Poor digestion = your body isn't working properly = inflamed = more body fat. Good digestion = your body is working properly = healthy = lean. Fixing it isn't complicated, and it usually doesn't take long.
Long-term use of Omeprazole and other Proton Pump Inhibitors can cause weight gain and make it harder to lose weight over time. See the research →
The older you get, the fewer digestive enzymes your body makes, so you rely more on your microbiome to break down food. Stress and lifestyle wear down that microbiome over time, which is why digestive problems creep up with age. The good news: it's genuinely easy to fix in about 60-90 days, even after years of symptoms.
The protocol
Eat 5 servings a week of fermented foods, from 2+ sources, sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, plain yogurt, kombucha, miso, tempeh, or aged cheese.
Bridge with digestive enzymes (Stevo Zymes) for 2-6 months while your gut heals. Take 1 with lunch and dinner if you eat real food, 2-3 if you eat processed food.
Avoid seed oils, canola, corn, cottonseed, soy, sunflower, safflower, rice bran, vegetable oil. Linoleic acid damages the digestive tract directly.
Keep carbs under 80g/day, 5 days a week. Excess processed carbs and sugar feed the wrong gut bacteria.
Eat 2-3 meals a day, 5 days a week, fewer, defined meals give your gut time to rest and heal between them.
Cook with butter, ghee, tallow, or coconut oil, saturated fats that don't oxidize under heat the way seed oils and olive oil do.
What counts as a fermented food?
Aim for at least 5 total servings a week from 2 or more sources, for example 3 servings of one and 2 of another. Good options include pickles (the label must say fermented), sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha (Kevita is a good brand), kefir, plain unflavored yogurt, pickled beets, onions or okra, kvass, some olives, miso, natto, tempeh, and aged cheeses such as blue cheese, gouda, mozzarella and hard cheddars. OliveMyPickle.com has more choices.
Cut the seed oils
Canola, corn, cottonseed, soy, sunflower, safflower, rice bran and generic "vegetable oil" are all high in linoleic acid, which damages your digestive tract and your overall metabolic health. Read labels on dressings, sauces and anything fried. Our Why You Are Fat guide explains the science.
Why not olive oil for cooking?
Pure olive oil is a monounsaturated fat, its single double bond oxidizes and turns rancid at room temperature, so heating it accelerates that breakdown. Even small amounts of rancid fat can irritate your digestive tract. Olive oil is still a great food, use it cold, in dressings or drizzled on food, just not as a cooking fat. In the US, many bottles are cut with up to 40% canola oil; look for a Kirkland or California label to get the real thing, and keep it refrigerated so it stays fresh longer.
Stevo Zymes: the short-term bridge
Stevo Zymes is a comprehensive blend of digestive enzymes that works well for just about everyone without making things worse. The enzymes are made from mushrooms, so they handle the harsh pH of the stomach and do their work in the intestines, where they are needed. They are gluten free and vegan safe.
Take 1 with lunch and dinner if you are eating real food, and 2 to 3 if you are eating processed food, since processed food needs more enzymes to break down. We carry Stevo Zymes at the office, or you can buy them online. If you buy Stevo Zymes from us and don't think they helped, we will give you your money back.
The name honors a brother. His name was Steven, and he was affectionately called Stevo. Saying "Stevo Zymes" brings the founder joy and a way to remember him.
Know your trigger foods
Not every food works for every body. If gluten, dairy, peanuts, nightshades, or lectins historically bother you, avoid them while your gut heals. If you do eat something that triggers you, extra digestive enzymes can help break it down quickly before it lingers and feeds the wrong bacteria, which is what drives bloating, gas, reflux, and IBS.
Short term vs. long term
Digestive enzymes are a bridge, they support you for 2 to 6 months while fermented foods and the lifestyle shift restore your microbiome. Once it's back to full strength and you're keeping seed oils out, most people can eat real food again without issues. That's the long-term fix: a healthy, diverse microbiome that supports weight, mood, immunity, and skin, not a supplement you take forever.
You only need to take the enzymes every day for a couple of months (2 to 6), and then you shouldn't need them daily, or at all. After that, enzymes are a handy hedge for cheat days with alcohol or highly processed food. Digestive enzymes are safe for humans to take long term because your body makes them. Omeprazole and other digestive medications are not meant for long term use, and they can cause weight gain and make weight loss harder. This protocol has helped patients stop medications they had taken for 5, 10, even 20+ years, but please talk to your provider before stopping any prescription.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is poor digestion connected to weight gain?
Poor digestion keeps your body inflamed, which drives fat storage. Fixing digestion, through fermented foods, digestive enzymes, and cutting seed oils, lets the body work properly again, supporting lasting weight loss.
Can long-term Omeprazole or PPI use cause weight gain?
Yes, long-term use of Proton Pump Inhibitors like Omeprazole has been linked to weight gain and can make weight loss harder over time.
How long does it take to fix digestion?
Most people see bloating, reflux, constipation, diarrhea, and IBS improve 50%+ within 2 to 3 months, with a full reset in about 60-90 days.
Should I cook with olive oil?
No, it oxidizes when heated. Use it cold in dressings, and cook with butter, ghee, beef tallow, or coconut oil instead.
What are Stevo Zymes and how do I take them?
Stevo Zymes is a mushroom-derived digestive enzyme blend. Take 1 with lunch and dinner when eating real food, or 2 to 3 when eating processed food, for about 2 to 6 months.
How many fermented foods should I eat?
At least 5 total servings a week from 2 or more sources, such as sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, plain yogurt, kombucha, miso, tempeh or aged cheese.
Do I have to be a patient?
No. You do not have to be a patient or buy Stevo Zymes. We offer a free 15 minute consultation if you want help getting started.
We'll walk you through it.
This protocol works for most people, even after years of symptoms. A free consultation tells you exactly where to start. Call 843-400-4060 or email info@slimrxweightloss.com. Serving Mount Pleasant, Charleston, and the surrounding Lowcountry.
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