Everything you need to know about SIBO!
I learned the hard way that a non-stop lifestyle only leads to burnout and poorer health.
My gut health condition has improved so much, although I'll be honest, I still have mini-flare ups sometimes. But the truth is, my healing was NOT because of any magic supplement or prescribed diet…
I’ve healed myself by drastically changing my lifestyle and managing my stress levels.
When I was diagnosed with my gut health condition, I was a super healthy person, but my stress levels were through the ROOF! I was working 80 hours+ per week, not taking any time for self-care, over-exercising, and just going, going, going…
And that’s what led me to develop my gut health condition, SIBO.
What is SIBO?
SIBO stands for small intestinal bacteria overgrowth, which is when we have too much gut bacteria in our small intestine.
Normally, we don't have that much gut bacteria in our small intestine, or our stomach, because of the acidic environment. Most of our gut bacteria is actually in our large intestine...
Also in your small intestine, there's something called MMC... The "Migrating Motor Complex," which helps with your digestion.
Ever hear a gurgling sound in your stomach?! That's a good thing!
It shows that your MMC is working...
But if that's malfunctioning, or there's an injury in your small intestine, or you have low stomach acid, or not enough bile, or even a compromised immune system, this can actually cause bacteria to colonize and build up in your small intestine.
Which unfortunately leads to a whole host of very grotesque symptoms...
And it can be really hard to manage, and really hard to treat.
Gut health research is still so new, and there’s so much we still don’t know. SIBO, in particular, is a budding health condition; and considering there’s very little gut health research done at all, it’s important to point out how little research has actually been done on SIBO…
That being said, the main symptoms of SIBO are abdominal pain, bloating, and a lot of stomach distention. You can also have diarrhea and/or constipation, or just an uncomfortably full feeling after you’re done eating. (Similar symptoms to IBS, but this is different… Although, fun fact, 60% of people with IBS also have SIBO.)
So what causes SIBO?
- Stress
- Lack of sleep
- Grazing throughout the day VS. eating concrete meals
- Head or spinal chord injuries
- Food poisoning
- Abdominal surgery
- Misusing meds
How do you test for SIBO?
Most professionals will have you undergo a breath test to test the hydrogen and methane gas that’s present in your breath, signally if there is higher gut bacteria in your small intestine. But the truth is, it’s really hard to detect, so most professionals will just end up treating your symptoms rather than “confirming” you have SIBO.
How do you treat SIBO?
Normally you’ll do a round of antibiotics, a low-FODMAP diet, or an herbal treatment, but as a last resort doctors will have you do an elemental diet. (Which is super dangerous… READ MORE HERE)
To treat gut health there’s not a “one size fits all” method, and a lot of it becomes symptom management and getting to the root cause of what actually led you to develop a gut health condition.
Because of the lack of research, take this with a grain of salt, and GO SEE A PROFESSIONAL if something doesn’t feel right about your body.
And remember, being healthy is WAY more than just nutrition and exercise. You can eat the perfect foods and exercise consistently, and still feel terrible. Because handling our mental and emotional health matters too. We can't ignore it.
And if you're looking for ways to help heal your gut, CLICK HERE TO TAKE OUR QUIZ to see which one of our health coaching programs is right for you!
