Understanding SIBO: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
If you’ve been feeling bloated, gassy, tired, having loose stools or constipation and/or belly pain, you may be experiencing a condition called SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth). Most doctors call these symptoms IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). That’s a catch-all phrase for gut symptoms that don’t seem to have a measurable cause.
SIBO, and/or in some circumstances SIFO (Small Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth aka Candidiasis) have been widely misunderstood until recently.
Your small intestine, unlike the large intestine, is not supposed to house a lot of bacteria or fungi. Too many leads to the symptoms above. Common additional issues may include joint pain, malabsorption manifesting nutritional deficiencies, pancreatic insufficiency and NAFLD (Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease).
Primary Culprit - A High Carbohydrate/Sugar Lifestyle
On a habitual basis, do you consume rice, potatoes, pastries, chips, crackers, desserts, fried foods and/or sweet fruits and sugary drinks (including alcohol)? A diet high in processed and sugary foods can have serious consequences for your digestion, and ultimately, for your health.
Most people begin to notice low-grade symptoms like feeling bloated, gassy, burpy, and generally uncomfortable after eating. Perhaps you also experience fatigue and foggy thinking. Chronic bloating, pain, belly distention and low energy are not normal and healthy and are common symptoms of SIBO.
Culprit #2- Ongoing use of acid blocking medication
You may have chosen an over-the-counter acid-blocking medication to help relieve your symptoms, and initially, it seems helpful. But most people don’t realize (and most doctors don’t tell them) that acid-blocking meds are only to be used for short periods of time, like weeks. Long-term use unbalances your digestive system and negatively impacts your health.
Culprit #3 - Ileocecal valve syndrome
The valve between the small and large intestine is called the ileocecal valve. In a healthy system, digested matter moves in one direction… out. However, diet, allergies, food sensitivities, and stress can stimulate dysfunction of this valve, allowing bacteria that normally reside in the large intestine to back up into the lower small intestine.
Reversing the Process
The first and most important suggestion is to change your diet. With
SIBO, you will need to follow a program for several months that’s designed to rebalance your internal environment. For that period of time, you must eliminate the carbs bacteria love which contribute to SIBO.
Step One - Allow 5-6 hours between meals. Avoid eating within 3 hours before bed. Eating too often and before bed impairs your intestine’s ability to move your food through effectively.
Step Two - Remove the overgrowth of bacteria/fungi in the small intestine with herbal antimicrobials. Look for a formula that contains oregano oil, thyme, clove, black cumin seed oil, and cinnamon.
Step Three - Rebuild your damaged intestinal lining. Look for a product that contains L-glutamine, N-acetyl glucosamine, aloe, deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) along with soothing herbs such as marshmallow and ginger.
Step Four - Restore your natural healthy bacterial balance. After symptoms have abated, introduce a high potency and high strain diversity probiotic. Look for a product that offers 60-100 billion cultures along with 60-100 unique bacterial strains per capsule and 7-10 prebiotic sources that help your natural bacteria to thrive.
With your now-improved understanding of SIBO, following these steps can assist you on your path to renewed health and vitality.
For more than 25 years, Brenda Watson has dedicated herself to the natural health industry and helping people achieve vibrant health through improved digestion. She is the author of 7 books, a New York Times bestseller, and the creator of 5 PBS shows on natural health. For more information, please visit VitalPlanet.com.
