SIBO stands for small intestine bacterial overgrowth. Many people with SIBO may be on a FODMAP diet or a low carbohydrate diet. Does FODMAP help to get rid of SIBO, or does it just manage the symptoms of SIBO?

Both FODMAP and low carbohydrate diets take the foods out of the diet that trigger the symptoms of SIBO, such as gas, bloating, and pain. When carbohydrates are reduced in the diet, it makes sense that these symptoms are also reduced. Symptoms improve because there are fewer hydrogen-producing bacteria. Constipation also improves because of a reduction in methane-producing bacteria.

However, taking these foods out of the diet for the long-term isn’t a great idea. We are potentially starving the beneficial bacteria that live further down the gut. Less good bacteria causes more problems for the digestive system. I’ve repeatedly seen low levels of lactobacillus and bifidobacterial on stool tests as a result of FODMAP or low carbohydrate diets.

People who have been on FODMAP or low-carbohydrate diets for several months or years, end up with very low levels of beneficial bacteria. Then they end up with fatigue, brain fog, deficiencies, and many other problems. They also can’t understand why they are getting these symptoms because they expected the FODMAP diet to make them feel better.

When it comes to treating SIBO with FODMAP, it’s crucial to bring an antimicrobial into the treatment plan. When the symptoms start getting better, even in the first few weeks of the FODMAP diet, add an antimicrobial right away. Adding an antimicrobial is critical because you want to kill the overgrown bacteria, not just starve them. You also don’t want to starve the beneficial bacteria. Allowing the beneficial bacteria to thrive will improve your immune function and overall health.

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My experience with thousands of patients with SIBO is that diets don’t work over the long-term unless they used in conjunction with a good antimicrobial, a good probiotic, and good digestive enzymes. This combination works very, very well. Diet alone is not enough to treat SIBO.

You can use a combination of antimicrobials such as oregano oil, garlic, grapeseed fruit extract. But this approach is expensive, cumbersome, and difficult to manage. The same is true for taking the antibiotic rifaximin. About half the people with SIBO who take rifaximin don’t get the result they expected.

Check out CanXida Remove and CanXida Restore. It’s a simple protocol that has worked very well for many people with SIBO. If you are dissatisfied with the effectiveness of rifaximin, CanXida products may be the answer. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30645678