Is Dr. Gundry and "leaky gut" a scam?

He says to eat Avocados

I’m in my 80’s and started to have a problem with constipation; didn’t want to have to take laxatives all the time. I have 1 cup of split pea soup every evening after dinner. I make it in my Instant pot or can use any pressure cooker for 15 min and natural steam release. It makes 12 servings. If I don’t have bm by noon next day I use a suppository. It works within minutes. Haven’t had any more problems. I use a 1 lb bag of peas that has other dried veggies in it (throw away the little bag of seasoning because of the sodium), 4 cups of vegetable broth, and 4 cups of water. Tastes really good and works great for me. There’s some good articles online about the nutritious value on this.

I also think Dr. Gundry’s diet is too restrictive, although I also think limiting consumption of bread, carbs, and sweets is beneficial to gut health. I also think leaky gut is a read thing, and taking pre- and probiotics is benefit, especially after having to take antibiotics or after a colonoscopy.

My husband has constipation issues at times and has found a daily serving of REAL (live, NOT canned) sauerkraut is especially beneficial. We now make our own sauerkraut as it’s better and much cheaper than store brands. However there are now several real live-culture sauerkraut and similar products available in natural food stores and food cop-ops.

Try Citrucel to even out stool, to make more normal. See which foods aggravate your system by eliminating one by one. Walk briskly if you can. MD but not a GI specialist

I don’t really know if Dr Gundry’s pills are a “scam” or not.

I have heard his method requires purchase of very expensive foods ($13 for bread and sausage from Andorra.
Second, tv diets usually can’t work for everyone.,
Right now, I am seeing endocrinologist and licensed medical nutrition
expert. That way I know treatment based on my specific needs.

Personally I don't trust anyone pushing books , cures and miracle treatments. There are no quick fixes or easy answers. You might find this information helpful> resource link provided >Leaky gut syndrome is a hypothetical condition that’s not currently recognized as a medical diagnosis. It’s based on the concept of increased intestinal permeability, which occurs in some gastrointestinal diseases.
“Leaky gut syndrome”
Leaky gut syndrome is a theory that intestinal permeability is not only a symptom of gastrointestinal disease but an underlying cause that develops independently. If your intestinal barrier is impaired, it may be letting toxins into your bloodstream. These toxins may trigger an inflammatory response that may manifest as various diseases.

The theory has some appeal as a way of explaining various conditions that we haven't been able to fully explain yet, but the evidence is lacking. We know that the condition of having intestinal permeability or a “leaky gut” is real, but we don’t know that it's a disease in itself, or that it causes other diseases. It’s not currently a recognized medical diagnosis.

Management and Treatment
What is the fastest way to heal leaky gut?
The only known cure for a leaky gut is to treat the underlying condition that causes it. Specific treatments for IBD, celiac disease and others associated with intestinal permeability have been shown to repair the intestinal lining in those who were affected. On the other hand, treatments that target the intestinal lining independently have not been shown to improve these diseases or prevent intestinal permeability from recurring.

How can I take care of my gut?
Scientists are continuing to investigate the benefits of various therapeutics for improving the general health and integrity of the gut lining. These therapies may not be able to mitigate a pathological disease, but they may help mitigate the effects of everyday factors such as diet, stress and bacterial overgrowth that can wear on your intestinal lining. They may even help alleviate your general gastrointestinal symptoms. Therapies include:

Probiotics. Specific probiotics are being tested separately for their ability to restore gut barrier function. But in general, probiotics may help maintain the health of your gut lining by preventing overgrowth of the wrong bacteria in your gut, especially your small intestine.
Prebiotics. Prebiotics are food for the good bacteria in your gut to help give them an edge in the fight. They are usually plant fibers — one more reason to eat your veggies.
Reduce dietary fats and sugars. These encourage the growth of the wrong kinds of gut bacteria, and they trigger the release of harsh dietary emulsifiers that may inflame your gut.
Nutrition. A balanced diet, complete with all the necessary macronutrients and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) can help fortify your gut. Vitamin D and an amino acid called L-glutamine may specifically help repair your gut lining.
Low FODMAP Diet. This specific diet is often suggested for people who have IBS and certain food sensitivities because it systematically eliminates most of the common food triggers. Using it briefly may give your gut the rest it needs to repair, while also clueing you in to which food triggers you are sensitive to.
A note from Cleveland Clinic

Many people have vague gastrointestinal symptoms, and many times the causes are frustratingly elusive. In the absence of straight answers, “leaky gut syndrome” has emerged in the mainstream as a catch-all diagnosis for general indigestion — and possibly many other conditions. But true intestinal hyperpermeability is too specific and too extreme to explain most people’s symptoms.

Most people simply have general gut inflammation — the precursor to intestinal permeability. This may be due to a specific disease, or it may be a cumulative effect of poor diet, chronic stress and other common factors. Try reducing these factors. If that doesn’t help, seek medical advice. A qualified gastroenterologist can help you sort through the possible causes of your specific symptoms.
learn more at Cleveland Clinic website by searching Leaky Gut

See a nutritionist/dietician in a GI. practice. I found one to be extremely helpful with supplements and meal plans. They are more knowledgeable about supplements and willing to suggest them alternatives as opposed to doctors, probably because of their orientation. I asked my GI doctor why he suggested pepto bismol over L-Glutamine when he was aware of (limited) research and he said because it wasn’t studied enough since there isn’t profit in supplement research. The nutritionist was also able to recommend specific brand which had been clinically studied, avoiding the hit or miss ingredient issue in unregulated supplements (think of the melatonin dosage problem with pills containing negligee amounts to amounts so high no one would recommend them). They were out of network, but the $100 visit was worth avoiding all the pitfalls.

I am primarily troubled by his credentials, as he asserts that plant-based foods like flaxseed are an exceptional protein source. Soy protein, being more complete, stands out as a superior vegan protein source. The incompleteness of flaxseed protein due to the absence of lysine raises concerns, especially when he declares that it is the "best source of protein." Moreover, meeting basic protein needs through flaxseed alone would be challenging. While I want to believe he's not intentionally deceptive, there's a worry that he might be misled despite his apparent knowledge of biochemistry. His diet appears to be a modified vegan one, lacking in nutrients that are typically challenging to obtain in any vegan diet. Despite his seemingly well-intentioned advocacy for veganism, I strongly disagree with the notion that seed oils can effectively replace the omega-3s found in fish oil or that foods like flaxseed are the unequivocal "best source of protein," which seems more like vegan propaganda.

I'm 81 and tomatoes have far, far too may benefits to eliminate from from my diet. For example: "Tomato is a wonderful anti-inflammatory food. They contain powerful anti-inflammatory nutrients like carotenoids and bioflavonoids. A small minority of people have sensitivities to nightshades but I would not be concerned about this unless you have noted symptoms related to them." And I believe they have more than 1500 known phytonutrients.

I logged in here and finally found your question so I could reply to you. I felt badly because I’ve been going through exactly what you’re going through. forever. Forget Dr. Gundry‘s stuff. My doctor told me to try everything that you’ve tried and nothing worked for me until a week ago. It been two weeks and I had zero movement then I took Dulcolax Soft Chews mixed berry, stimulant free. It says take 2 to 4 of them so I took four because I was so uncomfortable, the first time I took them was about 6 o’clock at night and because I was so backed up it took a little while but then after about four hours and I mean everything emptied out. Every couple of days I take two of the chews and within 30 minutes to an hour all is right with the world. Trust me on this I was miserable and the last two weeks have been amazing. I spent so much money on his pills and the chews cost next to nothing. I have a feeling I just changed your life, you’re welcome lol I provided a picture of them below, take care.