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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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 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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5 Tips to Survive the Holidays with SIBO

Amy Hollenkamp0 Comments

I feel like I should have written this post before Thanksgiving, but better late than never. The holidays can be such a stressful and isolating time when you are in the midst of treating your SIBO. I remember when my symptoms were at their worst, holidays were a real battle. Not only did I have to give up all my favorite holiday treats, I had to answer the never ending stream of comments and questions fired at me by family…

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Why you shouldn’t ignore weight loss during SIBO treatment?

Amy Hollenkamp17 Comments

During my SIBO journey, managing my weight was a monumental task. I had a very rapid and scary weight loss of about 25 pounds in a 4-month period. And I was at a healthy weight before the loss so I looked and felt quite emaciated when I reached my lowest weight. What was even scarier than my severe weight loss was how others perceived my weight loss. There were 3 main reactions that were all detrimental to my healing journey.…

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Is your SIBO diet too restrictive? Or not restrictive enough?

Amy Hollenkamp15 Comments

There was nothing that made me want to pull my own hair out more than trying to decide on what diet to follow during SIBO treatment. It seemed like many of the popular SIBO diets contradicted each other. I latched on to the popular notion that the more I could starve the bacteria the faster I would beat the SIBO. So, I religiously followed a low carb SCD/FODMAP combo for 4 months. It seemed like my whole life revolved around avoiding…

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Is the pursuit of diet perfection making you sicker?

Amy Hollenkamp22 Comments

I remember feeling so overwhelmed when my functional medicine practitioner emailed me this infamous infographic of the SIBO specific diet. The dreaded columns of “yes” and “no” foods still haunt my dreams. But, I was desperate to feel better….to feel like myself again. My functional medicine practitioner was adamant that starving the bacteria of fermentable fibers was not an option, but a necessity. I felt as though if I didn’t stick to this list 100% I was going to fail.…

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Why Severely Restricting Carbohydrates on a SIBO Diet Can Be Harmful and What To Do About It

Amy Hollenkamp10 Comments

This is a guest post written by Josh from sibosurvivor.com. I’m excited to share some of his experience with restrictive diets on my blog. Happy reading! Have you ever gotten so frustrated about eating because your digestive symptoms just won’t ease up? Yes, I’ve been there. I feel like everyone who lives with IBS-SIBO or any other digestive disease has low points where they are desperate enough to go to extreme measures. My name is Josh and I live with…

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