H.Pylori - The Missing Link To Solving Your Gut Issues?

If you’ve been struggling with bloating, stomach pain, nausea, or acid reflux and no matter what you do, your gut issues just aren't improving, it’s time to talk about a commonly missed culprit: H. pylori.

I often see clients who’ve tried all the supplements, cleaned up their diet, and even attempted protocols for SIBO, candida, or parasites—but they still don’t feel better.

More often than not, there’s an underlying infection that hasn’t been addressed yet: H. pylori.

Let’s break it down.

What Is H. pylori?

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a type of spiral-shaped bacteria that infects the stomach lining. It’s more common than you might think - research estimates that over 50% of the world’s population carries H. pylori, often without even knowing it.

While some people never experience symptoms, for others, this sneaky bacteria can wreak havoc on digestion.

Common Symptoms of H. pylori

H. pylori can be silent, but when it shows up, it often causes:

• Burning or aching pain in the upper stomach

• Nausea or vomiting

• Acid reflux or frequent heartburn

• Bloating

• Frequent burping shortly after eating

• Loss of appetite

• Unexplained weight loss

• Bad breath

• Feeling full quickly when eating

Sometimes none of these symptoms are obvious, yet it’s still affecting your gut health behind the scenes.

How H. pylori Impacts Digestion

One of the most important roles of the stomach is producing stomach acid (HCl), your first line of defense when it comes to breaking down food and killing off harmful microbes

H. pylori negatively influences this important function by suppressing stomach acid production to protect itself which causes a cascade of digestive issues including:

• Poor protein digestion

• Impaired nutrient absorption (especially B12, iron, calcium, and zinc)

• Increased risk of infections further down the digestive tract (dysbiosis, SIBO, candida, parasites)

• A weakened gut barrier (which can contribute to leaky gut)

In essence, H. pylori weakens the entire digestive process. Check out my blog post all about The Importance of Stomach Acid and how to support your body's stomach acid production to improve digestion

The Missing Link to Chronic Gut Issues

If you’ve been working on healing your gut but still feel stuck, H. pylori might be what’s holding you back. It’s especially important to rule out H. pylori before addressing imbalances and infections like

• SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) - (Blog post: Is SIBO Making You Bloated?)

• Candida overgrowth

• Parasite cleanses

Why? Because H. pylori undermines the stomach’s natural defense system. If you don’t restore proper stomach acid and heal the stomach lining first, you’re more likely to experience die-off reactions, poor results, or relapse during other gut protocols.

Think of H. pylori as the gatekeeper. Until you address it, you can't fully heal your gut

How to Address H. pylori - the Holistic Way

While conventional treatment involves antibiotics and acid-blockers (which can disrupt the gut microbiome even further), a holistic approach focuses on eliminating H.pylori and restoring digestive functions

1. Test First - Use functional stool testing (like the GI-MAP) or a urea breath test to confirm H. pylori. Stool testing also reveals markers of gut inflammation, immune function, and whether virulence factors (aka more aggressive strains) are present

2. Herbal Support - Specific herbs and botanicals shown to be effective against H. pylori - always work with a professional such as myself to ensure the safe and effective elimination of H.Pylori

3. Soothe & Heal the Gut Lining - Include gut nourishing foods and nutrients to aid in soothing and repairing the gut lining such as;

   • Bone broth

   • Slippery elm

   • Marshmallow root

   • Aloe vera juice (inner fillet only)

   • L-glutamine

4. Restore Stomach Acid Levels - Once H. pylori is managed, work on rebuilding stomach acid naturally using bitters, apple cider vinegar, or supplemental HCl (under practitioner guidance).

5. Address the Bigger Picture - H. Pylori impacts everything down stream, so it rarely happens on its own. It's important to uncover what other imbalances are present in order to full heal the gut

H. pylori can be sneaky, stubborn, and surprisingly common but identifying and addressing it could be the turning point in your gut healing journey.

If you’ve been doing “all the right things” and still struggling with gut issues, it's time to find the answers behind your symptoms using functional testing so you can finally start healing. Book a free no obligation discovery call to learn how the Total Gut Repair program can help & get started on your gut healing journey