SIBO & SIFO Treatment
Deep within our digestive systems, there is a constant cycle of microbial activity that influences everything from nutrient absorption to mental health and immune function. When this system is in balance, everything flows smoothly and our systems are primed to function correctly. But, when this delicate balance is upset by an overgrowth of bacteria or fungi, a range of distressing and uncomfortable symptoms can emerge.
At Wellness Refresh, we are focused on comprehensive well-being, and optimizing your gut health is a primary consideration with our holistic support. Due to our modern diets and various environmental influences that can negatively impact our gut health, serious concerns like Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, fungal issues, and many other digestive problems are on the rise.
Fortunately, the root causes of many gut-related problems are directly linked to diet, genetics, and environmental factors that natural and sustainable herbal solutions can positively influence. In many cases, a comprehensive SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) or SIFO (Small Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth) treatment can often be achieved with a few adjustments to daily habits and the dietary plan.
By reducing negative lifestyle factors, fighting bacterial/fungal overgrowth with natural ingredients, and supplying the body with a better balance of digestive-friendly goodness, amazing health outcomes can flourish. Helping you find relief, improving your digestive health, and ultimately, uplifting your quality of life is the motivation behind every personalized SIBO and SIFO treatment we have to share at Wellness Refresh!
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
As the name indicates, SIBO occurs when bacteria within your small intestine exceed normal, healthy levels. This can be caused by a variety of factors, such as diet, IBS, surgery, disease, or intestinal blockages that disrupt the normal flow of your system. If food and other waste materials are trapped or slowed, bacteria flourish as the waste is broken down but not properly excreted.
When your system is overloaded with bacteria, there are several important reasons to take action as soon as possible. Your small intestine manages the breakdown and absorption of key proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Excessive bacteria can interrupt these cycles since bacteria both compete for nutrients and destroy compounds necessary for healthy digestive processes.
Furthermore, the overload of bacteria and disrupted flow can contribute to long-term damage to the intestinal lining. The sensitive mucous lining is the gateway to nutrient absorption, and a damaged system can lead to a host of related concerns caused by calcium, B-12, and fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies. As you can imagine, if your body is unable to access and utilize these essential vitamins, long-term and irreversible concerns such as osteoporosisulcerative colitis, and other problematic issues can develop.
Fortunately, the latest diagnostics make it easy to determine if your digestive concerns are caused by SIBO. Standard testing practices to diagnose SIBO include breath/gas testing. In addition to this useful testing process, helpful diagnostics like our genetic methylation testing can help you identify and address other underlying factors contributing to your gut-related concerns.
Small Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth
Much like SIBO, SIFO occurs when the fungal levels within our digestive tract exceed normal levels. While normal levels of healthy fungal activity support important processes such as digesting complex dietary compounds and supporting optimal immune function, overgrowth disturbs the harmony of microbial diversity. It can negatively impact our inflammatory and immune responses.
Normally, a healthy immune system and gut-friendly diet automatically balance the fungal levels. However, various dietary and environmental influences and a weakened immune system can interfere with our body’s ability to maintain normal fungal levels.
Because SIFO, SIBO, and many other digestive concerns share similar symptoms, additional testing is often required to narrow down the cause. To identify SIFO, common tests include a breath test, and/or blood testing to determine what is behind your disruptive symptoms. Other testing like stool samples can identify if fungal overgrowth in your large intestine is causing the disruption.
Common Symptoms of SIBO & SIFO
So, how do you know if you may be dealing with SIBO or SIFO? Evaluating your symptoms is the first step before seeking additional testing. Common symptoms caused by SIBO and SIFO include:
- Gas & Bloating
- Lower Abdominal Pain
- Decreased Appetite
- Frequent Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Fatigue & Brain Fog
- Unusual Skin Conditions
- Unexplained Weight Loss
- Nausea & Discomfort After Eating
Depending on the cause of your concerns and the severity of your case, it’s possible to experience multiple symptoms, a single problem, or a mix of intermittent issues after eating certain foods that upset your system. You may also notice a flare-up or reduction in your symptoms related to stress levels, medication adjustments, and other lifestyle changes.
If you experience any of these issues with persistence, it’s important to seek care sooner rather than later. Unhealthy bacterial and fungal levels within the digestive system can contribute to progressively worsening conditions related to malnutrition, reduced immune function, and damage to the intestinal lining. Restoring a healthy gut baseline is one of the best ways to support your overall health.
SIBO Treatment
If we determine that SIBO is the cause of your concerns, our functional medicine practitioner can connect you with a wealth of nutritional wisdom and medical-grade supplements to support your internal balance on a genetic level.
While developing a big-picture gut health plan with you, we delve into all aspects of nutrition, lifestyle, family history, and other relevant needs to connect you with a better action plan. Instead of masking the symptoms with temporary relief, we provide ongoing collaboration to guide you toward a resolution that realigns your system and gives you the knowledge you need to maintain the results long after our health coaching is complete.
Since there are a variety of SIBO causes, your SIBO treatment plan may look very different from another individual who has similar symptoms. Each person’s unique make up and body require personalized care. That’s why each patient will receive their own individualized care plan that is tailored to their biochemical needs.
SIFO Treatment
If fungus is the culprit, there are a range of restorative, anti-fungal steps that can be taken to resolve the source of your SIFO. Fortunately, many of the best SIFO treatments are all-natural dietary changes and targeted herbal supplements that can eliminate the harmful overload at the source!
For many, natural dietary changes are one of the easiest ways to combat the worst of their SIFO symptoms. Since fungus requires carbohydrates and sugars to flourish, making the short term switch to low-carb choices and avoiding refined sugars or following the low FODMAP diet can work wonders on the digestive system. Our holistic health coach may also help you integrate other beneficial additions such as anti-fungal herbs, lean proteins, healthy fats, and other smart whole-food choices that align with your specific genetics and dietary needs.
In harmony with smart dietary changes to starve the harmful fungal growth, other specific medical-grade supplements and natural antifungals inhibit the proliferation. Depending on the exact cause of your SIFO and other considerations related to your lifestyle and genetic history, our SIFO treatment plans may also include:
- Pre/probiotics to restore symbiotic gut balance: When microbial balance is restored, fungal microbes are kept in check. In addition to stabilizing microbial levels, certain probiotics even have antifungal properties for multi-pronged gut defense.
- Lifestyle adjustments for holistic enrichment: Sometimes, the best SIFO treatments start from the outside in. Believe it or not, stress, sleep, exercise, and other external influences are directly related to our gut health and our body’s ability to maintain a healthy equilibrium. While helping you find realistic gut-health solutions, we will also connect you with practical strategies to maintain a healthier balance from the outside in.
- Targeted herbs and medical-grade supplementation: Many of our clients benefit from specific herbal ingredients that are proven to reduce fungal overgrowth. For example, garlic and other natural herbal remedies such as oregano oil, can fight fungal overgrowth. We take natural healing a step further by providing lab-verified medical-grade supplements for purity, potency, and bioavailability.
Get Started Today!
Your gut health and the rest of you matters to us! Beyond the herbal solutions we can help you find, we hope to empower your wellness with transformative guidance that gives you the tools to maintain healthier results for a lifetime. We aren’t interested in short-term symptom masking; we are 100% committed to solving your problems from the source.
Our holistic approach to healing is both accessible and affordable. With our health coach on your team, we make it easy to fine-tune the plan and stay in touch with virtual appointments from the comfort of home. We also empower our clients with a wealth of online resources and a range of other helpful health services if you are hoping to improve your wellness beyond the digestive system.
To learn more about our informative diagnostic services and big-picture approach to herbal wellness, contact our passionate health coach at Wellness Refresh for a free consultation and no-obligation guidance today!
