Ninu Lammens, a former nurse turned gut health expert, transformed years of personal burnout, reflux, and unresolved bloating into a mission to help others heal from the inside out. In this insightful and empowering conversation, she reveals why conventional medicine often misses the root cause of digestive issues—and how a functional, whole-body approach can reverse reflux, repair the gut, and restore long-term wellness. Whether you’re overwhelmed by symptoms or frustrated by quick-fix solutions, Ninu’s story and strategies offer both clarity and hope.
Introduction and Personal Journey
Josef Kreitmayer
Hello, welcome to another amazing session at the Reflux Summit. We have a wonderful guest today, Ninu Lammens.
Ninu Lammens
Ninu is a registered nurse turned gut health educator. She developed a powerful system to help women heal chronic digestive issues using functional testing, lifestyle changes, and education. From her journey with burnout and bloating to running a transformational gut health program, she brings both clinical insight and lived experience.
Ninu Lammens
I started in healthcare 17 years ago because I thought that was health, which makes sense. I became a registered nurse, but even in school, I noticed something was off. Patients were leaving hospitals with ten medications and no real understanding of their diagnoses. That disconnect led me to preventative health. I eventually worked with a philanthropist in Alberta, flying daily to remote areas to draw blood, give supplements, teach nutrition, and track patient progress. It was the first time I saw people improve their health markers, like cholesterol and sleep, through lifestyle changes.
Things were going well until after the birth of my second child in 2015. He didn’t sleep for two years, and I was completely burnt out. I started experiencing eczema, sugar cravings, bloating, and severe fatigue. Blood tests showed nothing. That full-circle moment made me realize conventional medicine wasn’t going to help me. I became an integrative nutritionist and ran tests on myself. Over time, I healed my gut and symptoms.
Now, I run a gut healing program, mostly for women, that works by identifying root causes through testing and implementing lifestyle shifts. It can benefit anyone.
Reflux and H. pylori in Women
Josef Kreitmayer
Women experience more heartburn and reflux. How does that show up in your practice?
Ninu Lammens
I see it all the time. In fact, 80 to 90% of my clients have H. pylori when we test for it. Many don’t even know it. Others treated it with antibiotics, but it returned due to reinfection or incomplete treatment. H. pylori, in my clinical experience, is the leading cause of reflux. It always needs to be ruled out before assuming someone simply produces too much acid.
Testing Methods and Full-Body Connection
Ninu Lammens
Testing for H. pylori is not always routine in Canada. Breath tests and some stool tests exist but are underused. The problem is, clients often don’t just have upper GI issues—they have symptoms throughout the gut. If the stomach is dysfunctional, the whole digestive tract is likely affected. Bloating, mineral deficiencies, and other symptoms are all downstream effects.
I use a GI Map stool test from the U.S. It looks at DNA evidence of bacteria, both pathogenic and beneficial, as well as fungal overgrowth, enzyme production, immune markers, and more. It gives a full picture of the gut and allows me to link symptoms to real causes.
Reflux as Part of a Bigger Picture
Ninu Lammens
Reflux rarely exists alone. If the stomach has issues, the small and large intestines usually do, too. Clients often present with bloating, constipation, gas, loose stools, and pain. In about 80 to 90% of my reflux clients, we find H. pylori.
That bacteria raises stomach pH and lowers acidity, but symptoms make people think they have too much acid. Then they get PPIs, which perpetuate the cycle. We need to look at why the acid isn’t staying where it should.
Stress and the Nervous System’s Role
Ninu Lammens
Chronic stress plays a major role. We toggle between sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic (rest and digest) states. In modern life, we often stay stuck in stress mode, which shuts down digestion. Long-term stress suppresses stomach acid, making the body vulnerable to infections like H. pylori. Healing the gut is impossible without addressing stress and the nervous system.
A Holistic Healing Approach
Ninu Lammens
My program is modular, taking clients on a step-by-step journey. We start with anti-inflammatory nutrition: removing fried foods, alcohol, and artificial sweeteners, and adding antioxidants like turmeric, berries, and salmon. Then we stabilize blood sugar, a cornerstone of health. Ninety-two percent of adults have blood sugar imbalances that fuel disease.
We then dive into digestion—how you eat, chew, and the environment you eat in. Next, we shift to nervous system regulation, sleep, boundaries, movement, and finally testing and personalized protocols.
Blood Sugar and Reflux Connection
Ninu Lammens
Stabilizing blood sugar is essential. I’ve had clients stop taking Nexium after just two weeks of balanced blood sugar and anti-inflammatory eating. Symptoms like anxiety, headaches, and cravings are tied to dysregulated blood sugar. Excess sugar becomes inflammatory fat and disrupts insulin sensitivity, contributing to reflux.
The Gut-Brain Axis and Microbiome Health
Ninu Lammens
Cravings and overeating often stem from gut dysbiosis. The gut sends more signals to the brain than vice versa. It affects mood, inflammation, thyroid, estrogen, and serotonin. Overeating and inconsistent eating patterns disrupt this communication and harm gut microbes.
When Healthy Diets Aren’t Enough
Ninu Lammens
Some clients already eat clean but still have issues. This can be frustrating, but it means something is still missing. Maybe it’s nervous system regulation, sleep, or underlying infections. Healing requires a comprehensive approach, not just diet and supplements.
Blood Sugar Basics and Insulin Sensitivity
Ninu Lammens
Everyone has a different carbohydrate tolerance depending on muscle mass and stored fat. More muscle means better glucose handling. Blood sugar spikes from carbs lead to inflammation. Keeping insulin low and steady improves health and fat metabolism and reduces disease risk.
Inflammation and Gut Lining Health
Ninu Lammens
Opportunistic bacteria in the gut produce LPS, a highly inflammatory substance. This breaks down the gut wall and causes leaky gut. Symptoms can appear far from the gut, like joint pain, brain fog, or autoimmunity.
To heal, remove irritants like alcohol, fried foods, and sugar. Imagine your gut lining like the inside of your cheek—if it were inflamed, eating acidic foods would hurt. We need to rebuild that mucosa.
Healing Foods and Supportive Nutrition
Ninu Lammens
Bone broth is essential for rebuilding the gut lining. Protein is key. Healing also requires anti-inflammatory vegetables, healthy fats like ghee and olive oil, and root vegetables. Coconut oil and macadamia nuts are also great.
Seed Oils and Omega Balance
Ninu Lammens
Refined seed oils like canola and soybean oil are inflammatory. We used to have a 3:1 omega-6 to omega-3 ratio; now it’s more like 16:1. That imbalance drives inflammation. I test omega-3 levels and help clients restore the balance through diet and supplementation.
Whole Body Healing, Not Just Gut
Ninu Lammens
My gut program is really a full-body reset. You can’t separate systems. Doctors specialize, but the body doesn’t work in silos. I teach women to understand their entire physiology so the healing lasts. Graduates continue the habits years later.
Natural H. pylori Protocols
Ninu Lammens
My H. pylori treatment is herbal and step-by-step. First, we reduce inflammation and support digestion. After 30 days, we begin a targeted protocol using herbs, foods, and lifestyle tools for six weeks. This is often followed by addressing other gut issues like SIBO or Candida.
Herbal vs. Antibiotic Treatment
Ninu Lammens
Triple-therapy antibiotics can wipe out good gut flora. This lowers immune function and neurotransmitter production. I prefer herbal approaches and often see complete eradication of H. pylori with herbs alone. Clients who retest frequently show clear improvements.
Rebuilding the Microbiome After Antibiotics
Ninu Lammens
Probiotics should be taken alongside antibiotics, not after. Waiting reduces their effectiveness. Food diversity is also critical. Eating the same few foods every day limits microbial diversity and weakens the gut.
Immediate Relief During Flare-Ups
Ninu Lammens
During acute reflux flares, keep meals simple. Stews with slow-cooked meats, vegetables, and healing herbs like turmeric and ginger are excellent. Smoothies with berries, nut butters, collagen, and quality protein powders also help.
Temporarily avoid coffee, alcohol, and carbonated drinks. Replace coffee with matcha or reishi tea. Aloe vera and herbal teas with raw honey are soothing.
What to Avoid in Healing Phases
Ninu Lammens
I don’t recommend strict restriction, but some foods do cause issues. Artificial sweeteners, seed oils, and excessive gluten can interfere with healing. Instead of cutting everything, focus on adding healing foods like bone broth, protein, and gut-friendly veggies.
Getting Off Reflux Medications
Ninu Lammens
Many clients want to stop taking PPIs. Some wean off after just a few weeks of healing. Others need more time. It’s essential to consult a doctor before tapering. The goal is to heal the mucosa and reduce inflammation so meds are no longer necessary.
Systemic Misuse of PPIs
Ninu Lammens
PPIs were never meant for long-term use. Some increase the risk of stomach cancer after just three weeks. Yet many people take them daily for decades. The system lacks alternative solutions, so doctors keep prescribing them to manage symptoms.
Overview of Ninu’s Gut Healing Program
Ninu Lammens
My six-month program includes lifestyle education, one-on-one consultations, and testing for GI function, vitamin D, omega-3, and mineral levels. Clients learn in weekly modules, progressing from digestion to liver support, nervous system care, and hormone balancing. It’s structured so the changes stick. Graduates keep their habits years later.
The Power of Sleep
Ninu Lammens
Sleep is critical. It’s when your body heals, detoxifies, and resets hormone function. Even one poor night of sleep can alter your microbiome and hunger hormones. Most people need seven to eight hours. Poor sleep increases cravings and stress and undermines healing.
Modern Lifestyle Disruptions
Ninu Lammens
Screens and blue light reduce melatonin. Shut off devices before bed, use blue light glasses, and sleep in a dark, cool room. During the day, get sunlight and movement to reset your circadian rhythm. Even a five-minute walk can help digestion and sleep.
Final Advice for Starting the Healing Journey
Ninu Lammens
Start small. Don’t outsource your health. Trust your body’s ability to heal. Remove what harms you and add what nourishes you. Functional testing helps target your efforts. Your daily inputs shape your outcomes. With the right input, your body will heal.
