Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth aka SIBO is uncomfortable to deal with and the recovery from it often requires a diet change. There is a lot of conflicting information out there on how to eat for SIBO, what foods are and are not allowed, is it a temporary thing or do you have to eat this way forever, etc. There are 3 things I want to share with you about eating for SIBO.
#1 It’s a Temporary Diet, Not a Lifestyle
What most people don’t know is that you should not be making a SIBO diet a lifestyle. It’s a temporary therapeutic diet to help repair the intestines from the damage SIBO caused. It should be started after doing the Elemental Diet and medications from your Doctor and after you retest with the results showing the SIBO has been resolved. You follow the diet for anywhere from 3-6 months depending on your symptoms, then you start reintroducing foods one at a time. This reintroduction usually takes about 3 months and then you are eating a “normal” healthy diet again.
#2 FODMAPs isn’t the only diet for SIBO
Personally, I loathe FODMAPs. Not only is it extremely limiting, but it’s also confusing AF. Only 1/4 of an avocado and 3 spears of asparagus. Might as well eat air. The other 2 diets for SIBO are the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and the GAPS diet. Both are much easier to follow and focus on healing the gut more so than FODMAPs.
#3 You need lots of healthy fats
This diet if done incorrectly will be extremely low calorie. This will lead to irritability, mood changes, and binging on foods that are only harming your healing process. The best source of calories is healthy fats. A diet high in healthy fats increases satiety after meals, allows you go to longer between meals, keeps you feeling full, fuels your immune system, is great for your skin, and healing to the intestines. Healthy fats include extra virgin olive oil, virgin coconut oil, nut milks and butters, and avocado. I recommend 2 servings per meal (approximately 220 calories of healthy fats at each meal).
If you have been diagnosed with SIBO and are looking for a plan to guide you through eating for recovery, I have a 6-month program for you with a reintroduction guide. It makes your life a million times easier, gives you a ton of variety, plus done for you shopping lists when life is crazy and you don’t have time to plan. Learn more here.
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I have not heard of SIBO but it sounds like you have some good thoughts on how to recover here.
That was such an informative read – thank you so much. I’m absolutely going to look into it further!
Wow what a difference! I’ve never heard of this diet before but it sounds great!
This sounds like a great meal plan and program for recovering from SIBO. It sounds like it’s important to follow the diet closely to heal properly.
I never knew about SIBO and it is an interesting choice of diet. Thanks for letting me learn about it!
I didn’ t know there’s such thing as SIBO, you don’t know how some of these things will hit the family so it will be good to be prepared.
Thats an interesting concept I came to know about. Good read and very informative too. I liked about the immunity power and intestinal healing power.
I’d never heard of SIBO before. So important to know your body and eat to ensure it works the best possible for you.
I have never heard of the SIBO diet. I need to lose belly fat. This was helpful.
This is a very informative post about SIBO which I would have not known existed if I have not read your post
SIBO can be very destructive to the digestive system and there is definitely a need for a restorative diet afterward to get back to proper health. This is great guide.