Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO): Your Questions Answered
What is SIBO?
SIBO, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, is a serious condition affecting the small intestine. It can occur when there is an increase in bacteria in the small intestine. Typically these bacteria are found in small amounts throughout our gut and eliminated regularly. SIBO is often the consequence of dysfunction or imbalance within the body. Improving the function of organ systems and eradicating the bacterial overgrowth can help improve and maintain healthy digestion.
What are the symptoms of SIBO?
The overgrowth of bacteria can cause symptoms like pain in the stomach, especially after eating, bloating, cramps, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, regular feeling of fullness, and gas.
What causes SIBO?
SIBO can occur when your small bowel has anatomic abnormalities, changes in pH of your small intestine, poor immune system, malfunction of the muscular activity of the small intestine leading to poor removal of food and bacteria. SIBO may also be associated with a variety of conditions like viral gastroenteritis, or a stomach bug, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, hypochlorhydria, or low stomach acid levels, gastroparesis, nerve damage, cirrhosis, portal hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, certain gastric bypass procedures and surgeries that cause strictures or adhesions. In addition, medications that slow down the gut, such as narcotics or those that inhibit stomach acid such as proton pump inhibitors can lead to bacterial overgrowth.
How is SIBO diagnosed?
A breath test is a common test used for diagnosing SIBO. Excess bacteria in thes mall intestine release hydrogen and methane gasses which can be identified through a breath test. This test is noninvasive and can be performed at home or in a doctor’s office.
How do I get started healing my gut?
If you are experiencing symptoms of SIBO there are a few simple steps you can take to begin the process of healing your gut and body. Though eliminating the overgrowth of bacteria and maintaining a healthy gut may take some additional steps and professional advice, you can still start the process today!
Support your body’s natural detox function
Mind-body work. Develop mind-body practices to help reduce added stress and anxiety. Our mindset affects our healing and may inhibit the body’s natural function of detoxifying and cleansing our system. To help your body relax, start your practice through positive thought, reading, meditation, breath work, exploring nature or whatever practice works best for you.
Increase blood flow. Regular exercise and movement can help lower inflammation and promote the body’s natural detoxification process. Sweating promotes the natural elimination of waste and toxins through the skin. In addition, massage therapy, infrared saunas or acupuncture can be helpful methods to improve detoxification and our overall wellness.
Focus on sleep. Sleep allows our body to recharge and eliminate toxins that build up during the day, promoting our natural detoxification system. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night to ensure quality sleep and promote optimal health.
Limit alcohol. Alcohol is processed through your liver, the most vital organ in metabolic and immune function. Too much alcohol can lead to poor liver function and ultimately reduce metabolism and detoxification.
Stay hydrated. Adequate hydration is important to promote healthy digestion, blood flow and detoxification processes in our body. While the 8 cups of water recommendation is a good start to hydration. Individual intake is dependent on age, gender, activity level, and other factors like pregnancy or breastfeeding. A general recommendation for adults is 13 cups for men (3 L) and 9 (2.2 L) cups for women.
What are some diet and nutrition strategies to improve my gut health?
Healing our gut can be different for everyone. Some may be able to rid harmful infections and toxins more easily than others due to genetics, immune and metabolic function, or diet and lifestyle factors. We can start by improving our gut function through diet and lifestyle changes in order to promote a healthy immune system, reduce inflammation and improve metabolism.
Reduce symptoms and inflammation with diet
Bacteria primarily feed off carbohydrates, especially fermentable carbohydrates. Limiting carbohydrates will reduce the overgrown bacteria’s food source and assist in improving SIBO symptoms. Recent studies have found that following a low FODMAP diet may help improve symptoms in individuals suffering from SIBO.
What is a low FODMAP diet?
Research has shown that bacterial overgrowth improved in individuals following a low-FODMAP diet, or fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols. These short-chain carbohydrates are resistant to digestion and typically reach the far end of our intestine, where most of our gut bacteria resides. Your gut bacteria uses these carbs as fuel, which produces gasses and can lead to digestive symptoms. When digestion is weak and bacterial overgrowth exists, high FODMAP foods can be problematic and continue to worsen symptoms.
Our dietary approach
ELIMINATE high FODMAP foods. Common FODMAPs include:
Fructose: a simple sugar found in many fruits and vegetables (similar to table sugar or added sugar)
Lactose: a carbohydrate found in dairy products like milk
Fructans: found in many foods, including grains like wheat, spelt, rye and barley
Galactans: found in large amounts in beans and legumes
Polyols: sugar alcohols like xylitol, sorbitol, maltitol, and mannitol. These are found in some fruits and vegetables and often used as sweeteners.
ELIMINATE these other foods from your diet that can also make SIBO symptoms worse:
Table sugar
High-fructose corn syrup
Agave nectar
Honey
Dried fruit
Flavored yogurt
Barley and rye (limit refined grains)
Garlic, onions, and asparagus
INCLUDE these food that heal:
Organic bone broth
Wild-caught salmon
Grass-fed beef
Organic, free range chicken
Cooked vegetables: leafy greens, celery, cauliflower, carrots, pumpkin and squash
Blueberries, goji, coconut
Olive and coconut oil, olives
Sprouted rice and sprouted oatmeal
Shiitake mushrooms, ginger, and bitter herbs, like dandelion and chamomile
For a Low-FODMAP weekly meal plan with recipes and grocery lists, check out LivingPlateRx and sign up for a free 5-day trial. Click here to access your free 5-day Low-FODMAP plan!
Low-FODMAP weekly meal plan by Living Plate Rx
For additional guidance and access to the platform, schedule an appointment with our Registered Dietitian team!
In general, following an anti-inflammatory diet can support metabolism and detoxification. You will begin to repair and heal the gut by reducing overall inflammation. By limiting these carbohydrates, we are naturally removing the inflammatory-causing nutrients commonly found in grains, legumes, dairy and sugar. While sometimes these foods are tolerated well, they can cause symptoms in those with a compromised digestive system. Note, elimination diets should only be followed for a short-term to help reduce inflammation in the gut.
What medication, supplements and herbals are helpful in treating SIBO?
Typically, SIBO is treated with antibiotics, which helps to eliminate both good and bad bacteria that accumulates in the gut. Some common antibiotics used to treat SIBO include Rifaximin or Xifaxan, Norfloxacin, Neomycin and more. However, conflicting research indicates an antibiotic treatment protocol may lead to a relapse in bacterial overgrowth and recurring symptoms if the proper diet and lifestyle factors are not present.
In our work, we treat patients from a holistic approach using diet, supplements and herbal remedies to help your body detox and eliminate bacterial overgrowth. Our objective is to improve your symptoms and help you maintain a healthy gut microbiome long-term.
Our SIBO Complete Healing Protocol*
Biocidin Broad Spectrum Liquid Formula: Start with 1-2 drops per day and increase as tolerated to 1-6 drops 3 times per day
Olivirex by Biocidin Botanicals: Start with 1 capsule of Olivirex with Biocidin 1/2 hour before breakfast and lunch and increase to 2 capsules before breakfast and lunch
G.I. Detox by Biocidin Botanicals: Take 1-2 capsules of G.I. Detox between breakfast and lunch and between lunch and dinner (1 hour apart from food, supplements and medication) for 3 consecutive days ,2x a month
Saccharomyces Boulardii (Ortho Molecular Products): After 1-2 weeks of above protocol, start on Saccharomyces boulardii, 1 capsule a day, at least 1 hour apart from Olivirex or G.I. Detox
Proflora4R Restorative Probiotic Combination: After 1 week of taking Saccharomyces boulardii, add in Proflora 4R, 1 capsule a day with Saccharomyces boulardii
You can purchase our SIBO Compete Healing Protocol from our online store. You can add a 30-minute consult for only $50 more at checkout.
*Please note: If you choose to treat SIBO homeopathically, we recommend that you do not follow the low-FODMAP diet until after treatment with supplements. This is because, we do not want to starve the bacteria before trying to eradicate them with the supplements.
For more support and guidance in navigating SIBO and bacterial infections connect with our Registered Dietitian team to gain a better understanding of dietary strategies, supplementation and herbal remedies for eliminating bacterial overgrowth and maintaining healthy digestion. Together we can find a solution and improve your overall health and wellness!
Book your FREE 15 minute Q&A with a registered dietitian to discuss your next steps in healing SIBO for good!
