8 Tips For Improving MMC function

Amy Hollenkamp3 Comments

I recently wrote an article about what activities inhibit MMC function and I wanted to build on that article by covering what activities will improve MMC function. Migrating motor complex deficiency is seen in 70% of patients who have SIBO. This deficiency in MMC activity creates an environment in the small intestines that is ripe for an overgrowth. High relapse rates in many SIBO patients can be a result of failing to address MMC deficiency. No amount of herbs or…

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Are probiotics for SIBO harmful or helpful? (an update)

Amy Hollenkamp2 Comments

Whether probiotics are helpful for SIBO is arguably the most debated subject in the SIBO world. Some practitioners say probiotics just add fuel to the fire while others say that probiotics are crucial to restoring balance in the GI tract and preventing SIBO relapse. This constant argument between the pro-probiotic camp and anti-probiotic camp made my head spin during my own SIBO journey. Initially, I remember being terrified of probiotics. I was not going to add fuel to the fire.…

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Why physical activity is crucial to beating SIBO?

Amy Hollenkamp0 Comments

There are so many factors to consider when you are treating your SIBO. From antimicrobial protocols to dietary restriction to vagus nerve exercises, it can be a lot to juggle. One factor that is often lost in the sauce is physical activity. Modern life with our desk jobs and Netflix binge sessions (guilty) can leave us sedentary for most of the day. When I was deep in the midst of my SIBO, I was always a little frightened of physical…

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Will cheating on your SIBO diet prevent you from healing?

Amy Hollenkamp5 Comments

When you have gut issues, dietary adjustments are often a pivotal part of healing and symptom management. The standard American diet is highly refined, inflammatory and low in fermentable fibers. These factors make the SAD disastrous on the gut. Shifting to an anti-inflammatory, whole foods, nutrient dense diet is a necessary step to repairing and rebuilding your gut. Many sufferers have to also avoid their triggers to help manage their symptoms and promote healing. Lots of SIBO sufferers avoid fermentable…

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Is Under-Eating Sabotaging your SIBO recovery?

Amy Hollenkamp1 Comment

During my SIBO journey, I failed to adequately nourish my body. The fear of feeding the SIBO caused me to unintentional under eat. When I transitioned to a lower carb whole foods diet, I also didn’t understand how much I needed to up my fat intake to meet my needs. I also wasn’t digesting and absorbing properly due to the gut inflammation and imbalance. The under-eating and the poor absorption resulted in uncontrollable weight loss. I felt weak and depleted.…

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7 Tips to Break Through Mental Roadblocks during SIBO Treatment

Amy Hollenkamp0 Comments

With SIBO, the focus of treatment is to remove the bacteria and fix the breakdowns in your gut function to prevent relapse. The healing process requires addressing these physical breakdowns, but a positive mindset is also an overlooked and crucial piece to this process. The ups and downs of the healing process can often do a number on your mental well being. My healing journey was quite bumpy and I often took one step forward only to take two steps…

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The connection between blood sugar instability and SIBO

Amy Hollenkamp2 Comments

When my SIBO was in full swing, I really struggled with blood sugar control. At one point, my doctor suspected that I may have type 1 diabetes because my blood sugar was swinging so high following meals. But, my fasting blood sugar remained in the optimal range. When your blood sugar is swinging back and forth, you and your gut will feel terrible! I always felt completely wiped out right after eating. My energy levels were completely unstable throughout the…

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The SIBO-hormone connection: how gut imbalance wreaks havoc on your hormonal health

Amy Hollenkamp3 Comments

When I was in the thick of my SIBO journey, my hormones were cray cray. My thyroid hormones were in the tank, my cortisol levels were through the roof and my period had been absent for over a year! This pattern of low thyroid hormones, high cortisol levels and low sex hormones is so common in my SIBO clients. The connection between hormonal health and gut health is indisputable. This leads to the question, does hormone dysfunction cause SIBO or…

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What inhibits migrating motor complex (MMC) activity?

Amy Hollenkamp5 Comments

Migrating motor complex deficiency is seen in 70% of patients who have SIBO, because it creates an environment in the small intestines that is ripe for an overgrowth. An MMC deficiency also contributes to the high relapse rates seen in SIBO patients. Unless the MMC deficiency is addressed, no amount of herbs or pharmaceutical antibiotics will keep the small intestines clear. So what exactly is the migrating motor complex? The MMC is a cyclical pattern of electromechanical activity that is…

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Why do I still have symptoms after treating my SIBO with antibiotics?

Amy Hollenkamp0 Comments

You just finished your herbal or pharmaceutical antibiotics and you are confused why you still have bloating, GI upset and irregular bowel movements. What now? I asked myself this same question following my 5 weeks on an herbal protocol. I discussed it with my practitioner at the time and he concluded that “if I still bloated, then I still had SIBO”. He advised me to jump on pharmaceutical antibiotics and “I would feel so much better”. With his advice, I…

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