s often the first line of defense in the hospital for Tylenol overdoses.
    • Alpha-lipoic acid restores glutathione levels in the body, protects against free radicals and chelates metals. It also regenerates antioxidants vitamin C, vitamin E, CoQ10, and glutathione.
    • Curcumin/Turmeric Curcumin helps to enhance Phase 2 detoxification enzymes, protect against liver injury and offers broad-spectrum liver support. It also helps shield the liver from heavy metal damage and bolsters stores of glutathione – the major antioxidant that protects us from free radical damage
    • Milk Thistle  enhances glutathione production, helps with liver protection and liver regeneration, and activates Phase 2 detoxification enzymes. It also encourages elimination of wastes and supports kidney function.
    • Broccoli/Sulforphane  Sulforaphane is a natural plant compound found in many cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and kale. Sulforphane is considered one of the most powerful inducers of phase II enzyme activity in the liver and has also demonstrated a role in maintaining healthy colon cell function.  
    • Artichoke extract aids the digestive process by promoting healthy bile flow and intestinal motility while also supporting liver cell function and blood flow in the liver.
    • l-Glutamine helps to maintain healthy intestinal barrier integrity.
    • The amino acids glycine, taurine, and methionine support detoxification pathways in the liver.
    • Chlorella, one of the most extensively studied “green foods,” is traditionally celebrated for its digestive and detoxifying properties.

Nutrition

My nutrition is not changing a whole lot from what I typically do. It’s been a 15 year journey to eat as clean as I do on a daily basis. That’s why I don’t need to limit my “inputs.”  Am I perfect?  No, definitely not.  Last night I had cocktail shrimp and popcorn for dinner.  So ya I’m a mom of three kids under five.  But, I think that’s why a strict “detox” diet won’t work for me, it will just make me crazy.  Instead, I’m focusing more on these things:

  • Focus on protein, getting 100-150grams per day, although I’m not tracking right now.
  • Focus on veggies, getting 4-5 cups per day.
  • Include healthy fats – while I generally try to use avocado and olive oil, I still consume butter and some “seed” oils.
  • Add a daily dose of probiotic foods – usually sauerkraut as yogurt doesn’t sit right with me anymore.  
  • Fasting 12 -14 hours, usually closer to 12.  Remember intermittent fasting can be hard on hormones for women of child bearing age, I stay closer to the 12 hour mark for this reason.  
  • Limit alcohol to social settings – I don’t drink enough to warrant fully cutting out alcohol; as it is, I drink 1-2 glasses a week, usually on the weekends.
  • Limit sugar and refined carbohydrates, which are not very different from my diet. I’m not denying myself the one piece of candy or dark chocolate in the name of eliminating sugar. I’m not checking the labels of sauces, etc. I’ve done that before, and the stress and lack of flavor aren’t worth it.  
  • I’m not eliminating caffeine; I drink 2-3 cups per day, but a cup is bigger than 6-8 ounces.  
  • Drinking 80 ounces of water per day. More fluid helps the kidneys eliminate waste products.  This is a struggle for me, so go hydrate packets help.  

For those of you looking for a bit more guidance, I recommend my 4 week gut health meal plan! It’s loaded with foods that will help you support the rebuild of your gut microbiome.  I’m just terrible at following any kind of meal plan these days! Oh how times have changed. 

Lifestyle Factors

  • Sauna 1-2 times a week – 99% of the loss is water, but the sauna has been shown to help the body release negligible amounts of xenobiotics (estrogen/hormone like compounds like BPA) and heavy metals. I think the bigger benefit is that it enhances circulation and reduces stress levels.  Improvement in circulation improves detoxification.  
  • Exercise – I’m always striving to work out 4-5 times a week, even if it’s just a long walk with the kids. Exercise enhances gut health and improves circulation, thereby increasing detoxification abilities.

So that’s it! My gut rebuild/detox isn’t much of a strict program. When I began this healthy eating journey over 15 years ago, I thought everything was about weight loss. As my knowledge in functional medicine has grown (thanks to thousands of dollars in training), my viewpoint is now not about forcing my body to do what I want it to do but instead supporting my body to do what it was designed to do and do it well.  

You can also check out my 4-week gut health meal plan and the functional fab five for gut health.  

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