Inside: SIBO or Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth can make losing weight tougher. Here are a few tips to help you lose weight when you have SIBO.

Losing weight revolves around Strict Healthy Diet and Regular Exercise but still, some people find it hard to lose weight despite eating healthy the whole day long and working out to the core. The problem which they face doesn’t lie in their efforts but lies within their body. 

The amount of bacteria present in the gut determines the level of weight loss. There is a deep connection between gut bacteria and weight loss. Bacteria present in the gut play a vital role in processing nutrients from the food we eat and synthesizing vitamins. Also, it supports the immune system and regulates hormones.

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So, when this framework gets disturbed, it leads to consequences in Intestinal Tract too. Hence, gut bacteria starts affecting the way we store fat and balance blood glucose levels. So, a digestive imbalance is a major cause why people aren't able to lose weight despite a healthy diet and regular exercise. 

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, also known as SIBO, occurs due to an imbalance in gut bacteria. It disrupts how we process food, and also interferes with the metabolism of the body.  It also leads to constipation and digestive pain, bloating, fatigue, and joint pains.

Hence SIBO leads to weight loss resistance. Overgrowth of Bacteria in the Small Intestine process excess of hydrogen and methane. These gases lead to Constipation and slow transit time of food which in turn leads to weight gain. 

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How to Lose Weight with SIBO?

Once you know that the reason behind your obesity is SIBO, a few measures need to be taken so that you can lose weight easily in spite of having this condition. They are: 

Healthy Diet with a Wide Diversity

It’s always a good idea to eat diversified fruits and vegetables that have different nutrients. It will help your gut to develop good bacteria and create a balance. 

But unfortunately, some of these healthy foods might make your SIBO worse, as prebiotics, probiotic food, and even fiber cause the bloating worse for SIBO patients. So sometimes people have to be treated for SIBO first before they can incorporate these foods. 

Reducing Processed and Inflammatory Foods

Avoid the Processed and Inflammatory Foods that trigger the gut bacteria and widen the imbalance. Eliminate alcohol, sugar, gluten, dairy, eggs and soy from your diet as this is not the right diet that your gut looks for. 

Prebiotic Foods

Opt for foods that are rich in Prebiotics and include them in your daily diet as it promotes the growth of good bacteria. Some of the prebiotic foods are chicory root, Jerusalem artichoke, dandelion greens, garlic, leek, or onion. But as I mentioned, be careful with these foods, as they can worsen bloating. 

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Avoid Antibiotics

We need to understand that having bacteria in our gut is not bad, having the wrong quantity of bacteria in the gut is what exactly causes all the problems. So, we should not look forward to killing those bacteria as it will in turn kill the good bacteria too. We just need to strike a balance between the bacteria so that they appear in a required quantity and do not cause any issue to the gut health. So, try avoiding antibiotics as it will only wipe off the bacteria from your gut which won’t be a good solution. 

Probiotics

Now regular probiotics are not good for patients with SIBO, because they feed the bad bacteria and actually version the problem.  There are certain probiotics that are spore-based probiotics that are safe to be used in SIBO patients. So make sure you only use them.

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Keep Check on your Gut Health

There might be an additional reason for your weight loss resistance than just an imbalance in gut bacteria. So, try seeking the advice of your doctor if you are facing any other digestive problems as well. 

High-Quality Supplementation

Take the help of the supplements that can give you the key nutrients and heal your digestive system. It will help as the booster to your weight loss journey. These include zinc, vitamins A, C, and E (all-powerful antioxidants), fish oil which supplies essential fatty acids, and glutamine. Opting for High-Quality Multi-Vitamin can also help to bridge the gap of desired nutrients required in your body. 

Control your Stress Levels

Chronic stress can lead to plenty of problems in your body and one such issue is an imbalance of your gut bacteria. So, before taking on too much stress, think twice about your body. Try meditation/exercise and find anything that gives you joy and lowers your stress levels. 

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Herbal Remedies

Go for Herbal Remedies to maintain a balance of your Gut Bacteria. There are certain supplements like olive leaf, berberine, oregano leaf extract which help to rebalance your gut microbiome by killing some of the bad bacteria. They don’t have any side effects and gear up the phase of improving your gut health. 

Avoid Toxins

Detoxification is the best process to improve your gut health. Hence, try to go for organic products which are free from any chemicals or pesticides. Also, keep a check on your beauty and cleansing products too, as your skin absorbs them. Choosing organic and natural products is an escape. 

Summary

Following these steps will help you to keep your gut bacteria in a proper balance. Also, your healthier choices will maintain a balance in the long run so that your body responds to the weight loss efforts that you take!

Sometimes these efforts do not work. In such cases, instead of going on a very strict low-calorie diet, it is very important to understand why your body is not losing weight. In this respect working with a qualified functional medicine doctor Who specializes in patients with SIBO is important. 

I have helped several people improve their SIBO. I provide online functional medicine consultations to people all over the world. To get started with me you can use the link below to schedule a 15-minute free evaluation call. 

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