The 5Rs of Gut Restoration: A Proven Plan to Heal Your Gut and Fight Inflammation
The gut is the foundation of health. When the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is inflamed or imbalanced, the effects ripple outward—causing fatigue, bloating, autoimmunity, anxiety, skin issues, joint pain, and more. Fortunately, there’s a well-researched and clinically validated strategy to restore gut health: the 5R Protocol.
At Revolution Health & Wellness, we’ve seen the transformative power of the 5R gut restoration process. Whether you're battling irritable bowel syndrome, leaky gut, food sensitivities, or unexplained inflammation, this approach provides a step-by-step framework to identify root causes and promote healing.
Let’s explore each of the 5Rs—Remove, Replace, Restore, Repair, and Rebalance—and how you can use this protocol to revitalize your digestive system.
Step 1: REMOVE – Eliminate Inflammatory Triggers and Gut Stressors
The first step in healing the gut is identifying and removing what's harming it. In many cases, this includes inflammatory foods, pathogenic microbes (like yeast, parasites, or bad bacteria), and environmental toxins.
Begin with a ProLon Reset
We recommend kickstarting the gut restoration process with a 5-day ProLon fasting-mimicking diet. This structured program stimulates autophagy (cellular cleanup), reduces inflammation, and recalibrates insulin sensitivity. It also helps reset hunger signals and reduce cravings—ideal before starting the elimination phase.
Follow the Elimination Diet (Day 6–30)
After ProLon, transition to an anti-inflammatory elimination diet by removing:
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Wheat and gluten
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Dairy (including casein and whey)
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Sugar (especially refined and added sugars)
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Caffeine (coffee, energy drinks, sodas)
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White rice and white potatoes
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Corn and all corn derivatives
These foods are among the most common irritants that disrupt gut integrity and drive chronic inflammation. By removing them temporarily (typically 21–30 days), we reduce immune burden and give the GI tract a chance to rest and reset.
Step 2: REPLACE – Support Digestive Function with Essential Enzymes and Acids
With gut irritants out of the picture, the next step is to support proper digestion. Many people with chronic GI issues lack adequate digestive enzymes, stomach acid, or bile acids—due to stress, aging, medications (like PPIs), or poor diet.
These digestive secretions are essential for:
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Breaking down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates
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Absorbing critical nutrients
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Preventing overgrowth of bad bacteria
Recommended Supplements:
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pH+ – 1–2 capsules with each meal to support hydrochloric acid production
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Digestive Enzymes – 1–2 capsules with meals to aid macronutrient breakdown
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Complete Digestive Support – 1–2 capsules with each meal as a comprehensive formula with enzymes, acid, and bile salts
These products help ensure complete digestion of food, minimize bloating, and reduce the burden on your intestines.
Step 3: RESTORE – Rebuild the Microbiome with Probiotics and Prebiotics
A healthy microbiome supports everything from immunity to mood to metabolism. Unfortunately, antibiotics, poor diet, and chronic stress deplete the good bacteria in your gut.
That’s why Step 3 is all about repopulating the gut with beneficial microbes.
Recommended Supplements:
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ProbioHealth 350 – One sachet per day for 10 days, then once weekly
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Gut Powder – Includes prebiotics to feed and support friendly bacteria
Probiotics and prebiotics work together: probiotics deliver beneficial bacteria, while prebiotics provide the fibers and nutrients they need to thrive. This combination helps reduce pathogenic overgrowth, supports immune tolerance, and enhances digestive resilience.
Step 4: REPAIR – Heal the Intestinal Lining and Reduce Leaky Gut
When the gut lining becomes damaged—a condition often referred to as “leaky gut” or intestinal hyperpermeability—undigested food particles, toxins, and microbes leak into the bloodstream. This can trigger systemic inflammation, autoimmunity, skin problems, and brain fog.
Repairing this barrier is crucial for long-term health.
Recommended Supplements:
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Immuno-30 – 2 capsules twice daily; rich in immunoglobulin G to bind toxins and pathogens
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Gut Powder – 1 scoop twice daily; supports mucosal healing
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AllerFx (Quercetin) – 2 capsules daily to reduce histamine and allergic inflammation
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Bone Broth – Naturally rich in glutamine, collagen, and glycine
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Zinc Glycinate – Essential for tight junction repair and mucosal regeneration
This phase is where peptides like BPC-157 and KPV can play a powerful role. These healing peptides support epithelial regeneration, suppress gut inflammation, and accelerate barrier restoration.
Step 5: REBALANCE – Create a Lifestyle That Supports Long-Term Gut Health
The final R is perhaps the most essential: rebalancing your lifestyle to maintain gut healing and prevent relapse. Even the best supplement protocol won’t work if chronic stress, poor sleep, or toxic habits continue unchecked.
We recommend working with our naturopath or functional medicine provider to develop a personalized wellness plan that supports:
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Nutrition – Whole foods, anti-inflammatory, diverse plant fibers
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Hydration – Aim for at least half your body weight (in ounces) of clean, filtered water daily
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Elimination – Regular bowel movements are critical; stool should pass easily and daily
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Sleep – 7–9 hours nightly, ideally in sync with circadian rhythms
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Stress Management – Consider meditation, yoga, journaling, or counseling
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Movement – Daily low-impact exercise, walking, or strength training
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Emotional & Spiritual Health – Purpose, connection, and joy promote healing at the deepest level
Functional Peptides That Complement the 5R Protocol
The 5Rs form a comprehensive system—but adding targeted peptides can accelerate progress, especially in difficult or chronic cases.
Peptides for Gut Repair & Inflammation
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BPC-157 – Speeds healing of the GI tract, reduces ulceration, and repairs mucosal injury
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KPV – Suppresses NF-κB, calms inflammation in IBD, eczema, and MCAS
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LL-37 – Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory; useful for gut infections and mold
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Thymosin Alpha 1 – Regulates immune balance, promotes tolerance, especially in autoimmunity
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GHK-Cu – Supports tissue repair and reduces oxidative stress
These peptides are available to established patients through Revolution Health and are physician-supervised, never sourced from unregulated compounders.
Common Symptoms of a Damaged Gut
Wondering if the 5R protocol is right for you? Common signs of GI dysfunction include:
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Bloating, gas, or irregular stools
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Brain fog or fatigue after meals
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Skin rashes, acne, or eczema
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Chronic joint pain or muscle aches
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Autoimmune disease
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Food sensitivities or seasonal allergies
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Depression, anxiety, or mood swings
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Difficulty losing weight
If you recognize yourself in any of these symptoms, your gut may be the root issue—and the 5R framework can guide your healing.
How Long Does Gut Restoration Take?
Healing your gut is not an overnight fix—but it doesn't have to take forever either. Here's a general timeline:
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Week 1–2: Begin ProLon and Elimination Diet; digestive symptoms often improve quickly
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Week 3–6: Layer in supplements to replace enzymes and restore microbiota
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Week 6–12: Focus on mucosal repair with peptides and immunoglobulins
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Beyond 12 weeks: Reintroduction of foods; lifestyle rebalancing becomes the focus
Every gut heals at its own pace, but with this structure in place, most people feel dramatically better within 30–60 days.
Final Thoughts: You Can Heal
At Revolution Health & Wellness, we believe that healing starts in the gut. Whether you're battling inflammation, fatigue, food reactions, or complex chronic illness, the 5R Protocol offers a clear roadmap to restore balance and rebuild from the inside out.
Our team can guide you through every phase—from advanced lab testing to customized peptide therapies—so you don’t have to guess your way through the process.
Ready to Begin Your Gut Healing Journey?
Start with the highest-quality supplements and physician-guided care. All supplements mentioned in this protocol are available here:
https://revolutionhealth.org/collections/all
Need help creating a personalized plan?
Call (918) 935-3636 or schedule an appointment to get started with our integrative health team.
Scientific References
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Fasano, A. (2012). Leaky gut and autoimmune diseases. Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology, 42(1), 71–78.
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Martinsen, T. C., Bergh, K., & Waldum, H. L. (2005). Gastric juice: a barrier against infectious diseases. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, 96(2), 94–102.
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Turner, J. R. (2009). Intestinal mucosal barrier function in health and disease. Nature Reviews Immunology, 9(11), 799–809.
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Koon, H. W., & Pothoulakis, C. (2006). Immunomodulatory properties of antimicrobial peptides in the intestine. Current Opinion in Gastroenterology, 22(2), 132–137.
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Madsen, K. L. (2001). The use of probiotics in gastrointestinal disease. Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology, 15(12), 817–822.