Ask your self the following questions:
- Do you have symptoms of malabsorption such as bloating, gas, diarrhea, irregularity and abdominal pain?
- Do you feel very full or bloated after having starches or carbohydrates such as potatoes, pastas and breads?
- Are you unable to tolerate sweet foods such as pastries, cakes, cookies, and suffer from abdominal pain or bloating after consumption of these products?
- Have you had a bad reaction along with unexplained abdominal symptoms after taking friendly probiotic supplements?
- Have you been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
If you answered “yes” to the majority of the question above, you might be suffering from bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. Bacteria overgrowth of the small intestine is a serious digestive disorder that can inhibit nutrients absorption and lead to many health problems. Although widespread, it is frequently unsuspected in cases of chronic bowel problems and carbohydrate intolerance because its symptoms often mimic other disorders.
Often this condition is associated with reduced intestinal motility—a slower transit of foodstuffs through the bowels caused by fiber inadequacy or digestive imbalances causing painful constipation. It can also cause symptoms of bloating, gas, diarrhea and abdominal pain in patients, that if left undiagnosed, can gradually lead to systemic disorders such as altered intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”), anemia and weight loss, progressive bone thinning, poor digestive function, bacterial translocation (causing immune dysfunction and toxic overload and malnutrition).
Think you might be suffering from it but are not sure? There is a simple, safe and a non – invasive breath test that is available that helps to diagnose bacteria overgrowth of the small intestine. This test is also important for differentiating the cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), the most commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal disorders, affecting about 20% of the general population. Studies suggest that as many as 50% to 75% of patients with IBS have small intestinal bacterial over growth as demonstrated by a simple hydrogen breath testing.
Once bacteria overgrowth has been detected, our systematic naturopathic intervention strategies involving diet, digestive support, probiotics and antimicrobials (herbal) are used to treat the condition. Naturopathic treatments have been shown to be very effective for the treatment of bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine as well as irritable bowel syndrome.
Need more information, please call our Toronto naturopathic clinic to schedule an appointment to see our naturopathic doctor regarding this or any other digestive condition you may have.
By: Sushma Shah, Toronto Naturopath, at the Nature’s Intentions Naturopathic Clinic.