Skip to main content

About Norm Robillard

Norm Robillard received his Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst studying Bacillus anthracis and other Bacillus species. His post-doctoral training at Tufts University focused on antibiotic resistance and gene transfer between the gut microbes Bacteroides fragilis and E. coli. During his career in pharma / biotech, Dr. Robillard studied the genetics of antibiotic resistance, septic shock, viral illnesses and antimicrobial and antibody-based therapies prior to founding the Digestive Health Institute. Dr. Robillard is the creator of the Fast Tract Diet, author of the Fast Tract Digestion book series and publisher of the Fast Tract Diet mobile app. He was the first to propose excess intestinal fermentation as the underlying cause of acid reflux and explained the connection between intragastric pressure from gas-producing bacteria in our intestines, nutritional malabsorption and the symptoms of acid reflux. His latest book series, Fast Tract Digestion provides a safe and effective dietary tool and behavioral strategy as an alternative to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), H2 blockers, IBS drugs or antibiotics for heartburn, acid reflux, GERD, laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPR), IBS and other SIBO related conditions.

Antibiotics Linked to Celiac Disease

A Swedish team of scientists led by Dr. Karl Mårild, recently reported a link between taking antibiotics and the development of celiac disease[i]. Note: You can download the entire article free. Celiac disease is an autoimmune reaction to gluten proteins contained in wheat, rye and barley. The disease process causes inflammation and villus atrophy (which [...]

By |2016-11-05T04:26:47-04:00September 17th, 2013|antibiotics, Bacteria, Celiac Disease, IBS, SIBO|4 Comments

Could acid reflux drugs cause heart disease?

A recent study determined that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), drugs used to treat chronic acid reflux, cause the constriction of blood vessels. The finding raises concern that long term use of PPI drugs such as omeprazole and lansoprazole will lead to high blood pressure and a weakened heart. The drugs set in motion a series [...]

By |2016-11-05T04:26:52-04:00September 10th, 2013|acid reflux, acid reflux drugs, Fast Tract Diet|4 Comments

Antibiotics, Carbs and Gut Infections

A new study by researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine published in the September 2013 issue of Nature proposes a mechanism for how disease–causing microbes such as Salmonella and C diff often thrive when people take antibiotics. Soon after someone takes antibiotics two things happen: The number of friendly gut bacteria is dramatically reduced and [...]

Did Cavemen Get Heatburn?

Leaving shortly to attend the Ancestral Health Symposium in Atlanta. Gotta love the caveman. I am presenting on Saturday - Did Cavemen Get Heartburn. A question I get all the time, ha ha. But really, there are lessons to be learned and I will talk about my theory of carbohydrates, gut microbes and GERD/ IBS. [...]

Sh*t happens

In a surprising move, the Food and Drug Administration has reversed course eliminating the heavy regulatory burden imposed in April of this year on US medical facilities that wanted to conduct fecal transplants (commonly referred to as FMT for fecal microbiota transplantation) for people sick with colitis caused by Clostridium difficile (C diff) that does [...]

By |2020-09-24T16:48:40-04:00July 27th, 2013|antibiotics, C diff, Fecal Transplants|2 Comments

Cyclospora Outbreak Spans Nine States in the US

A parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis was determined to be the cause of a recent outbreak (June through July 2013) of debilitating intestinal infections that cause watery, and sometimes explosive, diarrhea along with other symptoms including weight loss, cramping, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, bloating, and flatulence. Almost 300 people have be diagnosed with the infection [...]

By |2020-09-24T16:54:34-04:00July 25th, 2013|Diet and Digestive Health|0 Comments

Fast Tract Digestion IBS: A Foreword by Dr. Michael Eades

Our latest book, Fast Tract Digestion IBS is now available. I am proud to let you know that the book features a foreword by Dr. Mike Eades. Protein power was the first book I read on the compelling effects of carbohydrates on our metabolism. Without reading this book, I would have never experimented with carbohydrate restriction, [...]

In response to Jeff Leach’s blog article: “Sorry low carbers, your microbiome is just not that into you”

I recommend that people with digestive health issues reduce, NOT increase, hard to digest fermentable carbohydrates to control symptoms of IBS, acid reflux and other digestive health issues related to general imbalance of gut microbes (dysbiosis) and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). This approach is outlined in my two books, Fast Tract Digestion IBS and [...]

Our Germs – What Do We Know About Them?

A friend sent me a great article called "Some of My Best Friends Are Germs" by Michael Pollan about the efforts by a team led by Rob Knight at the BioFrontiers Institute at the University of Colorado, Boulder working on something called the American Gut project. The team analyzes the hundreds of microbial species harbored by [...]

Resistant Starch – Friend or Foe?

What is Resistant Starch? Resistant starch is a type of starch that resists digestion. Starch in general is a large complex carbohydrate used by plants such as oats, corn, potatoes, wheat, rice, nuts, legumes and some fruits such as bananas to store energy. Foods that contain starch make up a large part of many people's [...]

Go to Top