SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) has become a frequent diagnosis in connection with various digestive issues. If you are diagnosed with SIBO, you will likely be prescribed a course of antibiotics. However, after the antibiotic treatment, Streptococcus bacteria often continue to proliferate even further.

Antibiotics generally offer only short-term relief because SIBO is fundamentally a chronic issue involving Streptococcus. For many, this bacteria appears as early as childhood; it is incredibly stubborn, prone to mutation, and becomes resistant to antibiotics. Repeated antibiotic cycles can ultimately worsen the state of your microbiota and exacerbate digestive struggles.

It can be transmitted from parents at conception, meaning a baby may be born already carrying this bacterium. Others may pick it up in kindergarten, school, or elsewhere (poor kitchen hygiene, improperly cooked food, etc.). Streptococcus spreads easily from person to person, and there are many strains you can become infected with. It is also a persistent bacterium that can cause a variety of issues.

In medical circles, the focus is mainly on group A and group B streptococcus, although there are many more groups. Unfortunately, testing for streptococcus is not always reliable.

SIBO in the Body

Many experts suggest that SIBO exists only in the gut, especially in the small intestine. However, bacterial overgrowth and imbalance associated with SIBO can be present throughout the digestive tract—from the mouth to the rectum.

This means SIBO may exist in:

• the mouth
• the esophagus
• the stomach
• the duodenum
• the small intestine
• the large intestine
• the rectum

The Problem of Digestive Fire

Any health issue is directly connected to our digestive fire. If our digestive strength is weak, we create space for bacterial overgrowth, microbiome imbalance, and inflammation.

We are also unable to eliminate pathogenic organisms if we have issues with stomach acid. This is a very common problem today and opens the door to SIBO, as well as other conditions associated with streptococcus, such as:

• acne
• sinus issues
• urogenital problems
• pneumonia
• appendicitis
• tonsillitis
• scarlet fever
• erysipelas

Symptoms that may indicate weak digestive fire include:

• excessive gas
• burping
• bloating
• flatulence
• loose stools
• acid reflux
• gastrointestinal inflammation
• nutrient deficiencies (e.g., B12, iron)
• hair loss

Gastric Juices

When stomach acid is not balanced, various disease processes begin to develop. Weak hydrochloric acid (HCl) gradually becomes ineffective and affects all other digestive juices.

Low HCl production clearly indicates liver issues. When the liver is overloaded with fats or toxins, it cannot produce enough bile, and its quality decreases.

One of bile’s roles is to break down fats and prevent them from saturating the intestinal lining and becoming rancid. When fats turn rancid in the digestive tract—especially after consuming fat-rich foods (pork, lard, butter, nut butters, avocado, oils)—they begin to feed pathogens.

This can lead not only to SIBO but also to other gastrointestinal issues such as:

• irritable bowel syndrome – IBS
• Crohn’s disease
• ulcerative colitis
• H. pylori-related problems

When the liver is weakened, fatty, or overloaded with toxins, it produces insufficient bile. To protect the body, the liver sends chemical signals to the duodenum, which then travel to the stomach, indicating that there is too much fat and bile is losing its function.

This puts pressure on the stomach glands to overproduce hydrochloric acid and other gastric components, dispersing them beyond their usual range toward the entrance of the small intestine. The purpose is to reduce fat levels in the bloodstream and prevent the liver from becoming too toxic and the blood too thick—conditions that would reduce oxygen supply to the heart and glucose supply to the brain.

Over time, as this pattern repeats, HCl production declines. This means proteins will not properly separate from fats in the stomach and will instead move together into the small intestine.

A standard modern diet—rich in processed foods, animal products, animal proteins, sugars, and fats—contributes to this dysfunction. When we consume high amounts of fats (healthy or unhealthy), especially combined with proteins, and they are not properly separated, we move toward disease.

Candida and other microorganisms thrive on these “free meals.”

It is important to understand that even a single glass of wine can burden the liver. If we consume fats and proteins together with alcohol, their separation will only occur in the small intestine—this is where the SIBO story begins.

How to Strengthen Stomach Acid

• Betaine HCl
• Zinc or zinc-rich foods
• Probiotics
• Alcohol-free Swedish bitters or other bitter substances
• A small amount of fresh ginger juice or grated ginger with lemon juice, a pinch of salt, and a little water before meals
• Ginger with black pepper or cayenne after meals
• Small amounts of tea (ginger, cumin, fennel) during meals
• Use of spices (especially those suitable for teas)
• Drink water min. 30 minutes before meals and at least 1 hour after meals
• Avoid cold food and drinks
• Eat only when hungry and at appropriate times
• Avoid late-night eating
• Pay attention to food combinations
• Celery juice cleanse (500 ml on an empty stomach; wait 30–60 minutes before consuming anything else)
• Reduce stress and stay relaxed
• Support liver function (low-fat whole-food plant-based diet, curcumin, milk thistle, artichoke tincture, guduchi, triphala, schisandra, he shou wu)
• Learn emotional release and stress regulation

Fruit – A Healing Ally

Fruit has powerful cleansing properties. Its natural acids help destroy various bacteria, including streptococcus.

For those with SIBO, organic bananas are especially beneficial, as they help break down streptococcus.

Other Supportive Foods

Potent herbs that should regularly be included in the diet:

• rosemary
• thyme
• sage
• oregano
• parsley
• coriander

Supplements

A supportive protocol may include:

• Vitamin C (slow release, unless following the Coimbra protocol)
• Pau d’Arco
• Hibiscus and elderflower tea
• Olive leaf extract
• Zinc
• Vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin + adenosylcobalamin)
• Personalized probiotics and digestive enzymes
• Vitamins D and K
• Iron

Foods to Avoid

It is very important to avoid certain foods, especially:

• milk and dairy products
• gluten-containing grains and their products
• processed sugar
• processed foods
• chocolate

Many people also benefit from a low FODMAP diet, which involves being mindful of certain foods.

Foods to eliminate:

• fructans
• GOS (galacto-oligosaccharides)
• polyols
• lactose and casein
• in some cases, fructose (a hydrogen breath test can be helpful before starting the diet)

The Emotional Component

The issue is not only poor diet, food combinations, excessive alcohol, or environmental toxins. We often underestimate the impact of suppressed or unprocessed emotions.

Emotions such as:

• anger
• resentment
• fear
• worry
• sadness
• insecurity
• expectations
• judgment
• criticism

…can strongly influence organ function and microbiome health.

For this reason, it is essential to address imbalance on multiple levels.

If we struggle with communication, emotional expression, setting boundaries, or expressing our needs, it is time to take steps in that direction.

Self-healing is a process that occurs when we create the right conditions for it. Every experience can be a gateway to self-discovery. Illness or imbalance is simply a signal that somewhere we are not taking enough care of ourselves.

Next steps

Listen to your body’s signals, and seek help and support when needed on this journey.

With your decision to join my personalized mentoring, you receive my full support on your path to vibrant health. This is the start of a new adventure—a personalized, individual approach with a proven program that helps you understand why you have specific health challenges and, more importantly, how to resolve them.

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Thank you for taking care of yourself!