Ixcela

Extreme fatigue left this engineer falling asleep at his desk.

GOALS & WANTS (WHY?)

Greg, an engineer, came to Ixcela after years of “trying everything” to manage his hypothyroidism and hypoparathyroidism symptoms. His extreme fatigue left him falling asleep at his desk. He also struggled with insomnia, depression, weight fluctuations, and trouble focusing.

Greg loved hiking and spending time with family, but his depression and fatigue were preventing him from doing the things that made him feel like himself. When his symptoms were at their worst, Greg would find himself reaching for sugary foods, caffeine, or alcohol—all things that he knew would make his symptoms worse. He just didn’t have the willpower to avoid them.

Greg wanted to get his life back. He was willing to do whatever it took to start feeling better. That’s when he found Ixcela.

ROOT CAUSES & INSIGHTS (WHAT?)

Greg’s Ixcela results indicated that his indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) was below the optimal level, which reflected a bacteria dysbiosis and an increased risk for symptoms of leaky gut.

IPA levels most commonly drop below optimal levels due to:

1. Chronic illnesses (thyroid disease, IBS/IBD, autoimmune disease, diabetes)
2. Poor dietary habits and sedentary lifestyle
3. Emotional or mental stress

To connect the dots between his symptoms and IPA, Greg’s Ixcela dietitian explained the most common symptoms of leaky gut, which Greg was experiencing:

• Brain fog
• Poor sleep and insomnia
• Emotional imbalances
• Inflammation (presenting as stuffy nose and weight fluctuations)

AHA! (SO WHAT?)

After learning about his IPA levels, Greg found hope and felt motivated to take action to support his gut health. Greg’s Ixcela results and IPA levels guided his intervention. With the help of his Ixcela dietitian, Greg decided to follow an elimination diet to give his gut time to heal.

ACTION PLAN (NOW WHAT?)

To support the population and diversity of his gut microbiome and improve his IPA levels, Greg began following the autoimmune protocol (AIP) diet. Greg and his dedicated Ixcela dietitian worked together to create a list of AIP-compliant meals and foods that would work for him and his lifestyle. Some of their choices included:

1. For breakfast, he would make a hash with ground meat, sweet potatoes, and assorted vegetables.
2. For lunch and dinner, he would make a stir-fry that included vegetables and a protein source.
3. Greg’s snacks would include dried fruit and plantain chips.

PAYOFF (WHEE!)

Greg started feeling better and seeing results in about eight weeks. In that time, he lost about eighteen pounds and felt “fundamental changes in how his body produced energy.”

After his successful elimination diet, Greg noticed a substantial improvement in his symptoms. His second Ixcela test reflected an improvement in his IPA levels. He also reported that he felt as if his body better accepted the medications and supplements he had been taking to support his thyroid.

Note: Greg benefited from the Personalized Accountability Program with Dedicated Dietitian Support. This client's image has been changed to protect his privacy.