Taking SupplementsNatural and non-toxic therapies have been the core of my practice for over 15 years. I’ve used many of the top-of-the-line professional products out there. I’ve used them on myself, my family and friends and on my patients. Some have been wildly successful, others have been marginally useful, at best. But it wasn’t until I began working with the SIBO population that I began to see nutritional supplements actually make patients worse.

The SIBO patient’s entire digestive tract, from top to bottom, can become dysfunctional as a result of SIBO. And when you can’t digest certain foods, you also can’t digest certain supplements. So in order to heal the digestive system, it is imperative that you avoid all foods and supplements that can flare-up or worsen the system. Sometimes you learn the hard way.

So let’s break down the 5 main supplement categories I use to support SIBO sufferers and offer palliative care.

1. SIBO-Specific Digestive Enzymes

It’s obvious that the SIBO patient has compromised digestion. This can be the cause or the result of SIBO, but either way, the goal is to eliminate the bloating which cannot be done without proper a SIBO-Specific enzyme blend. What we found is that some enzymes on the market may actually do more harm than good because they literally digest the intestinal cells themselves. This specific enzyme formula was designed with that in mind to specifically help the SIBO intestine rather than harming it.

2. SIBO-Specific Probiotics

Did you know that certain strains of probiotics (bacterial flora that inhabit the gut) can actually harm the SIBO patient’s delicate intestinal balance? It is common for SIBO patients to tell me they feel worse, i.e. more bloating and worsening symptoms, when they take certain probiotics. Many times, they continue the regimen thinking that eventually they will somehow get better. Unfortunately, this just doesn’t happen. But research has guided us to formulate a SIBO specific probiotic blend that not only doesn’t exacerbate the SIBO, but actually begins to balance it out.

3. Brush Border and Intestinal Lining Repair

Many of the ingredients typically used to repair the small intestinal lining happen to aggravate the symptoms of SIBO. But this new blend works at healing, repairing and restoring without irritation. Without that repair, the condition may improve, but will continue to return repeatedly. Only upon restoration of the intestinal lining and brush border will the body be able to fully absorb and utilize the vital nutrients it is supposed to get from the food.

4. Remove Pathogens

In the SIBO patient, bacteria has overgrown in what should be a fairly sterile environment of the small intestine. Once that occurs, it becomes an ideal breeding ground for multiple unwanted pathogens such as yeasts and parasites. By creating a hostile environment where bugs don’t like to live, the terrain has a chance to restore itself so these bugs stop robbing your body of nutrients and fermenting the foods you eat. This is really a key step that is underachieved without proper and thorough supplementation.

5. Boost Proper Nutrition while Gently Cleansing the Liver and GI Tract

This formula includes the powerful combination of hypoallergenic nutrients, amino acids, and minerals while excluding carbohydrate sources that disrupt the gut balance. It contains no sugars or offensive carbohydrates, which makes it ideal for SIBO diets. It is also intended to support liver detoxication and chemical biotransformation with targeted nutritional cofactors in an easy to digest liquid form.

So, as you can see, this is a very SIBO-Specific product line created to eliminate any potential source of sensitivity. It was researched and developed for the SIBO population to provide a thorough system for support and adjunctive healing. All of these products work together synergistically to target every aspect of what the SIBO patient needs addressing. There is nothing else like them on the market.

These supplements are only sold through licensed health care practitioners and are available as a package including consultation with Dr Lisa in The Health Dimension’s ONLINE STORE.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These suggestions are not intended to replace medical care. They are to be considered nutritional support and an adjunct to medical care.

 

With nearly 20 years of clinical experience in the healing arts profession, Dr Lisa Giusiana uses the knowledge-base she has acquired from her degrees as a Doctor of Chiropractic, Certified Traditional Naturopath and Holistic Health Practitioner to share what she knows and help others THRIVE and Live Fully Alive.

14 Comments on SIBO Specific Supplements

  1. Irina
    April 7, 2016 at 9:51 am (9 years ago)

    Is kombucha ok to incorporate into this diet?

    • Dr Lisa Giusiana
      April 8, 2016 at 12:36 am (9 years ago)

      Hi. . .I would not incorporate kombucha into any SIBO protocol, at least initially. It tends to aggravate the small bowel bacteria.

  2. Laura
    April 26, 2016 at 1:44 pm (9 years ago)

    Dear Dr. Giusiana,

    Can I ask the name of the probiotic blend, that is good for SIBO patients?

    Thank you! I love your website!

    • Dr Lisa Giusiana
      April 27, 2016 at 4:36 am (9 years ago)

      You’re so thoughtful. Thank you! I actually created this site before I knew SIBO was so prevalent. I wanted people to have some information and hope. So with the probiotics, I use a few. One that doesn’t tend to cause issues with SIBO patients is UltraFlora Intensive Care. There are others but they requiring working with health practitioners.

      • Laura
        April 27, 2016 at 7:36 pm (9 years ago)

        Hope is defenitely the word that I thought, when I was reading your articles about SIBO. So thank you so much! I wanted to ask you the name of those other probitics also, because I’m going to visit functional medicine doctor in my home town, and I would want ask if she could find some of those probiotics. Thanks again! 🙂

        • Dr Lisa Giusiana
          April 29, 2016 at 3:21 am (9 years ago)

          If you can find someone who really knows how to work with MegaSpore Biotic, I’d recommend that. But it is very different than any of the over-the-counter products. It’s quite powerful and unique, so you need to work with a knowledgable practitioner to guide you.

  3. Frank
    October 14, 2016 at 12:35 am (8 years ago)

    Hi Dr,

    What’s your opinion on soil based organisms? Some practitioners are against it because these strains are not “native” to our stomach?

    Secondly, if one has a negative reaction to a probiotic (bloating or flu-like symptoms) is that something that one with SIBO must “muscle through” or “tough out”, or try it with smaller doses, or is that something to avoid completely (and maybe reintroduce later when the time is right)?

    Thanks

    • Dr Lisa Giusiana
      October 21, 2016 at 1:08 am (8 years ago)

      Great questions, Frank. At this point, I am pretty much only using and recommending MegaSpore Biotic. This has been a game changer in my practice and in the lives of myself, my family and my patients. If I am correct on this topic, the species in MegaSpore are found in soil and are species we should be exposed to on a regular basis. BUT. . .they are also species that are found in the gut of almost every animal on the planet. I call them the shot-callers. They tell the other species what to do whether that be repopulate or depopulate in all areas of the digestive tract. Now, this process of rearranging populations throughout the entire digestive tract can be uncomfortable. The key is microdosing. I start people off at very low dosages and increase up gradually over time. There are exceptions, but that is the general rule. So if you go slow enough, you don’t feel it as much.

  4. Kris
    July 13, 2017 at 11:02 pm (7 years ago)

    Hello Dr.

    I’m wondering what SIBO specific digestive enzyme blend you use.

    Thank you,
    Kris

    • Dr Lisa Giusiana
      September 13, 2017 at 8:06 pm (7 years ago)

      I really like EnzymixPro by Apex Energetics.

  5. Hope
    August 30, 2017 at 11:10 am (7 years ago)

    What if even a micro dose of mega spore causes cramping and diarrhea?

    • Dr Lisa Giusiana
      September 13, 2017 at 8:04 pm (7 years ago)

      That’s a good indication that it’s both working and that you need it. I usually tell my patients to go extremely slowly, often skipping 2 or 3 days between doses if reactions are significant. Also I always recommend taking MegaSpore immediately after or up to 15 minutes after eating a diverse meal.

  6. Robinia
    July 27, 2018 at 12:39 am (6 years ago)

    Hello,

    I am in Southern California. I am working with a Naturopathic Doctor. She advised me to take a digestive enzyme before meals. I am using Digest Gold by Jarrow. Is that good?

    • Dr Lisa Giusiana
      August 7, 2018 at 3:49 am (6 years ago)

      Nice! Enzymes can be helpful. I don’t use that brand so I can’t comment. Enzymes are especially important during the healing phase after you get rid of the SIBO.