Struggling with Brain Fog? It Could Be SIBO

Brain Fog Frustration

Ever felt like you’re walking around in a mental haze, struggling to focus, forgetting simple things, or feeling like your brain is stuck in aeroplane mode?

If this sounds familiar, your gut health could be playing a bigger role than you think.

Specifically, SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) may be the hidden culprit!

What is SIBO?

SIBO occurs when bacteria that should primarily reside in the large intestine start growing in the small intestine, where they don’t belong. This overgrowth can lead to bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, and a range of systemic symptoms, including brain fog.

How SIBO Triggers Brain Fog:

1. Toxin Overload & Neuroinflammation

2. Nutrient Malabsorption

3. Blood Sugar Dysregulation

4. Neurotransmitter Disruption

How to Clear Brain Fog by Addressing SIBO

1.     Get Tested for SIBO

If you suspect SIBO, the gold standard test is a lactulose or glucose breath test, which measures hydrogen and methane levels produced by gut bacteria.

SIBO Breath Test Results Showing Elevated Hydrogen and Methane Gas

2.     Starve the Overgrowth (But Nourish Your Body!)

Reduce fermentable carbohydrates (FODMAPs) that feed the SIBO bacteria - this includes foods like onions, garlic, legumes, and certain fruits. NOTE: this diet is only for short term use and needs to be used under the guidance of a health practitioner.

3.     Support Gut Motility

Take prokinetics (like ginger or Iberogast) to encourage proper gut movement and prevent bacteria from building up in the small intestine.

4.     Don’t Overlook Stress – It’s Fueling Your SIBO

Chronic stress is one of the biggest triggers for SIBO and brain fog. High cortisol slows gut motility (how food moves through your digestive system), making it easier for bacteria to overgrow in the small intestine.

How to fix it? Support your nervous system with regulation tools such as breathwork, vagus nerve activation (like humming or gargling), and daily restorative movement to reset your gut-brain connection.

5.     Choose the Right Treatment

Targeted herbal antimicrobials will be needed to eliminate the bacterial overgrowth. Depending on which type of SIBO you have and the levels of overgrowth will affect which antimicrobials need to be used.

Overuse of Antimicrobials can also cause more harm then good (think of them as ‘natural antibiotics’), and SIBO relapse is common if not treated correctly, so working with a practitioner is key here!

6.     Rebuild & Maintain a Healthy Gut

Post-SIBO, work on gut repair and restoring a balanced microbiome with the right probiotics and prebiotics. Continuing to support a healthy nervous system and gut motility is also key here to prevent relapse.

The Bottom Line

If you’re dealing with persistent brain fog, bloating, and unpredictable digestion, don’t ignore the SIBO connection. Addressing gut health can be a game-changer for mental clarity, energy, and overall well-being! ✨

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