Gut Malabsorption
Gut malabsorption is a condition where the body is unable to properly absorb nutrients from food, even if you're eating healthy meals. It’s not about what you eat—it's about what your body can actually receive and use. This pattern often leads to nutrient deficiencies, weight loss, fatigue, and skin or hair changes, even when your diet seems well-balanced. Malabsorption is often overlooked because people assume food = nourishment. But when the digestive fire is weak, the gut lining is inflamed, or the microbiome is imbalanced, food may pass through partially digested, leaving the body undernourished on a cellular level.
-
Primarily the small intestine, where most nutrient absorption occurs
Secondary effects may show up in the skin, muscles, immune system, hormones, and mood -
Malabsorption can happen at multiple stages:
Breakdown Failure – Food isn’t digested properly due to low stomach acid, poor bile flow, or weak enzyme output
Absorption Blockage – Inflammation or damage in the small intestine prevents nutrients from passing through
Nutrient Competition – Microbes (like in dysbiosis or SIBO) consume nutrients before your body can absorb them
Mucosal Damage – A depleted or thin mucosal layer means less surface area for nutrient uptake
Over time, this leads to nutrient deficiency symptoms, fatigue, and slowed repair throughout the body.
-
Eating well but feeling tired, weak, or undernourished
Weight loss or muscle wasting
Undigested food in stool
Dry skin, brittle nails, or hair thinning
Low mood or irritability
Loose or pale stools
Hormonal imbalance, fatigue, or lightheadedness
No lasting change from supplements or food upgrades
-
Gut inflammation or barrier damage
Pancreatic enzyme deficiency
Low stomach acid or bile insufficiency
Microbial imbalance (bacteria or parasites stealing nutrients)
Food sensitivities or overuse of irritants
Pharmaceutical causes: Antibiotics, antacids (PPIs), corticosteroids, metformin
Supplement-induced causes: Harsh detoxes, high-dose binders, protein powders without support
Phytoiatrogenic causes: Bitter herbs in cold terrain, drying or scraping herbs in atrophic guts
-
The following tissue states may represent underlying imbalances contributing to this symptom:
Cold/Depression: Weak digestive fire → incomplete breakdown
Dry/Atrophy: Depleted mucosa → low surface area
Damp/Stagnation: Mucosal congestion blocks uptake
Wind/Tension: Irregular movement disrupts digestion rhythm
Heat/Excitation: Inflammation damaging lining and function
-
Digestive System: Stomach, small intestine, pancreas, liver
Immune System: Compromised mucosal defense, chronic inflammation
Musculoskeletal: Loss of protein, minerals, or fat-soluble nutrients
Endocrine System: Hormone conversion and signaling
Nervous System: Neurotransmitter imbalances from nutrient loss
-
Item description
Do you feel undernourished even with a good diet? Do your symptoms improve briefly with supplements, then return? Have you had gut inflammation, antibiotic use, or chronic stress? Are your stools loose, oily, or containing visible food? Do you feel depleted, dry, or less resilient over time?
Malabsorption is a silent drain on your energy, strength, and clarity. You may be eating beautifully—but if your gut isn’t ready to receive, it’s like pouring into a bucket with holes. I can help you identify what’s interfering with absorption and rebuild the strength of your inner receiving system.
Disclaimer
Each person’s condition has a unique root cause, and lifestyle, diet and herbal remedies must be tailored to the individual. The information on this page is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalized care. If you’d like support in understanding your specific situation, please reach out to me for guidance. If you're experiencing significant weight loss, severe diarrhea along with nutrient deficiency symptoms, please see an emergency medical provider.
