Are you part of the 1 billion people in the world who have IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)? How did you feel when you received your diagnosis? Were you hopeful that you would be given a treatment that would cure you of your symptoms? I know I was. However, no such thing exists. Why? Because IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion. Your doctor has ruled out all other diseases and you’re left with a bunch of symptoms without a known cause. All of the medications available for IBS are designed to help with the symptoms; they are not designed to cure you of the underlying cause. And in my case, the medicines didn’t help. Fortunately, that is all changing. Research is confirming that we may actually know the cause of IBS. To make the long story short, it appears that IBS may actually be SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). SIBO is an infection in the small intestine. It occurs when good bacteria from the large intestine migrate up to the small intestine and start to overgrow. This causes all of your typical IBS symptoms to occur:

• bloating and distention
• constipation/diarrhea/mixed or alternating
• abdominal pain and cramping
• acid reflux
• nausea
• burping
• flatulence

The primary complaint for people with SIBO is uncomfortable bloating and distention. Often times, when someone has SIBO and they’ve had it for an extensive period of time, diet changes alone won’t cure the problem. However, diet is certainly the first place to start.

SIBO Diet

There are a few diets that are helpful for managing SIBO and they are all versions of the Paleo Diet. Avoiding grains is highly recommended. Some examples are SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Diet), GAPS (Gut and Psychology Syndrome), and SCD with Low FODMAPs. You can learn more about these protocols here. In general, these diets restrict the consumption of grains and focus on meat, vegetables, fruit, and healthy fat. They also allow some low-lactose dairy in the form of hard cheeses, butter, and homemade yogurt. These diets are designed to limit the amount of fermentable starches that the overgrown bacteria can feed on. The goal is to starve these bacteria, so they will die. Grains are highly fermentable along with starchy vegetables, certain fruits, and many sugars.

SIBO Treatment

In addition to diet, there are 3 primary treatment options. A pharmaceutical or herbal protocol will most likely be required. The pharmaceutical route involves the use of antibiotics, but these medicines are relatively safe and don’t cause the typical side effects known to antibiotics. The primary antibiotic used to treat SIBO is Rifaximin. This medication is absorbed in the small intestine where it’s designed to work. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, and it does not cause yeast overgrowth. Neomycin is used in conjunction with Rifaximin for constipation-predominant SIBO. Neomycin is also absorbed in the small intestine where it’s intended to work. Herbal protocols are another option, but they may take longer to treat the infection. Some effective herbal protocols involve the use of allicin, oil of oregano, neem, and berberine. You will want to work with a practitioner to determine dosing as very high doses will be required. It is also important to use these individual agents as opposed to a broad spectrum herbal antibiotic. The third treatment option is the elemental diet. This is typically the last resort option as it is very difficult to do. The elemental diet consists of nutrients in powder form. These nutrients are predigested so they get absorbed before they can feed the bacteria. So, you are nourishing your body while starving the bacteria. You would drink this powder mixture for 2 weeks. No other food is allowed, and these drinks are supposed to taste pretty horrible. However, the elemental diet is very effective at eradicating SIBO. If you suspect you might have SIBO, you will want to take a Lactulose Breath Test. This is the gold standard for diagnosing SIBO. Lactulose is a prescription item, so the test must be ordered by a physician. I recommend that you implement dietary changes immediately, so you will start feeling better. Then, if necessary, add in a pharmaceutical or herbal protocol. You don’t have to live with these symptoms for the rest of your life. The key is finding and treating the root cause of the problem. If you have SIBO, it is treatable, and you can feel better. If you’d like to start healing your gut, then visit my website to get your FREE copy of 3 Simple Steps to Improve Your Digestion in 30 Days or Less.