SIBO

Learn about Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth and discover what you can do about it.

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What is SIBO?

Small intestine bacterial overgrowth, or SIBO for short, occurs when bacteria travel from your large intestine (where they should be) to your small intestine (where they shouldn’t be).

Your small intestine has a very important job: digesting your food and making sure the nutrients get to the rest of your body. SIBO hinders its ability to do this, which affects both your digestive health and your health as a whole.

Studies also suggest that SIBO is the main cause of IBS. But don’t despair! If you test positive for SIBO, there are a few ways to address it.

What causes SIBO?

SIBO can occur for several reasons:

Insufficient stomach acid.

If you don’t have enough acid to kill the bacteria in your food, they can find their way into your small intestine.

Low levels of bile.

Studies show that insufficient levels of bile can lead to overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine.

Insufficient digestive enzymes.

Food that isn’t properly digested can provide fuel for the bad bacteria.

A compromised immune system.

If the immune system isn’t able to respond as it should (due to nutrient deficiencies or other stressors), bacteria are able to grow and multiply.

A faulty ileocecal valve.

This is the valve that sits between your small and large intestines. If it remains open when it shouldn’t, bacteria can migrate to the small intestine.

A faulty migrating motor complex.

This is the movement that pushes food through your digestive system. If food sits around for too long, bacteria can multiply.

Think you could have SIBO? Talk talk to our experts.

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3 natural remedies for SIBO

SIBO requires time and attention. To begin with, everyone can benefit from these three steps:

01

Chew your food.

Food that isn’t broken down properly puts stress on the digestive system, which can contribute to SIBO. In an ideal world, we’d all chew each mouthful 20 times. Try to make sure each mouthful is liquid before you swallow it.

Plate of food to be chewed slowly
02

Manage your stress.

Stress is a big factor in SIBO. Learn what makes you relax, and make it a non-negotiable part of your schedule every day.

Manage your stress
03

Take a herbal formulation.

These can help to reduce bacterial overgrowth. However, you’ll need to make changes to your diet too, such as reducing certain carbohydrates.

Take a herbal formulation

Associated symptoms of SIBO

Gallstones
Acne
Fibromyalgia
Use of antacids
Multiple antibiotics
Sulphur smelling gas
Milk intolerance
Weight loss
Chronic stress
Floating stools
Dry skin
Low iron levels
Greasy stools
Abdominal pain
Sticky stools
Food poisoning
Low B12 levels
Interstitial cystitis
Fructose intolerance
Food sensitivities
Bloating
Constipation
Diarrhoea
Brain fog

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