SIBO, Do You Have It? What Now?
Do you often feel bloated, gassy, or have abdominal pain? Have you been diagnosed with IBS or other digestive disorders, but still experience symptoms despite trying various treatments? You might be suffering from something called SIBO.
SIBO, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, is a treatable condition where there is an excessive amount of bacteria in the small intestine. Normally, the small intestine has a low number of bacteria, but in SIBO, bacteria from the colon migrate up to the small intestine and thrive there. This can sometimes happen when diet feed the bacteria, or if someone isn’t regularly going to the bathroom - causing a backup in the system. The most common symptoms of SIBO bloating, burping and gas, abdominal pain, diarrhea, stinky morning breath, and constipation, too.
So, what can you do to manage SIBO and reduce your symptoms? Here are five things you might want to try:
Change Your Diet: One of the main causes of SIBO is an imbalanced gut microbiome. To help rebalance your gut, try reducing or eliminating foods that are high in FODMAPS, like onions, garlic, and other known trigger foods from your diet. This isn’t a long term solution, but rather a quick fix to reduce symptoms while you treat the issue. Some of the other known trigger foods are: All processed foods (foods mass produced in a factory with cheap ingredients), gluten, dairy, and sugar. These foods tend to ferment in the gut, or feed the bacteria that’s already overgrown and causing symptoms.
Consider Antibiotics or Herbal Treatment: There are specific antibiotics meant to tackle this imbalance of bacteria and can be effective in treating SIBO. Paired with rebalancing the gut, antibiotics are effective. There are studies that show a specific combination of herbals can also be very effective, however they are known to take a bit longer to have the desired effect. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics such as rifaximin, neomycin, or alinia.
Probiotics and Prebiotics: Taking probiotics and prebiotics can help increase the amount of beneficial bacteria in your gut and help restore balance to your microbiome but taking them before you’re ready can lead to even more symptoms. Probiotics are live bacteria that are beneficial to your gut, while prebiotics are the food that these bacteria feed on. Ideally we rid the digestive system of the imbalance and then incorporated both pre-and pro-biotics when you’re ready.
Manage Stress: Stress has a big impact on how our digestive system functions. Stress slows movements from the colon, and also diverts blood away from the gut. Stress increases cortisol, which affects the nervous system, which controls a lot of gut functions. So you can see, it’s complex, but there are things you can do to effectively reduce the effects of stress on the body.
Test Trigger Foods using the Monash or FoodMarble app. Tracking your food intake, symptom progression and severity, and timing can give you a lot of good information to share with your doctor or health coach.
Work with a Practitioner like myself or a Naturopathic Doctor: SIBO can be a complex condition, and it can be challenging to manage on your own. Working with a practitioner who is knowledgeable about SIBO can be helpful in developing a personalized treatment plan. They can recommend testing, supplements, and other therapies that may be beneficial for your individual needs.
In conclusion, SIBO can be a challenging condition to manage, but there are solutions available to help reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life. By making dietary changes, considering antibiotics, taking probiotics and prebiotics, managing stress, and working with a practitioner, you can take steps towards healing your gut and reducing your symptoms. If you’d like to learn more about how I work with clients who have SIBO, to rebalance the micriobiome and get the bowels moving properly, click below: