You'll waste time doing literally anything in the body without working on the gut first. It is the grand multiplier. Before you go chasing symptoms, it helps to understand the factors that allow for SIBO in the first place, and therefore high endotoxin, and therefore high systemic inflammation.
New to this? Start with the pillar guide: How do you tell if you have SIBO.
What Actually Allows SIBO To Develop In The First Place?
Here are the factors that allow for SIBO, therefore high endotoxin, therefore high systemic inflammation and also the inability to drink OJ. Prevent endotoxin production, don't just bind endotoxin infinitely. Seriously this is the biggest thing that gets ignored or slept on, you only have high amounts of endotoxin producing bacteria because your gut allows for it.
So on this note what are the biggest levers we can pull without becoming neurotic about each strain of bacteria within our gut?
Is Low Stomach Acid A Sign Of SIBO?
Stomach acid is 99% of the job, nuetralises many pathogenic bacteria, literally required for bile flow and all in all is needed to keep the small intestine clean and prevent massive dumps of endotoxin. Any symptoms indicating low stomach acid or poor bile flow? I'd work on this first, bile usually regulates issues like this.
Yes betaine hcl for someone with low stomach acid is quite probably the biggest change you can make for your health in any area. Betaine with clients yes, but a sensitive stomach lining is a consideration and if this is the case then run healing compounds a week or two before introducing.
How Does Bile Flow Relate To SIBO?
Bile flow, forget taking a million and one antimicrobials bile will break biofilms, rupture bacterial cell membranes all as a secondary function whilst it digests any fat you eat. I really like bitters for this, but stomach acid is needed as a prerequisite.
What Role Does The Gut Lining Play In SIBO And Endotoxin?
Gut and Mucus lining. Okay let's say you have more endotoxin than normal, usually nothing to be too worried about, your gut lining and mucus lining break down endotoxin and nuetralise it and physically buffer it from your system.
A strong gut lining means endotoxin is a non issue, combined with reducing the bacterial overgrowths too. Your gut lining is also one of the most powerful antimicrobials your body has, secreting antimicrobial peptides which when combined with bile and stomach acid are more than sufficient.
Where Should You Actually Focus Instead Of Endless Supplements?
Instead of chasing a million and one supplements. Focus on the big three:
- Stomach acid — neutralises pathogens, keeps the small intestine clean, and is the prerequisite for bile.
- Bile flow — breaks biofilms and ruptures bacterial membranes as a secondary function while it digests fat.
- Gut lining — buffers and neutralises endotoxin, and secretes antimicrobial peptides of its own.
From there everything keeps itself regular, homeostasis applies to the gut too.
Don't fall down the rabbit hole of thinking the gut as a whole and your gut issues are complicated.
Does SIBO Affect Thyroid Function Too?
Thyroid is a bit chicken and the egg situation tho, did the thyroid cause gut issues or the gut inflammation suppress thyroid? For most people they can't really tell but to some degree working on the gut will always improve thyroid. Honestly this is something I can't say for sure, but thyroid affects motility and secretions leading to higher likelihood of an overgrowth, but inflammation from an overgrowth to begin with could also contribute to thyroid issues.
