Why does SIBO Occur?
Some of the causes of SIBO that we help to identify & correct are:
-
Use of heartburn medications
-
Use of antibiotics
-
Chronic constipation
-
Low stomach acid
-
Traveller’s diarrhea
-
Food poisoning
-
Poor eating habits – especially frequent grazing and snacking
Did You Know?
If you get food poisoning, you have a 1/10 chance of developing IBS and for women it’s a 1/5 chance!
While there is no single cause of SIBO, ultimately, it stems from a dysfunctional Migrating Motor Complex (MMC) in the small intestine. This often occurs after an episode of food poisoning, traveler’s diarrhea, or after taking certain medications. When working properly, the MMC uses smooth muscle contractions to push food waste and bacteria from the small intestine to the large intestine where it is properly processed.
These smooth muscle contractions usually occur every 3-4 hours in healthy individuals, ensuring that the small intestine doesn’t allow an environment for bacterial over-colonization. When these smooth muscles aren’t working effectively, bacteria can start to over-colonize the small intestine, where they produce hydrogen, methane, and/or hydrogen sulfide gas leading to the symptoms of SIBO.
How Do You Know if You Have SIBO?
If you suspect you have SIBO, a simple breath test can detect the gasses that are produced by the bacteria.
