Foods that Help SIBO

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or SIBO, is a condition where large amounts of bacteria normally seen in the colon are found in the small intestine. Symptoms may include abdominal bloating and pain, acid reflux, diarrhea, indigestion and excess flatulence.

There is a dietary approach for alleviating symptoms associated with SIBO; it involves eating easily digestible foods so that the nutrients are absorbed high up in the intestine away from the bacteria. It is thought that foods that are not well absorbed become a fuel source for the harmful bacteria at the end of the small intestine. This in turn, causes painful gas, discomfort and bloating.

Following the recommended diet can break the vicious cycle of SIBO by eliminating the growth of harmful bacteria.

Fresh and frozen beef, fish, eggs and poultry are recommended to consume, while breaded and processed meats should be avoided. Crackers, pasta, breads and cereals made with 100 percent whole grains are considered okay to eat. Dried fruit without added sugar, frozen fruit and fresh fruit are fine to consume, but canned fruit with sugar should not be eaten.

Most frozen and fresh vegetables are okay to eat, but potatoes, breaded vegetables and canned vegetables with sugar or sweeteners need to be eliminated from the diet. Olive, vegetable, canola, soy and peanut oils are fine cook or bake with, but cooking oils with additives, artificial butter and margarine need to be avoided.

Milk and ice cream should be avoided because they contain lactose and therefore cause fermentation in the small intestine. However, there are dairy foods such as cheddar cheese, Havarti, Parmesan and brie cheeses, butter, lactose-free milk, unsweetened almond milk and plain yogurt that do not cause any irritation in the small intestine, because they aren’t high in sugars like lactose.

When foods that allow bacteria to grow in the small intestine are cut from the diet, researchers think that the bacteria will restore to normal levels, and then the intestine can repair itself.

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