SIBO: When Good Bacteria Goes Bad

June 15, 2022
Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Award-winning nutritionist and New York Times bestselling author.

SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) has become a gut health buzzword in recent years and is becoming a more common diagnosis. My gut feeling is that while its prevalence has increased with our modern diet and lifestyle, it’s also been underdiagnosed for years.

SIBO occurs when the bacteria that help us break down bile salts and waste products (that are essential to the health of the colon), move up into the small intestine where they cause gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and even weight gain as a result of nutrient deficiencies and fat malabsorption.

Since nearly 75% of your immune system lives in the gut, this overgrowth can have far reaching implications. Thanks to the work of experts like my friend Dr. William Davis, we now know that SIBO is suspected to be a “dual diagnosis” in a startling “who’s who list” of ailments and diseases – think diabetes, obesity, fatty liver, IBS, Crohn’s, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and even Restless Legs Syndrome. Just look at some of the statistics:

  • Obesity – SIBO present in 23-89% of cases
  • Diabetes – SIBO present in 11-60% of cases
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome – SIBO present in 35-84%  of cases
  • Fatty Liver – SIBO present in 40-60% of cases
  • Autoimmune diseases – SIBO present in about 40% of cases
  • Skin rashes (Rosacea, psoriasis, eczema) – SIBO present in 40-50% of cases
  • Restless Leg Syndrome – SIBO present in up to 100% of cases!

So how do you know if you have SIBO? 

There are a wide range of symptoms including:

  1. Gas and Bloating
  2. Diarrhea and/or Constipation
  3. Abdominal pain and cramping
  4. Food allergies and intolerances, including lactose fructose, and Histamine Intolerance
  5. Hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid), Leaky Gut, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Celiac Disease, or Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
  6. Liver Cirrhosis, Bile issues and Fat Malabsorption (greasy or pale smelly stools and short transit times)
  7. Vitamin and Mineral deficiencies, especially Vitamin B12, Calcium and Zinc
  8. Osteoporosis
  9. Unintended weight loss or weight gain
  10. Fatigue, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Autoimmune Diseases

SIBO is generally diagnosed with an at-home breath hydrogen or breath methane test that can be ordered by a health care practitioner. From there, antibiotics are often prescribed, but often don’t address the root cause. Natural antibacterials like berberine, grapefruit seed extract and/or silver hydrosols can be helpful, but there are a number of underlying root causes to also consider. Check out these articles to learn more: 

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Flora-Key Ice Cream
Quick Tip

If you’re one of the 50% of people with low stomach acid, your gut is a prime target for SIBO to occur. Supplement with HCL, pepsin and ox bile daily to optimize stomach acid levels, and maintain an inhospitable environment for bacterial overgrowth.

Although there are many root causes and correlations, research shows that a lack of stomach acid or H. pylori infection can create the ideal set-up for SIBO. And, in this case, it can become especially severe with substantial overgrowth of bacteria in the stomach, too.

Surprisingly, digestive discomfort like heartburn, acid reflux and GERD are often signs of LOW, not high levels of stomach acid (HCl). By supplementing with HCl, you can often help alleviate these concerns and build up your first line of defense against bacteria and pathogens. Here’s my go-to HCL+2 formula

You can measure your levels by taking this quick and easy HCl Challenge: https://annlouise.com/articles/diet-detox/the-digestive-glitch-that-blocks-weight-loss/

Featured Video

 3 Tips to Prevent LEAKY GUT SYNDROME

In this short video, learn about three things you can do to help prevent leaky gut syndrome. Leaky gut occurs when particles and microbes that aren’t usually able to cross the epithelial barrier escape – this intestinal permeability means that toxins in your gut can end up in your bloodstream. Science suggests that dysbiosis (an imbalance of bacteria in the gut), like that caused by SIBO, is the leading cause of leaky gut. And, it goes both ways, so they are intimately related.

Watch Now

Featured Podcast

Surviving and Thriving with SIBO – Episode 117

SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) is a burgeoning concern. On this brand new podcast episode, my guest Krystyna Houser, author of “The Good LFE Cookbook,” shares about her own journey overcoming SIBO, and how it inspired her to help others with the same diagnosis. We discuss the entire process from testing and diagnosis to treatment and beyond. Krystyna’s work specializes in low fermentation, which is diametrically opposed to what is popular these days, so don’t miss this scintillating interview!

SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) has become a gut health buzzword in recent years and is becoming a more common diagnosis. My gut feeling is that while its prevalence has increased with our modern diet and lifestyle, it’s also been underdiagnosed for years.

Featured Product

Flora-Key

Get Your Gut In Gear

Flora-Key is the go-to probiotic formula that I’ve recommended to my clients and readers for years. It contains 10 billion CFUs per serving with five strains of bacteria including Lactobacillus reuteri which has the ability to colonize in the upper-GI tract where SIBO resides and is especially helpful to prevent frequent recurrences of SIBO after eradication. You will want to consider taking L. reuteri separately while treating SIBO and hold off on other common strains. It’s also important to remember that sometimes less is more when it comes to probiotics. If a probiotic contains more than 10 billion CFUs, I’ve found that it can trigger an autoimmune response in some individuals. 

Featured Book

Radical Metabolism

Learn how the dietary components of this plan can help prevent SIBO, your new mantra will be, “Bitter is better!”

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Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, is an award-winning New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty books including The Fat Flush Plan series and her latest book, Radical Metabolism. She’s been rewriting the rules of nutrition for more than 40 years and is internationally recognized as a pioneer in the field of diet, detox and women’s health issues. 

For a FREE daily dose of tips and strategies for maintaining healthy weight, conquering insomnia, and much more…check out my Radical Health Tips.

I’d like to meet and greet you on my Facebook groups, so won’t you check us out at the Radical Metabolism RevolutionFat Flush Nation, or my Inner Circle!

2 Comments

  1. Nicole Brumenschenkel

    I bought your new fat flush book, will following your plan in it be enough to get rid of SIBO, or is there something in addition to that you recommend?

    Reply
    • Web Admin

      Hi Nicole – You will need to address with supplements in addition to diet. HCL connection is a big one, as well as other solutions mentioned in this blog.

      Reply

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