🎁 Visit www.drmelona.com

If you've gone gluten free and you're still bloated, going stricter won't fix it. For most people without celiac disease, gluten isn't actually the problem. There is a different, more likely trigger hiding in plain sight.

In this episode, I'm going to explain why gluten gets blamed for gut symptoms it isn't causing, and walk you through the real diagnostic steps to find what's actually triggering your bloating.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 The #1 Gluten Myth Keeping Your Gut Sick
0:19 My credentials as a gastroenterologist
1:02 What celiac disease actually is
1:47 How the gluten free myth spread beyond celiac
2:06 The real culprit hiding in wheat: fructans
3:00 What a double blind study revealed about gluten sensitivity
3:34 When bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is the real cause
4:26 Step one: get tested for celiac disease correctly
5:03 Step two: try a real low FODMAP evaluation
5:26 Step three: ask for the hydrogen breath test

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Does going gluten free help if I don't have celiac disease?
For most people without celiac disease, gluten itself is not the trigger, and studies show pure gluten does not cause symptoms in these cases. The bloating often comes from fructans, a fermentable carbohydrate found in wheat.

What is the difference between a gluten problem and a FODMAP problem?
Gluten triggers an immune reaction only in people with celiac disease, while FODMAPs like fructans, garlic, onion, and beans cause gas and bloating through fermentation in anyone with a sensitive gut. If symptoms return when you eat garlic or beans, the issue is likely FODMAPs, not gluten.

What test checks for bacterial overgrowth in the gut?
A hydrogen breath test checks for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, known as SIBO. You drink a sugar solution and breathe into a tube over about two hours to measure whether bacteria are fermenting food too early in your digestive tract.

📱 RESOURCES
Website: www.drmelona.com
Books By Dr Mel Ona: https://drmelona.com/media/
Patient Resources: https://drmelona.com/patient-portal/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmelonagi"
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doctormelona

🔔 Subscribe for evidence-based digestive health, nutrition science, and disease prevention from a board-certified gastroenterologist.

ABOUT DR. MEL ONA:
I'm Dr. Mel Ona, a board certified gastroenterologist with graduate training in nutritional biochemistry and metabolism. I founded Ohana Gastroenterology and have treated over 10,000 patients across nine years of clinical practice. My focus is evidence-based digestive health, nutrition science, and disease prevention.

#GutHealth #Gastroenterologist #DigestiveHealth #GutMicrobiome #NutritionScience

📌 Visit www.drmelona.com

Your gut lining rebuilds itself completely every 3 to 5 days. That means a leaky gut is not stuck for six months. It is stuck because the real trigger has never been found.

In this episode, I'm going to explain why L glutamine, collagen, and probiotics often fail on their own, and walk through the four hidden causes that keep tearing your gut lining down faster than it can heal.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 What ACTUALLY Heals a Leaky Gut
0:44 Why leaky gut supplements often fail
1:33 What actually happens when your gut leaks
2:07 The hidden causes doctors miss
3:26 The most missed cause: SIBO
4:07 A patient's story: years of symptoms, one real cause
5:03 Why a bandage cannot fix an open wound
5:51 What real healing looks like week by week
7:23 Where to start fixing your gut
8:23 The trigger you are probably missing

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Q: How long does it actually take to heal a leaky gut?
A: Your gut lining fully replaces itself every 3 to 5 days, so healing can happen quickly once the trigger causing the damage is removed. The six month timeline people hear about usually reflects how long it takes to find the real cause, not how long the lining itself takes to repair.

Q: Why don't supplements like L glutamine or collagen fix leaky gut?
A: These supplements support the gut lining directly, but they cannot outpace an active cause like NSAID use, chronic stress, alcohol, or bacterial overgrowth. If the underlying trigger keeps damaging the lining, the lining cannot finish repairing itself no matter how many supplements you take.

Q: What is SIBO and how does it cause leaky gut symptoms?
A: SIBO stands for small intestine bacterial overgrowth, where bacteria that belong farther down the digestive tract move into the small intestine and release chemicals that damage the gut lining. It commonly causes bloating, food reactions, and fatigue, and it does not show up on a standard colonoscopy or bloodwork, which is why a hydrogen breath test is often needed to diagnose it.

📱 RESOURCES
Website: www.drmelona.com
Patient Portal: https://drmelona.com/patient-portal/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polymathforever/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doctormelona

🔔 Subscribe for evidence-based digestive health, nutrition science, and disease prevention from a board-certified gastroenterologist.

ABOUT DR. MEL ONA:
I'm Dr. Mel Ona, a board-certified gastroenterologist with graduate training in nutritional biochemistry and metabolism. I founded Ohana Gastroenterology and have treated over 10,000 patients across nine years of clinical practice. My focus is evidence-based digestive health, nutrition science, and disease prevention.


#GutHealth #Gastroenterologist #DigestiveHealth #GutMicrobiome #GIDoctor

📌 Visit www.drmelona.com

If you live on the west side of Oahu, finding a real GI specialist without driving to Honolulu has probably felt impossible. Most gastroenterologists are on the other side of the island. That means a long drive, parking headaches, and half a day off work just for a follow up appointment that should take twenty minutes.

In this episode, I'm going to share the three things you should look for before choosing a gastroenterologist in West Oahu, and explain why Ohana Gastroenterology was built specifically for this community.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Looking for a Gastroenterologist in West Oahu? Listen To This First
0:35 Meet Dr. Mel Ona in Kapolei
1:15 What to look for in a dedicated endoscopy facility
2:03 Why AI assisted colonoscopy detection matters
2:40 Why a doctor who listens matters more than a prescription
3:05 Who we help best in West Oahu
3:35 Real patient story: undiagnosed Sibo finally solved
4:15 Overdue for colorectal cancer screening
4:45 How to book your first consultation

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

What should I look for in a gastroenterologist in West Oahu?
Look for a dedicated endoscopy facility, updated technology like AI assisted polyp detection, and a physician who listens closely before reaching for a prescription. These three factors reflect the quality and safety of your care, and they matter more than proximity alone when you are choosing where to trust your health.

Why does AI assisted polyp detection matter during a colonoscopy?
AI assisted detection helps physicians identify precancerous growths more reliably during the procedure, catching polyps that the human eye can sometimes miss. Higher detection rates are one of the most important quality indicators for colonoscopy safety and directly reduce the risk of missed colorectal cancer.

Is there a gastroenterologist in Kapolei or West Oahu?
Yes, Ohana Gastroenterology and Ohana Endoscopy are based in Kapolei and serve patients from Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Kalaeloa, and the entire leeward side of Oahu. This removes the need to drive into Honolulu for screenings, consultations, and follow up care.

📱 RESOURCES
Website: www.drmelona.com
Books By Dr Mel Ona: https://drmelona.com/media/
Patient Resources: https://drmelona.com/patient-portal/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmelonagi

🔔 Subscribe for evidence-based digestive health, nutrition science, and disease prevention from a board-certified gastroenterologist.

💬 Have you been putting off a colonoscopy or GI visit because of the drive into Honolulu? Tell me where you're located and what's been holding you back. I read every comment and try to answer as many questions as I can.

ABOUT DR. MEL ONA:
I'm Dr. Mel Ona, a board-certified gastroenterologist with graduate training in nutritional biochemistry and metabolism. I founded Ohana Gastroenterology and have treated over 10,000 patients across nine years of clinical practice. My focus is evidence-based digestive health, nutrition science, and disease prevention for the West Oahu community.

#GutHealth #Gastroenterologist #ColonoscopyScreening #GIDoctor #ColonCancerPrevention