Overview

Causes of SIBO

FixBIOME OP Dr James Freeman profile photo

Causes of SIBO

Medically reviewed by:
Dr James Freeman

SIBO itself results from something not working quite right in the gut. If the gut were functioning in a healthy, happy way, SIBO would not occur.

However, once it has occurred, you MUST kill off the overgrowth before attempting to address the root cause. A dangerous and common myth in the SIBO community is you can ‘starve off’ SIBO bacteria once they have populated the small intestine. You can’t.

To help you understand what the root causes of your SIBO might be, we explore:

The science of the small intestine and some common root causes such as:

  • Low motility
  • Dysbiosis
  • Low stomach acids
  • Structural differences
  • Alcohol overuse

We also explore risk factors for the development of SIBO, of which there are many. We explore food poisoning as a root cause because it is surprisingly common, and people often fail to make the connection.

SIBO usually occurs after a considerable period of time after food poisoning happens. It’s not like you get food poisoning, and then a few days later, you have SIBO. Development can take weeks and sometimes months. That is because food poisoning can damage something called the migrating motor complex – and when this doesn’t work quite correctly, over time, too many bacteria can start to populate the small intestine.

Find out more>
Causes of SIBO - The science of the small intestine

The science of the small intestine and causes of SIBO

The small intestine is about 20 feet long and folds many times to fit inside the abdomen. The small intestine consists of three parts; the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum…

Read more>

SIBO and food poisoning as a secret root cause

Food poisoning is a significant root cause of SIBO, but people often don’t draw the line. That is because, in some people, it can cause long-term damage to the migrating motor complex…

Read more>

Causes of SIBO - SIBO and food poisoning

Latest blog posts

#

Previous

Can SIBO come back?

Can SIBO come back?

If you’re wondering if small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) can come back after treatment, you’re not alone. It’s a common concern among those who have experienced this condition.

read more
Top rated IBS apps

Top rated IBS apps

We have listed below top rated IBS related applications. These apps can help people with IBS better understand the available options and sort through their signs and symptoms.

read more
SIBO gaslighting

SIBO gaslighting

SIBO affects women at double the rate. Unfortunately, this means even more challenges in getting diagnosed and treated. Women are disproportionately medically gaslit.

read more
Periods and SIBO

Periods and SIBO

Periods and the gut? PSP… Lets talk Period, SIBO and Poo… If you are a woman and experience periods it is very likely even if you have the healthiest of guts, you experience some digestives changes. Loose poos, diarrhea and constipation are very common before and during your period.

read more
Why do healthy foods make me feel sick

Why do healthy foods make me feel sick

Can you eat white bread/a biscuit/a cookie/a croissant/lollies/highly processed food with no issues? When you eat “healthy” foods like fruit and vegetables, do you feel very sick and lethargic after?

read more
Patient experience: SIBO and weight loss

Patient experience: SIBO and weight loss

I had hydrogen SIBO, and I lost a lot of weight during that time for two reasons. One of them is far less talked about, and I think it needs to be. The first reason was 1) the type of SIBO I had extracted energy from the food I ate. And reason 2) was the disordered eating habits I developed due to the SIBO.

read more
Patient experience: SIBO and bloating

Patient experience: SIBO and bloating

Extreme bloating and gas, caused by undiagnosed SIBO – I struggled with SIBO for years. Like many, I had no idea. I was constantly told things like: “Bloating is normal”, “Maybe it’s just your period”…

read more
Patient experience: SIBO and weight gain in the midsection

Patient experience: SIBO and weight gain in the midsection

I was scared to take too many rounds of antibiotics as I think other antibiotics may have triggered my SIBO in the first place. That’s why I decided to take antibiotics for only two of my four rounds of treatment. Both treatments seemed to work equally as effectively, but everyone is different.

read more
Patient experience: SIBO and hair loss

Patient experience: SIBO and hair loss

After developing SIBO (which I was unaware I had at the time because I didn’t even know what it was) I started to notice my once long hair was thinning and getting shorter. At first, it was nothing drastic, and I’d hide it with styling and product, but over time the issue progressed (and so did my SIBO). My hair was fine, but I had lots of it.

read more
$

Next