Happy Holistic Homemaker

Probiotics: Yes or No?

SIBO stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. It is a condition in which bacteria override the small intestine and is characterized by bloating, gas, abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea.

Do probiotics help SIBO? I guess that depends on who you ask. I tried a lot of probiotics at the onset of my symptoms and even past the first year that I struggled with it. The theory is to add the good bacteria to the gut to override all the bad bacteria. In his book Super Gut by William Davis, MD, he gives a description of SIBO with a probiotic remedy of homemade yogurt. I tried this for a few months but I did not find it successful.

There are a few probiotics that might be worth trying. These are the probiotics recommended by Dr. Davis.

1. L Reuteri tablet or L Reuteri powder for making yogurt.
2. Bacillus Coagulans
3. Lactobacillus Gasseri

So, What is Helpful?

Enzymes! Digestive Enzymes are wonderful, helpful proteins that aid in digesting our food. “Digestive enzymes play a key role in breaking down the food you eat. These proteins speed up chemical reactions that turn nutrients into substances that your digestive tract can absorb.” (Web MD) Taking digestive enzymes with your meals can greatly improve symptoms in people with SIBO. Be sure your enzymes do not contain FOS, GOS or inulin. I have used these formulas.

1. Swanson BioCor
2. Digestitol

Saccharomyces Boulardii. One more that I have found helpful is S. Boulardii. I only recommend taking this one for a month to restore gut flora. It is a yeast probiotic. Take as directed. Stop taking or reduce dose if symptoms worsen. I have used both of these formulas.

1. Saccharomyces Boulardii
2. Restore Flora PD

Why I Stopped Taking Probiotics.

Probiotics and prebiotics add more bacteria into the small intestine. In a person with SIBO, bacteria is the problem. Adding more bacteria the small intestine cannot get rid of, is compounding the problem. Prebiotics are especially bad for SIBO treatment and maintenance. Examples of prebiotics are FOS, GOS and inulin. Prebiotics are touted as being very gut healthy, however, not the case with SIBO. They make symptoms worse. Examples of prebiotic foods are: onion, garlic, leeks, apples, asparagus, barley, fermented foods like kimchi, kombucha and sauerkraut.

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Products I suggest are products that I have used and I have found their efficacy and quality to be good and effective.