Could SIBO be to blame for your digestive woes? It’s possible.
If you’ve ever been diagnosed with IBS, there’s a 60% chance that you actually have SIBO (if you can believe that!).
Or maybe you’ve found you have gas, constipation, acne, or food sensitivities lately.
While there’s a million diagnosis you may have been given in your lifetime – I’m going to bet that none of them, their medications, or protocols actually made you feel better … at least not permanently.
SIBO is currently working itself up the ranks of being one of the most common diagnosis these days. So it’s worth looking further into whether this could be the root of your digestive troubles.
Sit back and get comfy – because we’re going to dig into this right now!
THE BASICS OF SIBO
SIBO stands for small intestine bacterial overgrowth. It occurs when bacteria found in your GI tract, begins to overgrow in your small intestine. And it’s not meant to hold a lot of bacteria.
This can result in problems absorbing nutrients, which affects your normal digestion.
Here’s how it works: You eat food. Excess bacteria in your small intestine consumes it, causing nutrient deficiencies. This produces a gas – either methane, hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, or a combination. Reactions such as bloating, flatulence, and burping begin.
As the bacteria grow in number, they aggravate the lining of the gut. Tearing happens (leaky gut) which allows undigested food particles intor your blood stream. Now you’re showing signs of food sensitivities.
I think you get the picture.
CAUSES AND DIAGNOSIS
Pinpointing the cause of SIBO can be exhausting, often leaving you empty-handed. There are so many possible causes.
You may not find a concrete answer on “how”, but there are still many causes that we know about and can explore:
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Low digestive enzymes
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Antibiotics
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Lack of migrating motor complex
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Autoimmune disorders
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Celiac disease
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Irritable bowel syndrome
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And the most common – food poisoning!
The good news is that you can get a proper diagnosis done through testing (not through symptoms and guessing!). The bad news is that your GP won’t offer it and you’ll have to request it from a Naturopath and pay for it out of pocket.
My advice is to see a Naturopath who is knowledgeable with SIBO. They’ll test and treat you appropriately.
The test requires you do a prep diet, but the test itself is a simple breath test. Sample are collected throughout the day.
This tracks the gases you produce at different points of digestion. It shows if the bacteria are in the small intestine (SIBO) and what kind of gas they’re producing.
Once you’re diagnosed, the real work begins. (Sorry, just being honest!).
15 SIGNS YOU’VE GOT SIBO
Before you get tested, determine if you struggle with any of these common SIBO symptoms:
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Gas (burping or flatulence)
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Abdominal bloating or cramping
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Food sensitivities or allergies
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Diarrhea or Constipation
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Headaches or migraines
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Diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
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Indigestion (GERD or acid reflux)
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Nausea
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Anxiety or depression
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Weight fluctuations
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Fatigue
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Joint pain
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Eczema, acne, or rashes
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Asthma (or other respiratory condition)
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Nutrient deficiencies
HEALING FROM SIBO
Healing from SIBO is not a one-size fits all. And sorry, but google can’t help you with this one either.
It’s best to work with an experienced nutritionist who can customize a protocol that’s right for you. Remember, SIBO creates nutrient deficiencies, which need to be determined and addressed appropriately.
If you think you have SIBO, your first step is to get tested. Then, get in touch with me so we can put together a personalized healing protocol for you.
