Do you suffer from bloating and gas, nausea, fatigue, joint pain, skin issues, unruly carb cravings, mood swings and maybe even depression? Are you still searching for an answer and feel like you have reached a dead-end? If so, there is one more thing you may consider. You may be suffering from a GI condition that is happening to more and more individuals these days. It is called SIBO. The good news is that now there is an easy, at-home way to test for it.
What is SIBO?
SIBO stands for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth [1]. SIBO used to be considered rare because the small intestine is normally a “closed system” with relatively few bacteria. (unlike the colon). According to the SIBO Center for Digestive Health [2], a department of the National University of Medicine, roughly 20 percent of the American population and 40% of all gastrointestinal patients may now be suffering from SIBO, however. Many individuals who have Irritable Bowel Syndrome [3] (IBS) also have SIBO since the two conditions are linked.
SIBO occurs when bacteria that should be in the lower intestine makes its way to the small intestine. It can also occur when the bacteria that naturally occurs in the small intestine grows rampant. It can also occur by exposing oneself to unsanitary conditions [4] and drinking unfiltered water.
Why Do So Many People Have SIBO?
The most common way that a person may get SIBO, however, is through poor diet and lifestyle choices.
Eating a diet heavy in carbs, commercial meat, and dairy, processed foods and sugar puts a lot of strain on the digestive tract and can lead to Leaky Gut, IBS, and SIBO. Individuals with diabetes [5], fatty liver disease, or certain autoimmune conditions connected to chronic constipation [6] are also highly susceptible.
In addition, there is a fascinating new body of research that is connecting SIBO and other gut issues to stress and trauma by looking at how gut bacteria respond to stress [7] to affect the nervous system. This link is more proof of how healing emotional wounds [8] can lead to healing the physical body.
There are a lot of consequences of having SIBO, some of which I mentioned in the introduction above. But the most obvious (and unfortunate) is severe bloating that can lead to gas and belching. This is because excess bacteria and yeast in the upper GI produce either hydrogen or methane gas.
According to digestive health and autoimmune expert Dr. Amy Meyers [9], “Depending on which gas is most predominantly produced, you can develop different symptoms and respond better to different treatments. Hydrogen-dominant SIBO typically leads to diarrhea, whereas methane-dominant SIBO is usually associated with constipation.”
How to Tell If You Have SIBO
Getting tested for SIBO before you embark on steps to rectify it is a wise choice. This is because current natural protocols to turn it around rely on a fairly strict temporary diet called FODMAP. [10]
It used to be difficult to get a SIBO test done. Past testing procedures relied on going to a professional to complete a breath test that would check the levels of hydrogen and methane gas in your system.
The GREAT news is that now there is an easy and fairly inexpensive way to get a SIBO test done right at home! Kits are available from a variety of companies these days.
Life Extension has a simple at-home test kit [11] you can order for around $200. There is a glucose kit and a lactulose kit. The lactulose kit will provide a deeper penetration of the small intestine, so I would suggest that one.
SIBO and Methylation
A healthy gut really is the doorway to health in general and disease prevention. If you discover that you have SIBO and you are on a Healthy Breast Journey, it is very important to take proactive measures to heal it. This is because SIBO can also lead to other complications, including improper methylation in the body. The methylation process [12] is vital for liver detoxification and the proper expression of DNA.
Healthy methylation and a healthy gut are two vital processes for optimal health on your Healthy Breast journey [8]!
Dr. Veronique Desaulniers (“Dr V”) is the founder of Breast Cancer Conqueror.com and The 7 Essentials System®. This step-by-step guide empowers you with knowledge so you Never Have to Fear Breast Cancer Again! To watch a FREE webinar about the 7 steps for beating breast cancer naturally, Click Here [13]