SIBO
Free 30-minute First Step Conversation with Russell Mariani
The purpose of this First Step Conversation is to give you the opportunity to describe your current symptoms and condition and any relevant health/medical history to Russell. He will then explain his approach to addressing and resolving your health challenge(s). You will leave this session more hopeful and more confident about solutions!
What is SIBO?
SIBO is the acronym for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. It is essentially the same condition that I have been referring to for years as Intestinal Dysbiosis. Intestinal Dysbiosis means that there is an overgrowth of pathological organisms (including bacteria) throughout the entire GI tract. SIBO refers to a condition where the predominance of the overgrowth of pathological organisms (including bacteria) are in the small intestine.
Like all other chronic digestive disorders, SIBO is completely correctable and easily prevented from future occurrences. If and only if you eliminate the root causes and if and only if you become more proactive in your own self-care.
SIBO is a condition of the Small Intestine
SIBO Causes
The most common cause of SIBO is a recent round of antibiotic therapy. Antibiotics alter the balance between healthy and pathological organisms in the gut. And, as with all other digestive disorders, the root causes of SIBO consist of one or more insulting habits and influences over time in seven key areas: mindfulness, hydration, micronutrient deficiencies, macronutrient imbalances, intestinal dysbiosis, oxidative stress and redox signaling imbalances and deficiencies. A list of contributing causes, all habits and influences in our diet and lifestyle include:
poor diet in general
too many processed foods, not enough whole foods
chronic unintentional dehydration
broad spectrum micronutrient deficiencies
an overgrowth of bad bacteria and other pathological organisms (dysbiosis)
eating too many acid forming foods
eating too fast
not chewing enough
eating too many cold foods
drinking cold or iced beverages
too much negative stress
SIBO Symptoms
The most common symptoms of SIBO are gas, bloating, cramping, abdominal pain, irregular bowel movements, sometimes loose bowel movements, sometimes sluggish or constipated bowel movements, weight loss or weight gain, inability to focus or concentrate, fatigue, lethargy, anxiety, depression and generalized weakness throughout the body. Other symptoms include:
Fatigue
weight loss
weight gain
loss of appetite
loss of nutrients (mal-absorption of nutrients)
sinus congestion
lung congestion
skin problems like psoriasis and eczema and rosacea
skin lesions
headache
joint pain
mood swings
anxiety
depression
growth failure (especially in children)
anemia
bad breath
weak bones (osteopenia, osteoporosis)
irregular bowel movements
SIBO Remedies
The remedies for SIBO include making changes in all seven of the root cause areas but no progress will be made until the condition of Intestinal Dysbiosis is effectively addressed and resolved.
The remedies for SIBO begin with your willingness to pay attention to and become more mindful of your entire digestive system. SIBO is totally preventable and the remedies are completely within your control by making changes in your diet and lifestyle. Most likely you will need to pay attention to and make corrections in all seven root cause areas to be effective.
You will need to get properly hydrated and stay properly hydrated. You will need to slow down at meal times and learn to chew your food completely before swallowing. You will need to address micronutrient deficiencies. You will need to eliminate junk foods. You will need to minimize processed foods and learn to integrate more fiber-rich whole food recipes. You will need to address intestinal dysbiosis and learn about the importance of periodic colon cleansing. You will need to understand the importance of specific organic quality whole food supplements including superfoods, digestive enzymes, probiotics and antioxidants. And most importantly you will need to learn how to manage your emotions and all the other stress factors in your life more effectively.
Like all other digestive disorders, SIBO is completely correctable and easily prevented from future occurrences. If and only if you eliminate the root causes and if and only if you become more proactive in your own self-care.
My book, Principle Eating: The No Diet Way to Complete Health and video course The Course in Functional Nutrition will teach you how to do all this. If you want specific step by step guidance and detailed personalized instructions contact me directly through our website and sign up for a free 30 minute First Step Conversation and we can explore the possibility of working together one on one.
Updated in January, 2024