By now, most people have probably heard about the benefits of consuming prebiotic-rich foods such as onions, garlic and asparagus. These foods help nourish the good bacteria in the large intestine. However, some individuals experience extreme GI discomfort when consuming these healthy foods. In some cases, this intolerance is linked to Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).

SIBO is an imbalance of bacteria in the small intestine. Symptoms can include bloating, gas, burping, constipation, diarrhea, weight gain or loss, food sensitivities, nausea, fatigue, low iron, malabsorption of nutrients or even skin issues. These conditions can worsen when consuming prebiotic-rich foods. Some treatment options include going on a low FODMAP diet (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols) for a short period while eradicating SIBO, healing the gut and then strategically reintroducing higher FODMAP foods. Many foods that are higher in FODMAPs are also rich in prebiotics.

It’s important to test for SIBO if someone suspects that they have it. SIBO can’t be diagnosed through a stool test, which is frequently used when assessing commensal, opportunistic and pathogenic bacteria in the large intestine. A three-hour lactulose breath test tends to be the most accurate. Treatment options include conventional antibiotics, herbal anti-microbials or the elemental diet. People often have to go on multiple rounds of treatment and the relapse rate of SIBO is high.

Understanding the root cause of SIBO is essential in order to heal. If it’s not addressed, then eradicating SIBO will become difficult or treatments may have little to no impact. Common root causes of SIBO include H.Pylori, mold exposure, food poisoning and concussions/TBI. Testing for mold and doing a stool test (GI MAP) alongside a SIBO breath test is extremely helpful.

When a person is reacting to healthy, prebiotic-rich foods such as onions, garlic or asparagus, this is an indication that there may be imbalanced bacteria in the small intestine. Getting more information by doing a SIBO breath test is an important step towards evaluating gut health and digestion.