68: Remission of SIBO, Crohns, IBS and IBD in Just Weeks with Debbie Steinbock

In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, Dr. Izabella Wentz interviews certified holistic nutrition counselor Debbie Steinbock about the elemental diet – a powerful but often overlooked tool for healing thyroid-related gut imbalances and SIBO, IBS, and IBD. Debbie shares her personal healing journey from Crohn’s disease, her clinical experience guiding clients with complex autoimmune conditions, and why the elemental diet can succeed where other protocols fall short.

Together, they explore how elemental diets feed the body while starving bacterial overgrowth, the pros and cons of different formulas, and how to avoid common mistakes that cause setbacks. Debbie also introduces her Elemental Diet Success Plan, a step-by-step roadmap to help people use this therapy with clarity and confidence.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The connection between gut and thyroid health. Many people with hypothyroidism may also have SIBO (up to 50%), and motility issues tied to thyroid disease can fuel bacterial overgrowth. The elemental diet offers a way to reset both digestion and immune reactivity.

• The elemental diet explained. Debbie breaks down what’s actually in an elemental shake, why it’s considered “pre-digested,” and how it feeds the body while giving the gut time to rest and heal.

• Why SIBO and IBS are so stubborn. Many protocols fail because they either don’t fully eradicate bacterial overgrowth or they overwhelm a sensitive gut. Debbie explains why the elemental diet can be more effective, with research showing that the majority of people who try it find success in a matter of weeks.

• Partial vs. full elemental diets. Not everyone needs to do a 100% liquid diet. Debbie describes how partial approaches – paired with “soft, warm, and mushy” foods – can calm flare-ups and support long-term remission for conditions like IBD.

• Practical tips and side effects to expect. From energy swings and hunger to oral discomfort, Debbie shares what to watch for, how to prepare, and the strategies she teaches in her Elemental Diet Success Plan to minimize setbacks.

• Why personalization matters. Not all formulas are created equal, and not all patients need the same approach. Debbie shares how to choose between amino-based and semi-elemental shakes, and when each might be best.

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For the full list of resources and products mentioned in this episode, and to get the full episode transcript, see complete show notes here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/

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