SIBO Made Simple

The podcast is back for a very special two-part bonus episode series dedicated to the subject of carbs and IBS. Which also just so happens to be the subject of my new cookbook! On the last episode, I explained the role of carbohydrates in our digestive process and their impact on metabolic health. We also discussed how our blood sugar is very much dependent on the health of our gut. In today's episode, I'm going to tell you how to put all this information into practice in your daily life. These are some of the best tips from my new book CARBIVORE about how to incorporate carbs into your diet without having them cause so much chaos in the body. If you've been missing carbs and want to figure out how to bring them back to your table or have been dealing with blood sugar instability, this episode is for you. Resources, mentions and notes! CARBIVORE: 130 Healthy Recipes to Stop Fearing Carbs and Embace the Comfort Foods You Love (3/24, Hachette) – my new book Submit your cookbook receipt to join Blood Sugar…

The podcast is back for a very special two-part bonus episode series dedicated to the subject of carbs and IBS. Which also just so happens to be the subject of my new cookbook! Since the SIBO Made Simple book came out, one big set of questions I keep getting asked from SIBO Amigos and members of the Hashi Posse, along with other followers on Instagram, was about how carbs can be part of a balanced diet with gut issues. Carbs are a huge source of stress and confusion. People get conflicting advice from doctors. Some say it's dangerous for women to be super low carb, others say you can't heal the gut without taking out all grains. And still others believe that removing all carbs and staying on the low FODMAP diet for too long is detrimental to the long-term health of your microbiome. I'm here to breakdown the research and settle the debate once and for all. In this episode, I'll be explaining the role of carbohydrates in our digestive process and their impact on metabolic health. Then we will talk about how…

Unless you're new around here, you might have noticed it's been a while since our last episode. In fact, you may have thought you'd never hear from me again. But NO! I'm popping back into your podcast feed with a very important year of SIBO in review: an update on all the things that have happened in the world of IBS research since we hung up our mics after the end of the 4th and final season of the podcast. I am so thrilled to have a return guest, the king of SIBO himself, Dr. Mark Pimentel. If you're been down the SIBO rabbit hole for a while now, Dr. Pimentel likely needs no introduction. He's the director of The Pimentel Lab at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, where he researches many pieces of the puzzle related to IBS, gastrointestinal motility and bacterial overgrowths. He's published dozens of studies on these subjects, and it's fair to say that much of the data-backed information we've covered throughout the 4 seasons of this podcast, has been discovered through Dr. Pimentel's work. He was last on the…

It's the LAST episode of the podcast folks. I know, I know. I'm really bummed too. But I'm closing it out with the second installment of my ASK A SIBO AMIGO solo episode, and we are talking all about diet and putting your new food rules into action in the kitchen. As the podcast comes to a close, I wanted to leave you SIBO Amigos with some of my hardest earned lessons from the trenches. The process of writing the SIBO Made Simple book, in many ways, was a process of distilling their wisdom into super practical takeaways and to-do's. So the entire manuscript is kind of one big extension of the SIBO Amigo Digest. But I still managed to simplify even further and come up with 10 rules of thumb for each step of the SIBO journey: investigation, treatment, diet and cooking. In today's episode we will talk about my biggest pieces of advice for the food piece. It's a short and sweet one with yours truly that will help you step away from the minutiae and focus on the big picture goals of healing. Lastly, I just want…

As the podcast comes to close, I wanted to leave you SIBO Amigos with some of my hardest earned lessons from the trenches. It has been an utter pleasure producing this podcast and getting to interview some of the most prolific practitioners in the SIBO space. The process of writing the book, in many ways, was a process of distilling their wisdom into super practical takeaways and to-do's. So the entire manuscript is kind of one big extension of the SIBO Amigo Digest. But I still managed to simplify even further and come up with 10 rules of thumb for each step of the SIBO journey: investigation, treatment, diet and cooking. In today's episode we will talk about my biggest pieces of advice for the first two legs, including how to tackle root causes, interpret SIBO tests, and how to deal with your mindset throughout treatment. It's a short and sweet one with yours truly that will help you step away from the minutiae and focus on the big picture goals of healing. Resources, mentions and notes: The SIBO Made…

We are ending the podcast where we began: with the incredible Dr. Allison Siebecker. In this wind-down episode, I wanted to cover some frequently asked questions around relapse, retreatment and prevention. So many people end up in cycles of SIBO that they feel they will never exit from. But there is so much to be hopefully about, even for chronic SIBO cases, and this conversation really shows why. Not only does Dr. Siebecker help troubleshoot some scenarios of stubborn SIBO, she gives an overview of an entire new toolkit of therapies that have shown incredible clinical results. None of these ideas involve aggressive herbals or antibiotics—in fact, very few require any pills at all. Even if you feel you know everything there is to know about SIBO, I assure you this episode will open your mind to a whole new world of healing. A quick taste of what we'll cover: How many courses of herbs and antibiotics are too many What are the signs that someone is reacting to a treatment itself or die-off How long do you wait…

This is part two of my SIBO success stories series, and the conversations with today's guests cover so many overlapping conditions. In case you missed the last episode: the majority of questions I get asked via email and Instagram are about my personal experience with healing SIBO, and even though I remind these sufferers again and again that every person's body is different, I understand how refreshing and important getting all the nitty gritty details can be. Which is why I decided to do not one, but TWO episodes dedicated to women who have overcome their IBS. My first guest is Bethany Ugarte who is the prolific instagrammer behind lilsipper, and author of the new book Digest This, a beautiful cookbook that features all the recipes she used to heal her gut. Bethany's story is extreme and ultra-inspiring. She was once so underweight it hurt to sit in a chair. We talk about how she got back on her feet, literally, and what it took to manage her yeast overgrowth and gastroparesis. My second guest in the…

Before I started my SIBO treatment way back in 2017, I did what I do best: contact every person I knew who had ever had SIBO and force them to endure a game of 101 questions, gut edition. These conversation were SO helpful though, perhaps even more helpful than the internet research rabbit hole I eventually fell down. The majority of questions I get asked via email and Instagram are about my personal experience with healing SIBO, and even though I remind these sufferers again and again that every person's body is different, I understand how refreshing and important getting all the nitty gritty details can be. Which is why not just today's episode, but the next TWO, are going to be dedicated to SIBO and IBS success stories. My guests today are two fantastic women in wellness: Davida Lederle, the extremely prolific content creator behind TheHealthyMaven.com, and equally prolific gut researcher Sarah Kay Hoffman of AGutsyGirl.com. Both women ironically join me from Minnesota. Both have made it to the other side…

Lyme is known in medical circles as the great imitator, meaning it can affect many different areas of the body and present as countless other conditions. Some challenges in testing have also made it both underdiagnosed and a controversial diagnosis. And yet the bacteria in various tick borne illness can be an underlying cause for many people who struggle with mysterious gut symptoms and chronic overlapping health problems. In today's conversation, I'm joined by Dr. Tom Messinger to parse out how these bacteria differ from one another, how they behave in the body, and why they can lead to other co-infections like SIBO, mold toxicity, and mast cell activation syndrome. A quick taste of what we'll cover: • The barriers to diagnosing lyme and the most thorough testing • Why tick borne illnesses become more severe over time • Strategies for treatment beyond antibiotics, but also how you can support your gut while taking conventional medications • Babesiosis, Alpha Gal syndrome, and other permutations of…

Endometriosis affects 10 percent of women, and yet, it often takes a woman 10 doctors visits in order to get diagnosed. An inflammatory condition by nature, as endo develops it can put a huge strain on the digestive system, leading to IBS symptoms and often SIBO. Joining me to discuss how to heal the gut while tackling endo through more invasive measures is Dr. Iris Kerin Orbuch, the Director of the Advanced Gynecologic Laparoscopy Center in Los Angeles, and author of Beating Endo: How to Reclaim Your Life From Endometriosis. Though the cornerstone of endometriosis treatment is surgical excision of Endometriosis, Dr. Kerin Orbuch understands the importance of incorporating integrative medicine and combining eastern & western medicine approaches in helping her patients heal and getting them on the road to recovery. A quick taste of what we'll cover: What is endometriosis and why is it so hard to diagnose Why someone develops endo Overlapping conditions from autoimmune diseases to gut disorder, and especially…

The vast majority of women (and many men) have gone through periods of disordered eating, whether that means crash dieting, emotional binging, calorie counting, over-exercising or a full-blown eating disorder like anorexia or bulimia. And yet, so rarely do physicians take into consideration their patients complicated relationship with food before prescribing a restrictive medical diet like those recommended as an adjunct to SIBO treatment. In today's episode, we are taking on the tricky topic of where IBS and eating disorders overlap. Joining me is registered dietician, certified intuitive eating counselor, and host of the uber-popular Food Psych podcast, Christy Harrison. We talk about the very real physical ramifications that disordered eating can have on the gut and why the binge-restrict cycle can be a risk factor for SIBO. More importantly, we discuss the mental pitfalls around certain food groups perpetuated by wellness culture and further amplified by various elimination diets. If you've felt unsure…

Have you ever connected the dots between an accident and your IBS? I would have never thought a minor brain or spinal injury would have a lasting impact on your gut health, but after today's conversation, I see how any disruption to the brain stem can interrupt the messages that funnel down to our digestive system. My guest, Kayla Sandberg-Lewis, offers a non-drug, non-invasive approach to maximizing brain function in her practice, Hive Mind Medicine, in Portland, OR. Kayle incorporates general biofeedback into her stress management practice and is board certified as a provider of neurofeedback. She is a firm believer that traumatic brain injury (TBI) is not an isolated event, but the beginning of a disease process. Even if you've never played football or had a horrible accident, there are plenty of less stereotypical, every day occurrences of brain injury that you may have never considered. If you ever fell off the monkey bars, headed a soccer ball, tripped and landed on your tailbone, got rear-ended in a…

People in general--and certainly people who listen to this podcast--have come to understand that we are completely colonized by bacteria. We have a grasp on where it lives, how it helps us. But viruses are much more abstract. Covid-19 has laid bare how little we still know about our interactions with viruses, what role our gut plays in the process, and whether there is a reciprocal relationship between plague and host. What is less mysterious for those who study the global virome is how a modern pandemic starts and what we can do to avoid them in the future. Joining me to discuss where we stand today in our understanding of viruses is Dr. Dennis Carroll, who heads the Global Virome Project, an international partnership that builds systems to detect future viral threats while they are still circulating in wildlife. He has over 30 years of leadership experience in global health and development, and until recently, served as the Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) Emerging…

The latest pandemic and the question of whether or not to send kids back to school for in-person instruction, has cast a sharp light on the subject of a child's immune system. In today's episode, we will take a deep dive into how our guts evolve in early childhood, why children are often better at fighting illness than their adult counterparts, and what happens when kids miss out on necessary exposure to the outside world. We will also discuss how to hone in on whether your child is suffering from SIBO, candida or another gut issue, how the diet and treatment options differ from adults, and the biggest lifestyle changes you can implement early for SIBO prevention. Joining me is Tasneem Bhatia MD, also known as Dr. Taz. She is board certified in integrative medicine and pediatrics, the founder and CEO of CentreSpringMD in Atlanta, and a former adjunct professor of integrative medicine at Emory University. She is also the author of the fantastic book Super Woman Rx and host of the podcast Super Woman Wellness.…

We talk a lot about intestines on this podcast, duh. But today's episode is all about the stomach. We've been taught over the years through plenty of TV ads for pep-themed pills that stomach acid is something that needs to be constantly beaten back in order to avoid reflux. In today's conversation, we investigate the other side of the coin: why a decrease in stomach acid across the global population is not only causing GERD and other symptoms, but bigger conditions like SIBO downstream. Joining me to discuss the stomach's role in the digestive process and what substances are at play is Dr. Daniel Nuzum, a doctor of naturopathic medicine in Meridian, Idaho. It is a masterclass on how alkaline and acidic environments take shape in various sections of the digestive tracks and what we need to do through diet and lifestyle to maintain proper PH. A quick taste of what we'll cover: The biggest contributors to low stomach acid Why acid reflux should really be called alkaline reflux How to compensate for low acid…

This conversation is going to give you so much to chew on. (Sorry, I couldn't help myself). We are talking about oral health today, and before you come at me asking what in the world this has to do with SIBO, I shall risk the spoiler by saying: a LOT. Not only is our mouth the first stop in the digestive process, whose contents eventually make their way to the small intestine, but oral bacteria has been linked to a host of seemingly random conditions like Alzheimer's and other diseases. This is thanks to a concept known as leaky mouth, where oral bacteria can translocate through our gums into the bloodstream. We will discuss this and so many other related issues like mouth breathing and jaw clenching, two issues that commonly overlap with IBS. My guest today, Dr. Adam Miller, has a diverse and impressive background. He is an integrative physician and dentist, based in Wisconsin. In addition to many projects and accolades, he is leading a clinical trial on the mouth-gut-brain connection. A quick taste of what…

There is so much that modern medicine has taught us about why gut imbalances like SIBO can take hold (just see episode 36 for some of the recent research). But we often overlook some of the ancient wisdom that has been making sense of these conditions for centuries. Since many of you have been requesting more episodes on general dysbiosis and gut health, I thought this would be the perfect time to discuss the Ayurvedic approach to digestive distress. Today, Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary is joining us to share the philosophy of Ayurveda and discuss some of the modalities like discovering your dosha, sound healing, oil pulling, eating according to our circadian cycle, and so many more. She is the author of The Prime and Sound Medicine and as a neuroscientist has participated in over twenty clinical research studies in the areas of multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ALS, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. This episode includes so much wisdom that could benefit anyone who has tried a million…

We are back for the 4th and final season of the SIBO Made Simple podcast—and man, what a different world we're returning to. I could have never predicted when I recorded my last episode on February 20th that all anyone would be thinking about in the health space was viruses. But here we are. To satisfy all your burning questions about Covid-19 and further educate ourselves on how the immune system interacts with our gut, I've got Dr. Susan Blum returning to the show to discuss all things antibodies. As someone with an autoimmune disease (and the host of this here podcast), I thought I was pretty hip to this line of immune defense, but all the recent discussion of viral antibodies has revealed that there are some major gaps in my knowledge on how these immunoglobulins are produced, what functions they serve, and why they sometimes hurt rather than help. Dr. Blum is the author of the iconic book The Immune System Recovery Plan and more recently, Healing Arthritis. She is also our featured guest on episode 8 of…

It's the season 3 finale Q&A episode! And I have a dream guest here with me to answer all your lingering SIBO queries: the king of SIBO himself, Dr. Mark Pimentel. If you've already been down the SIBO rabbit hole, Dr. Pimentel likely needs no introduction. He's the director of The Pimentel Lab at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, where he researches many pieces of the IBS puzzle, including gastrointestinal motility and bacterial overgrowths. He's published dozens of studies on these subjects, and it's fair to say that much of the data-backed information we've covered in the first 3 seasons of this podcast, has been discovered through Dr. Pimentel's work. There were a few recurring macro themes to your questions, so in today's episode, we're going to focus on Post-Infectious IBS, Methane overgrowth, and Hydrogen Sulfide SIBO. If you don't hear your question, don't stress—there's a big possibility I've covered it in a past episode already. Those who are new here might want to backtrack and listen to season 1, where…

Woody plants with lots of fiber can be a tough hurdle for someone with a damaged gut. And yet, it's that very same fiber that research indicates is the key to healing some of our biggest overarching gut problems. It can feel like a fine line to walk. Today Dr. Will Bulsiewicz is on the show to help us navigate that tightrope. In our conversation, Dr. B explains why fiber is the key to healing dysobiosis, leaky gut, and inflammation. He'll also talk about how SIBO Amigos who have been taught to fear fiber during treatment can slowly condition their guts to handle all manner of beneficial plant foods. In addition to being the author of the new book Fiber Fueled, Dr. B is also a highly decorated gastroenterologist with over 8 years of formal research training. Through his own experience losing 50 pounds after changing his diet, he began integrating a plant-based approach into his private practice and witnessed some amazing results with his patients. If you've been wary about how to integrate carbs and fiber…

When it comes to nutritional science, there are so many complicated variables to sort through in determining whether or not an ingredient is good for your health. One that doesn't get talked about enough? How it's cooked. In today's episode, we're heading into the kitchen with one of the most renowned chefs in the world, David Bouley. Over the last decade, chef Bouley has made it his mission to marry his classical French training with nutritional wisdom from ancient cultures. To do so, he's traveled the world to learn more about how Blue Zones—areas with the largest populations of centenarians—source, prepare and eat certain ingredients. During our conversation, chef Bouley shares how we can apply some of these learnings at home by stocking our cabinets, fridge, and spice rack with the highest quality items—a concept he refers to as building a living pantry. We talk about the power of fermentation, the role of certain prebiotic ingredients, and which often overlooked items can become digestive gold when…

Over the years, emerging research has illustrated how bacteria and fungi function in harmony in the body. When one population becomes deficient or overgrows, it has a profound effect on the delicate ecosystem of your gut. This is a concept we discuss in depth in episode 25, which is all about Candida and SIFO. In today's conversation, we are going to discuss one specific function of this relationship: the joint colonies that bacteria and fungi form to ensure their survival. This defensive strategy is called a biofilm, and the presence of these fortresses in the gut is one reason why antibiotic or antimicrobial treatments like those used to target SIBO can fail. Many practitioners will recommend taking a "biofilm buster" as a prong of your SIBO protocol. In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum, the author of the new book Total Gut Balance, to discuss how biofilms work, various strategies for their eradication, and how small tweaks to your diet can aid in the process. If you've been trying to treat…

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome only got an official diagnosis code a few years ago, and yet, it is a condition that explains so much about what goes wrong with the immune system and how that dysfunction can lead to chronic inflammation. If you loved last season's episode on histamine intolerance (and I know many you did – it was one of the most popular of the year!), today's interview is the perfect follow-up conversation. Joining me is Beth O'Hara, a Functional Naturopath specializing in complex chronic health conditions related to Mast Cell Activation and Histamine Intolerance. For those suffering from autoimmune disease or who feel worse immediately upon starting SIBO treatment, learning more about MCAS might be a big missing piece of the puzzle. A quick taste of what we'll cover: What mast cells' role is in the immune system and why they contribute to chronic inflammation How mast cells issues relate to other autoimmune conditions The connection to histamine intolerance The genetic predispositions that…

'Tis the season for "cleansing," everyone! You know, when the marketing machine revs up and starts selling you all manner of green elixirs and herbal supplements. In reality, the idea of detox is really all about supporting your elimination pathways, especially your liver. It doesn't require you to supplement with pills, juice cleanses or anything that promises to flush you in one end or out the other. Your liver is fully capable of healing itself. You just need to get out of its way. However, in our highly toxic world or after months of bad behavior, our system can require a little push in the right direction. In today's conversation, we talk all about how to give your detoxification pathways a boost, including giving a thumbs up or down to some trendy tactics like celery juice, infrared sauna, coffee enemas, castor oil packs, and many more. Joining me is functional medicine practitioner Dr. Jessica Peatross, who shares how she tests patients for high levels of toxicity like heavy metals, mold exposure, and…

Celiac disease is a big risk factor for SIBO, and yet, it's often an overlapping condition that many doctors miss. In today's conversation, I'm joined by Dr. Lisa Shaver to discuss the relationship between leaky gut, gluten, and the body's autoimmune response in someone with celiac disease—and how these mechanisms can lead to other gut disorders like SIBO. We also get into why gluten has become public enemy number 1 in today's modern food culture, whether non-celiac gluten sensitivity is a legit condition, and the dangers of someone going on a gluten-free diet without proper medical due diligence. Dr. Shaver is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist in Portland, Oregon whose private practice focuses on celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, GERD, SIBO, IBS and other digestive disorders. A quick taste of what we'll cover: The genetic components of celiac disease and what triggers its expression How leaky gut is impacted by the vagus nerve, emotional traumas or stressors, and the downwind impact…

Intestinal worms, like some types of bacteria, have gotten a bad rap in our hyper-sanitized modern life. But over the last fifty years, scientists have begun to question whether or not the vast eradication of these ancient friends has caused more long-term harm than good. In today's episode, we talk about the hygiene hypothesis and how some people today are trying to right the wrongs of their immune system by reintroducing certain worms into their bodies. Spoiler alert: I'm one of them! This practice is called helminth therapy, and no, it's not at all sanctioned by the FDA. However, many desperate chronically ill patients have resorted to trying it and the stories include some incredible transformations. One person who is at the forefront of helminth research and analyzing these self-administered helminth case studies is Dr. William Parker, who just so happens to be our guest for this conversation. Dr. Parker has studied biochemistry and immunology at Duke University since 1993. He is best known for the…

Environmental toxins are the giant purple elephant in the room. They are often the last thing to be addressed on someone's journey to healing a chronic condition, and yet, the inconvenient truth is that everyday exposures--in our homes, our drinking water, our personal care products, even out mattresses--are doing more harm than we often give them credit for. Before you start to panic: know that today's conversation is not meant to scare you. Rather, my guest Lara Adler, aka the Environmental Toxins Nerd, is here to help you detox the areas of your life that are within your control, and try to not stress about the many things we can't. Lara is not only an expert in the field, she also trains health practitioners on the unaddressed link between every day toxic chemicals like heavy metals, endocrine disruptors, and mold and chronic health problems so that their patients can get better without hours of researching on their own. For everyone out there—not just SIBO patients—this episode should be required…

We often talk about how SIBO is an issue of location, not type. Meaning, our main worry isn't whether our bacteria is "good or bad," per se. Just that it's in the wrong place, too far up our digestive tract. But in the last five years we've come to better understand how pathogenic bacteria is often the first player in a chain of events that eventually leads someone to develop SIBO. In today's conversation, I'm joined by Dr. Ilana Gurevich, a naturopathic physician and one of the foremost experts on the intersection of IBD and IBS, to discuss why food poisoning is one of the leading causes of SIBO, and how every day exposures to parasites in our drinking water, food, and environment can fuel a whole host of other GI disorders. For those looking to understand more about Post-Infectious IBS and the process of autoimmunity that can lead to SIBO, today's episode will clear up all your questions! A quick taste of what we'll cover: How post-infectious IBS develops in the body, often from a simple case of food…

Candida and fungi—just like bacteria—are a normal part of our gut's ecosystem. And yet, for many of the same reasons a person might develop SIBO, if your digestive tract isn't functioning properly, those organisms can overgrow and cause a host of problems. In today's episode, we get into the issue of how to parse out whether you're GI symptoms are being caused by a yeast or fungal overgrowth (SIFO), bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), or as is often the case BOTH. Joining me is Dr. Ami Kapadia, an integrative medicine practitioner at Kwan Yin Healing Arts Center, where she combines western and functional medicine diagnostics with traditional and complementary therapies to help patients reach their goals. In our conversation, we discuss the difference between local chronic yeast infections and when your body has an immune response to ordinary fungi inhabiting the digestive tract. We also talk about the best methods of treatment, how your diet should be adjusted to combat a yeast overgrowth, and how this dovetails…

We are BACK with season 3 of SIBO Made Simple! I'm tackling some of your most-requested topics right at the beginning of the season, including today's conversation, which is all about the skin-gut connection. Rashes, breakouts, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea—you name it, and I've been asked if it's a symptom of SIBO. Luckily, I was able to bring on the perfect person to talk about how what shows up outwardly on our face is connected to the internal motherboard. Dr. Amy Bader, a naturopathic physician and creator of SkinTē is here to explain her process of evaluating someone's skin and what it tells her about thyroid and adrenal health, gut integrity, liver function, and so many other underlying issues. A quick taste of what we'll cover: What skin complaints correlate to which larger bodily failures Why dermatologists get it wrong with Bandaid treatments How to connect the dots between hormone, skin and digestive health The unsung role of our liver in maintaining clear skin How SIBO, low stomach acid, and fungal…

We've covered a lot of ground in season 2 of SIBO Made Simple, and along the way we've received some amazing listener questions, many of which are related to the food piece of the puzzle. In today's episode, we're asking a nutritionist all of our diet-related digestion questions. To answer them, I have Kristy Regan, a Holistic Nutritionist who specializes in gastrointestinal disorders, and also author of the book, The SIBO Diet Plan If you don't hear your question, don't stress—there's a big possibility I'll be getting to it with a dedicated episode in season 3 when we return in the fall! A quick taste of what we'll cover: • How you determine if someone even needs a SIBO diet • Who is a restrictive diet not good for and what approach you take with these people • Why you may be more food sensitive now than before going low FODMAP • The best way to reintroduce foods • The best long-term changes we can make to prevent relapse • What to eat on days when you're having horrible distension and pain • Top tips for…

The elemental diet is the most impactful data-backed treatment for SIBO. And yet, it's often misused, misunderstood and generally met with last resort trepidation. Today on the podcast, I'm joined by Dr. Michael Ruscio to demystify this approach and talk more about how he uses it for SIBO treatment, IBD, celiac, and other cases involving a highly-damaged gut. For those who thought you could never last two weeks only drinking your calories (ahem, I get it), Dr. Ruscio provides plenty of flexibility and advice on using the elemental diet as a meal replacement supplement. You guys have been asking for this episode, so I'd love to hear what you think! A quick taste of what we'll cover: How the elemental diet works to treat SIBO and the healing potential for leaky gut What should you look for when picking a formula and what to avoid? Risks and side effects to watch out for Myth busting the Candida issue Die-off versus negative reactions to a treatment – how you can tell the difference between the two How to pair…

Back by popular demand is another powerful SIBO survivor story. In today's episode, Shivan Sarna is sharing her experience of uncovering her root causes, from Lyme disease to mold exposure, and how she became the patient expert she is today. Shivan is the founder of SIBO SOS, where she hosts monthly master classes to support others on their journey to understand, treat, and manage IBS, SIBO, and other digestive issues. Relying on her past as a yoga teacher and 20 years of experience hosting live TV, Shivan's superpower is asking the questions SIBO patients have and then making that information easily understood and actionable. For those of you who have been asking for a patients' perspective, more information on underlying causes, how to vet practitioners to build your SIBO medical team, and navigate a SIBO diet as a vegetarian, this episode is for you. A quick taste of what we'll cover: Mold and Lyme exposure and what that looks like as a root cause for SIBO What it's like to be a "canary" constantly…

A lot of integrative medicine these days blends practices from Western science and ancient cultures. But rarely do we get to fully understand the principles of the Eastern approach and how we can apply them to our healing journey. In today's episode, I have one of my personal practitioners, Dr. Heidi Lovie, discussing the tenets of Chinese Medicine, including modalities like acupuncture, herbs, moxabustion and gua sha, and what they teach us about thyroid and gut disorders. Heidi is a member of the HashiPosse herself, so we go deep on how acupuncture, manual therapy and dietary changes can make up the secret sauce for Hashimoto's healing. If you've be wanting to try acupuncture, or are curious why it works so well for chronic conditions like Hashimoto's and SIBO, this episode includes so much wisdom. A quick taste of what we'll cover: How Chinese Medicine teaches us to live in harmony with nature and what this means in our modern world What changes our bodies have undergone between 2019 BC and 2019 today Why…

CBD has become a big buzz word in the wellness world, as a salve for everything from anxiety to gut issues to period pain. But what is it and how does it actually work? In today's episode, I'm joined by Chloe Weber, a trained herbalist, acupuncturist and founder of Radical Roots, which combines the power of Chinese herbs with full spectrum hemp. Chloe got into the world of hemp because of her son Remy, who has been using various CBD formulas to ease a neurological condition. She's a wealth of knowledge about how the endocannabinoid system works, what deliveries best serve digestive disorders, and how to use both hemp and cannabis as part of your SIBO plant medicine cabinet. If you've been wondering whether hemp-based extracts are worth all the anti-inflammatory hype, this episode has so many incredible takeaways! A quick taste of what we'll cover: The difference between CBD and THC How to use CBD and THC to treat anxiety, insomnia, SIBO, neurological issues and epilepsy The best formulas and delivery methods…

Is it possible that the most potent medicine in your bathroom is what's getting flushed down the toilet every day? Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) – taking stool from a healthy person and using it to recolonize the colon of someone with a dysbiotic microbiome – has been one of the most exciting areas of medical research in the last five years. The simple power of poop has been found to be 92 percent effective in treating the opportunistic and antibiotic resistant bacteria C. difficile, with patients reporting dramatic recoveries within 12 hours. Though these "ick factor" therapies remain experimental, having not yet received full FDA backing, hundreds of trials are underway across the country to determine their future in treating IBD, SIBO autism, obesity and other inflammatory conditions. And plenty more people have taken matters into their own hands to try their luck with fecal transplants at home. Today on the podcast, we talk about all things stool transplants: how they work, who might benefit…

Research shows that so much of what sets us up for good gut health later in life happens during early childhood. And yet, it's often when we take our biggest missteps. In today's episode, we go beyond SIBO to talk about the rules of greater gut health, why our detachment from the earth is making sick, and how by simply getting dirtier we can correct some of the microbiome mistakes from our youth. I'm joined by Dr. Maya Shetreat, who is a pediatric neurologist, herbalist, urban farmer, and bestselling author of The Dirt Cure: Healthy Food, Healthy Gut, Happy Child. In our chat, we discuss what's happening in a developing gut and how some of the popular ills of childhood – like ear infections, fever, rashes, colic, hyperactivity – relate to food sensitivities and a damaged microbiome. More importantly, Dr. Maya gives us some concrete advice on natural alternatives to conventional over-the-counter drugs that might be damaging your kid's microbiome further. If you're someone who is still putting together all the…

SIBO breath testing has been the subject of some pushback in the wider medical community. Today's episode discusses some of the controversy around the effectiveness of breath testing, when it's worth doing, how to make sure your results are accurate, and what other tests might be better at getting to the bottom of your gut issues. Joining me is Dr. Patrick Fratellone, a functional cardiologist and herbalist who used to practice with the late Dr. Robert C. Atkins. He takes us through how he does his gut detective work as a functional medicine doctor, including what comprehensive tests on genetics, vitamin levels and intestinal permeability can tell you about your bigger gut picture. If you're someone who's been debating whether or not to get a breath test for SIBO, this episode might help you weigh that decision. A quick taste of what we'll cover: Whether doing a SIBO breath test is worth your time, money and energy What other tests are necessary to determine how your small intestine is functioning Why…

We've all experienced some telling signs that our gut is connected to our mood. Think butterflies in your stomach before a big presentation, that last minute urge to pee before going on stage. And if you're someone with SIBO or other digestive issues, you might be dealing with some of the other downwind symptoms that occur when we let our anxiety get out of control. On today's episode, I'm joined by Dr. Megan Riehl, a GI psychologist (yes, it's a thing) who specializes in tactical approaches to relieving visceral hypersensitivity, food fears, and anxiety related to our gut. We talk about how anxiety around your meals or symptoms can become a self-fulfilling IBS prophecy, and explore a really powerful data-backed approach: hypnosis for anxiety, IBS, and other digestive issues. If you're someone who's prone to both anxiety and gut issues, this conversation is a must-listen. Also, I have a BIG announcement about a secret project I've been working on all spring and ways for you to get involved. Don't miss it. A…

Have you found that fermented foods, bone broth and wine make you feel sick? Do you sometimes feel edgy, anxious or are unable to sleep? Does your nose stay stuffy year-round to boot? You might be dealing with a histamine intolerance. In today's episode, integrative nutritionist Heidi Turner explains how histamine works to support various systems in the body, and the inflammatory effect on those systems when we have too much of it. Heidi specializes in complex health issues including SIBO, autoimmune conditions, histamine intolerance, mast cell activation and food chemical sensitivities, and has counseled thousands of patients on ways to reduce inflammation through dietary change and manipulation of the microbiome. This chat took me by surprise: I learned so much about the connection between seasonal allergies, sleep, stress and SIBO. And we discuss a tangible path to reversing histamine dis-regulation in just a week. If you've been suffering from food sensitivities, even on a low FODMAP diet, this episode…

Want to know one of the most popular SIBO treatment recommendations on this podcast? Stress management and sleep. Yes, low FODMAP foods and anti-microbials are only one part of the picture. In reality, our on-going gut health has everything to do with the simplest, most common sense lifestyle choices. And today's episode is all about how to change your everyday habits to foster better rest and more of it. Jennifer Hanway is a holistic nutritionist with practices in Boston and New York. More importantly, she's a fellow gut warrior, who's seen first-hand how sleep can impact daily stress levels and digestive health. If you're looking for tangible ways to drastically improve your sleep, or just want to understand how our time under the covers effects intestinal motlity, today's episode is for you! A Quick Taste of What We'll Cover: Why sleep is so important for gut healing and why a damaged gut might hurt our ability to sleep How hormones play a part in our circadian rhythm, preparing us for or precluding us…

Welcome BACK to season 2 of SIBO Made Simple! I'm so excited for all that's to come, but perhaps the most pumped about today's episode, which is all about digesting for TWO. Believe it or not, one of the most frequent questions I got during season 2 was about either a) fertility and SIBO or b) treating SIBO while pregnant. Luckily, I was able to bring on the perfect person to guide you through the subject of fertility and child bearing, and give us a more in depth view of how our vaginal ecosystem relates to our gut microbiome. Dr. Aviva Romm is a midwife, herbalist, and Yale-trained MD, Board Certified in Family Medicine with Obstetrics, who has been bridging the best of traditional medicine with good science for over three decades. She is also the author of the fabulous book The Adrenal Thyroid Revolution. Even if you're child-free like myself, and not yet on the baby making band wagon, I think you'll find this episode fascinating because of the wide range of things we cover in regards to women's health. A…

We've covered a lot of ground on this season of SIBO Made Simple, and along the way we've received some amazing listener questions. In today's episode, past practitioners come back to answer them all. Dr. Allison Siebecker tackles some of the nuances of SIBO treatment, Dr. Jason Wysocki chimes in on structural and thyroid-related queries, Dr. Will Cole talks about experimental treatments like FMT, and Kate Scarlata clears up some diet confusion. If you don't hear your question, don't stress—there's a big possibility I'll be getting to it with a dedicated episode in season 2. Make sure to listen to the end of this week's podcast for a sneak peak of the topics we'll be covering later this spring when SIBO Made Simple comes back from hiatus! And finally, don't miss my recap of the SIBO Symposium in Portland, and a special announcement about a FREE program I'm offering April 1st: The Spring Gut Reset. A quick taste of what we'll cover: What health trends are not good for you if you have SIBO, from CBD to…

In today's season 1 bonus episode, you get a rare solo appearance from me, your SIBO Amigo Phoebe Lapine. Those who have read my book The Wellness Project know the first chapter of my story, from being diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis when I was 22, to spending the better part of my mid-twenties trying to get on board with the health hand I was dealt. In this episode, I talk about the many root causes that led to my autoimmune disease, and how some of those root causes later set the stage for SIBO. I'll also be answering listener questions on how I overcome health setbacks (including the 411 on my latest gut pot holes), what advice I would give someone recently diagnosed with Hashimoto's, and my biggest takeaways from the entire first season of SIBO Made Simple. If you're wondering the path I took to healing my SIBO and what the road forward looks like, give it a listen. A quick taste of what we'll cover: The gap I experienced between conventional medicine and functional doctors Why eating gluten-free…

For the season 1 finale, I wanted to get the perspective of someone who has stood in these SIBO shoes many times and found a silver (intestinal) lining. In today's episode, Rebecca Coomes is sharing her powerful patient story, from getting through cervical cancer, to managing endometriosis, to finding balance despite a chronic case of SIBO. Rebecca is a fellow podcaster (go listen to her show, The Healthy Gut!), cookbook author, and coach. She has dealt with more than her fair share of health issues, and has learned a lot in the process about what it takes to tackle chronic illness without it taking over your life. We talk a lot about mindset in this episode, learning to tune into your body, focusing on what matters most, and maintaining a generous spirit when everything feels like it's being taken away from you. For those of you who have been asking for a patients' perspective, more information on endometriosis, and living with chronic SIBO, this episode is for you. A quick taste of what we'll cover:…

One of the most frequent SIBO Made Simple listener questions I've received revolves around the timing of treatment and diet. Is it better to feed the bacteria while on herbal or conventional antimicrobials by eating normally, or starve them with a low carb approach? In today's episode, I'm joined by Dr. Nirala Jacobi, one of Australia's leading SIBO experts, and the founder of The SIBO Doctor, an online professional education platform. More importantly regarding today's topic, Dr. Jacobi has pioneered the SIBO Bi-Phasic Diet that has helped patients and practitioners better use the symptom reduction of diet and the killing power of herbal antimicrobials in tandem. For those trying to understand the role of diet in SIBO healing and treatment, this is a must listen. A quick taste of what we'll cover: The bi-phasic diet and how it came to be Why we should feed versus starve our bacteria and how to time this strategy with other treatments Why diet isn't a treatment in and of itself but a way to manage symptoms…

There are many autoimmune diseases that are considered risk factors for SIBO. And yet, many of the downstream effects of SIBO (like leaky gut) also put you at risk for developing an autoimmune disease. This week, I'm joined by Dr. Susan Blum for a primer on the immune system, how it functions within our gut's ecosystem, and why things can go awry and lead to the development of an autoimmune condition. Dr. Blum is the author of the iconic book The Immune System Recovery Plan and more recently, Healing Arthritis, which gets more into the specifics on how gut health and autoimmune conditions are linked. A quick taste of what we'll cover: How the immune system works within the ecosystem of your gut What causes your immune system to malfunction and trigger an autoimmune disease The relationship between autoimmune diseases and SIBO – which comes first? What root causes need to be alleviated to cure an autoimmune condition Why SIBO can cause local inflammation in the gut and also systemic inflammation throughout…

For those who have had surgical interventions for endometriosis, appendectomies, or another type of abdominal surgery, or who simply have had a car accident or injury that they've never fully recovered from: today's conversation is for you. We've talked about many root causes of SIBO in past episodes of this podcast, but today we are going to do a bodily deep dive into some of the structural issues that could be holding your body back from digesting properly. Even if you don't have SIBO but seem to be one of those people whose health problems all stem from the gut, types of bodywork like visceral manipulation and structural integration could be the piece of the puzzle that's missing in your long-term healing. To talk about these modalities and why they are so powerful is Dr. Jason Wysocki, a Naturopathic Physician and owner of 8 Hearts Health & Wellness in Portland, OR. Dr Wysocki has been involved in researching various natural interventions in the treatment of digestive disorders, depression, and…

There's a wealth of information about how prebiotics and probiotics can influence your gut microbiome for the better. And yet, even though SIBO is a type of gut imbalance, there's less awareness around how these tools work to eradicate unwanted bacteria and encourage the resurgence of beneficial populations. In this week's episode, we clear up some of the confusion and talk about how specific probiotics and prebiotics can be used in SIBO treatment, how taking these supplements in pill form differs from getting them through your diet, and what well-established thinking on the low FODMAP diet (which limits many prebiotic fibers) gets wrong when it comes to the health of your microbiome at large. To break it all down for us, I am joined by Jason Hawrelak, PhD, who is a research scientist, educator and clinician with more than 18 years of clinical experience. Dr Hawrelak did his PhD degrees in the areas of the gastrointestinal microbiota, irritable bowel syndrome, the causes of dysbiosis, and the clinical…

Intermittent fasting has become a quickly accelerating wellness trend. As with any fad, this has led to a lot of misinformation and unhealthy applications of the original concept in daily life. In this week's episode, we get to the bottom of how fasting and meal spacing can help your digestive system recover and repair. And a lot of it comes down to how these strategies allow the migrating motor complex to better do its job. To help us understand the strategies for making our MMC—the intestinal street sweeper—work smoothly, is double board-certified doctor and nutrition expert Dr. Amy Shah. Dr. Shah utilizes her specialized skill-set in Eastern and Western medicines to focus on hormones, allergies and gut health. In today's conversation, we'll talk about how we eat (not just what we eat) and how these tactics can help the body heal from the inside out. A quick taste of what we'll cover: The concept of intermittent fasting versus meal spacing How our cells' circadian clocks work Understanding autophagy…