Full Transcript: Dr. Michael Biamonte on Healing and Sealing Leaky Gut

Dr. Michael Haley:
This is the Dr. Haley Show podcast. I’m Dr. Michael Haley, your host, and today my guest is repeat guest Dr. Michael Biamonte. I recently went back and listened to our previous conversation from episode 36, and it was fantastic. We talked about some fun things, including our shared Italian heritage, food culture, and how different food can be in Sicily compared with the United States.

Dr. Biamonte is the founder of the Biamonte Center for Clinical Nutrition, the co-creator of Bio-Cybernetics, a software program that analyzes blood work and lab tests, a doctor of nutripathy, and a New York State certified clinical nutritionist. He is also the author of The Candida Chronicles. Dr. Biamonte, welcome back to the show.

One of the things I enjoyed about our last conversation was hearing more about your professional music background as a classical guitarist. It struck me that the detail, discipline, and precision required in classical guitar seem similar to the way you research health topics. It feels like you go deep into things in a very methodical way.

Dr. Michael Biamonte:
That’s true. Luckily, André Segovia really mapped out the route for classical guitar players, both in mastering the instrument and in being able to execute very complicated pieces with relative ease. We have a lot to thank him for.

There’s also a similarity between music, math, and health. Certain things are very mathematical, and patterns show up again and again in music in much the same way that patterns show up in biological systems and symptoms. That makes it interesting.

Dr. Michael Haley:
That makes a lot of sense. As Italians, we grow up in a very family-oriented environment where food is love. When people come over, you want to feed them. Sometimes they say no, and the response is basically, “No, no, take the food.”

I like to ask guests whether they had “power words” spoken into their lives growing up—something said to them that stuck. For me, one person once told me, “Stop struggling,” and another told me, “Persistence will get you wherever you want.” Those stayed with me. Did you have anything like that?

Dr. Michael Biamonte:
Yes. One phrase in particular comes to mind. My wife and I joke about it. Our parents would say, “Don’t give that one too much confidence.” Usually they meant somebody shady. What they were really saying was: don’t let the wrong person get too close, and don’t let them think they can get away with too much.

There’s a parallel there to the saying, “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.” Keep your friends close, but also don’t let your enemies get too far outside your awareness. Know what they are doing.

Dr. Michael Haley:
If we applied that idea to our profession, there are a few agencies and institutions that come to mind.

Dr. Michael Biamonte:
Back in the 1980s in New York City, we had what I call the dietitian wars. Registered dietitians were trying to put clinical nutritionists out of business. They wanted sole ownership of the title “clinical nutritionist” because the term “dietitian” had become associated with hospital food and institutional food.

There were many battles in Albany over this. Eventually, Governor Cuomo recognized that these were really two different disciplines. He essentially said dietitians worked more in institutions, while clinical nutritionists were working more individually with patients and trying to understand the patient’s condition, diet, nutrients, and metabolic issues.

In those days, we also stayed cordial with some of the people opposing us because we wanted to know what they were doing. That was one example of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer.

Dr. Michael Haley:
The last time we spoke was back in 2023. Since then, the big nutrition emphasis seems to have shifted. In 2025, a lot of the focus seems to be on protein intake, GLP-1 drugs, inflammation, and diabetes. Have you seen negative effects from GLP-1 drugs in your practice?

Dr. Michael Biamonte:
Yes, very commonly. When you start investigating these things, you begin to see how many broader influences there are on health and food systems. There’s a lot people should be thinking more critically about.

Dr. Michael Haley:
Do you foresee the next big health challenge? Is there something you think people should really be paying attention to now?

Dr. Michael Biamonte:
One concern I have is the increasingly toxic environment we live in. I would not be surprised if detoxification becomes an even bigger focus. We can’t avoid all the toxins in the atmosphere, in the food supply, and in the environment, so learning how to support detoxification is important.

The first thing is to understand the body’s detoxification mechanisms. Most people know about phase one and phase two detoxification and the importance of glutathione and intestinal flora. But something fewer people understand is the use of niacin combined with dry sauna therapy to help mobilize toxins.

After 9/11, we had a detox center on Fulton Street and worked with many rescue workers who had developed serious neurological and physical problems from exposure to the debris. We had some of the first group sit in tubs while sweating so their sweat could be collected and analyzed. Independent labs found remarkably high levels of toxins being excreted—everything from mercury to excessive manganese and titanium.

These people would come in limping or using canes, and within a couple of weeks some were moving much better and even jogging. So yes, in cases of heavy toxic exposure, I have seen that detoxification support can matter greatly.

Dr. Michael Haley:
For someone trying to understand that approach, are you talking about dry sauna, exercise, niacin, and supportive nutrients?

Dr. Michael Biamonte:
Exactly. Sometimes it is called the Hubbard method or dry sauna method. The person exercises first to stimulate circulation, takes flushing niacin and certain fatty acids, and then sits in a dry sauna and sweats. The idea is to mobilize toxins and support their release through the skin.

Dr. Michael Haley:
One of the things I really wanted to get into today was dysbiosis, the microbiome, and how people correct these imbalances. We talked about Candida last time. Can you recap what you’ve learned about why people fail to get rid of it?

Dr. Michael Biamonte:
What we’re learning more and more is that the microbiome is fundamental. If the microbiome is not in place and balanced, a lot of the more advanced things people try to do simply do not work.

That includes detoxification. Adequate bifidus bacteria in the colon are necessary for proper hepatic detoxification. If the colon microbiome is off, liver detoxification does not work correctly.

It also affects hormones and neurotransmitters. The biome not only helps synthesize neurotransmitters, but the intestinal tract also functions almost like a storage area where the body shuffles certain compounds in and out. If the microbiome is disturbed, those processes do not work well.

A major mistake people make is starting with probiotics because they want to replace what is missing. But if harmful organisms have already taken over—whether bad bacteria, parasites, yeast, or Candida—they occupy the space. The good organisms you are taking cannot properly reestablish themselves while the harmful ones are still dominating.

So first you remove the bad actors, then you replace.

Dr. Michael Haley:
That “remove, then replace” sequence makes sense.

Dr. Michael Biamonte:
Yes, but even there, people make mistakes. They often take one drug, antibiotic, or remedy continuously, day after day, and the organism mutates and becomes resistant. Then they wonder why they can’t get rid of it. They may actually be helping create a more resilient strain.

It’s also not as simple as taking one probiotic capsule from the health food store. Different parts of the intestinal tract need different organisms. Lactobacillus is especially important in the small intestine. Bifidus is especially important in the colon. And then you have prebiotics, which help create the right environment and pH for those beneficial organisms to establish themselves.

People often spend a lot of money on probiotics without understanding the need for the correct strains and the prebiotics that help those strains take hold.

There are also special situations. Reuteri can be important in chronic yeast cases. Akkermansia can be especially important for people with a tendency toward leaky gut.

Dr. Michael Haley:
And that brings us directly to leaky gut. If someone has leaky gut, what changes about the probiotic approach?

Dr. Michael Biamonte:
If someone has leaky gut, probiotics may not stick. In fact, they can cause negative reactions. If the intestinal lining is too permeable, the probiotics can cross into the bloodstream, where the immune system may react to them as foreign invaders.

So you really do not want to assume the person has leaky gut. You want to test for it.

Many people walk in convinced they have severe leaky gut because they have been treating themselves for years. Then we test them, and they do not have leaky gut at all. They may have mast cell activation or some other issue that is mimicking it.

Dr. Michael Haley:
What are the main tests for leaky gut?

Dr. Michael Biamonte:
Historically, there was the lactulose-mannitol recovery test, where the person drank a solution and the urine was measured to see how much got through. It was useful, but there were false negatives.

Today, two tests I like are zonulin testing and certain breath tests. Zonulin can be checked in blood or stool. When the gut becomes more permeable, the body produces zonulin. If you find elevated levels, that can support the case for leaky gut.

There are also breath tests that detect certain gases produced when this type of gut dysfunction is present.

Dr. Michael Haley:
Once someone is confirmed to have leaky gut, what does the foundation of treatment look like?

Dr. Michael Biamonte:
The first thing is a mucin supplement. Mucins are naturally produced in the intestinal tract. They function almost like a protective wax coating. When someone develops leaky gut, that protective barrier is one of the first things to break down, so replacing and supporting it matters.

The next thing is butyrate. Butyrate is a fatty acid that supports intestinal cell repair. It helps the intestinal cells renew themselves.

Glutamine is also widely used because it is an amino acid that helps intestinal cells repair and regenerate. Zinc is another important nutrient that supports that process.

When people take a well-designed formula containing compounds like mucins, butyrate, glutamine, zinc, and other supportive ingredients, it can help the intestinal lining repair itself over time.

As for probiotics, Akkermansia is one of the organisms I pay the most attention to when supporting intestinal repair.

Dr. Michael Haley:
People listening to this are probably thinking: this guy really knows his stuff. If someone wants to work with you directly, are you seeing people in person or doing telemedicine?

Dr. Michael Biamonte:
We do telemedicine exclusively.

Dr. Michael Haley:
What is the best website for that?

Dr. Michael Biamonte:
The best website would be health-truth.com.

Dr. Michael Haley:
I also wanted to ask about biome testing more broadly. We used to think of microbiome testing mostly as stool tests. What’s changed?

Dr. Michael Biamonte:
There is now a newer generation of stool testing using DNA technology. In the past, the lab cultured stool and saw what would grow. Now DNA methods can identify a broader range of beneficial organisms and pathogens.

There is also urine testing that looks at organic acids. Organic acids are metabolic waste products released by microbes. Beneficial bacteria release certain ones, harmful organisms release others. So instead of looking directly for the organism, you are looking for the chemical footprints it leaves behind.

That can be very useful because stool is not always homogeneous. A stool sample may not fully represent what is going on throughout the intestinal tract. Some harmful organisms hide in biofilms, and if the sample misses those areas, you may get a false negative.

With an organic acid test, you are looking for the compounds those organisms release, which can show up in urine even if the organisms themselves were not directly sampled.

Dr. Michael Haley:
That sounds simpler for a lot of people too.

Dr. Michael Biamonte:
Yes, many people are more comfortable with urine testing. The drawback is that stool testing can identify a wider range of specific organisms. So in some cases, I combine both.

For example, if a patient tells me they developed chronic rectal itching, bloating, gas, and digestive problems after spending time in contaminated water, I may want a stool test to identify the specific bacteria or parasites involved so they can be targeted more precisely.

Dr. Michael Haley:
When it comes to targeting harmful organisms, how do you approach it?

Dr. Michael Biamonte:
Candida is actually one of the easier organisms to address because there are many herbs and spices known to have antifungal activity. The key is not to use the same thing continuously in a way that encourages adaptation. Rotating different agents can help reduce that problem.

In clinical practice we often use oils or tinctures such as cinnamon, clove, rosemary, anise, thyme, oregano, and neem, depending on the case. There are studies showing that various herbs and spices can have strong antimicrobial effects.

In fact, some resistant Candida strains have shown poor response to standard drugs but better response when certain botanical compounds are combined with them.

Dr. Michael Haley:
I do want to clarify something for listeners. We are not talking about grabbing random aromatherapy oils and taking them internally, right?

Dr. Michael Biamonte:
Correct. There is a difference between aromatherapy oils and food-grade oils intended for ingestion. That distinction matters. People need to make sure they are using the correct type and that they understand how to use them properly.

And no, I would not recommend putting these full strength on the tongue. They are usually diluted.

Dr. Michael Haley:
Before we wrap up, where can people find you, your book, and your telemedicine practice?

Dr. Michael Biamonte:
Very simple. I have three websites:

newyorkcitycandidadoctor.com
newyorkcitythyroiddoctor.com
health-truth.com

My book, The Candida Chronicles, is available on Amazon.

Dr. Michael Haley:
Fantastic. Dr. Biamonte, thank you again for being here. I really enjoyed this conversation.

Dr. Michael Biamonte:
Thank you very much for having me. I enjoyed being with you, as always.