The long and short of it? Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is trending because gut health has been trending. Over the past decade, people have learned that changing their diets improves their overall health. However, restrictive diets are difficult to maintain. Now, patients, who know they can feel better on a restrictive diet but want to enjoy more of the foods they love are seeking to uncover the root of the problem– which is often SIBO.

Gut-Friendly Foods, Beverages and Diets Went Mainstream

The rising focus on gut health in general has played a key role in SIBO’s growing popularity. With an increased awareness of how digestive health impacts overall well-being, the mainstream culture has embraced fermentable foods like yogurt, kefir, kimchi, and kombucha, as well as probiotics and gut-friendly diets. Popular diets like Paleo, Whole30, GAPS, Specific Carbohydrate Diet, and Atkins have created a patient-driven movement toward focusing more on diet and gastrointestinal health, and less on medications.

Trendy Restrictive Diets Kill SIBO Bacteria

One major reason SIBO is gaining attention is people are starting to notice new food aversions or significant improvement in their symptoms after adopting highly restrictive diets. Many individuals who experience weight loss on diets like Paleo or Whole30 do so because they are effectively “starving” the bad bacteria in their small intestines—specifically SIBO bacteria. Gluten and dairy-free diets, often considered trendy fads, are actually helping many people feel better because they eliminate key foods that “feed” the bacteria associated with SIBO. Interestingly, this perceived improvement in health might not be due to an actual gluten or dairy allergy, but rather the avoidance of foods that fuel the overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine.

The Common-Sense Interpretation 

If you find avoiding gluten and dairy improves your digestion, you might be dealing with SIBO. Or, if you experienced rapid weight loss during a low-carbohydrate or restrictive diet (like Paleo or Whole30), SIBO may be an issue for you. While these diets help reduce symptoms by depriving the bacteria of their food source, it’s a sign that bacterial overgrowth may be playing a role in your digestive issues.

Confirming SIBO

SIBO has been recognized in gastroenterology for many years, but recently, the condition has become more “mainstream” due to advancements in gut health understanding and lab testing. In the past, intestinal aspiration and culture were considered the most accurate way to diagnose SIBO. However, this invasive method is not cost-effective or convenient. It also carries some health risks. As a result, non-invasive tests have been developed, with breath testing now widely recognized as the standard.

As gut health continues to take center stage in health discussions, SIBO and breath testing will likely remain a focal point for those seeking to understand and improve their digestive health. If you think SIBO may be at the root of your health issues, we can help. Download the referral form to give your doctor or contact us to find a Neurovanna provider in your area.