SiboSpecialist.com - SIBO Help

Foods to Avoid with SIBO

Note: No matter what foods you are avoiding make sure you are taking a good probiotic enzyme blend with DDS-1 I recommend CanXida Restore by Canxida.com, 1 capsule a day will make sure you get the best results.

Knowing what foods to avoid with SIBO can be equally as challenging as learning what foods are acceptable for your body. Sugars and complex carbohydrates are the worst culprits, while prepackaged or incorrectly prepared foods can upset the digestive tract. The best means to handle SIBO are to make food from scratch, include a variety of nutrients–especially greens–and take the time to learn your body to see which foods have positive and negative effects in the gut.

People are more susceptible to SIBO if they have Crohns’s disease, Celiac disease, Diabetes (both I and II), Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and low stomach acid. Moderate alcohol use, oral birth control pills, bowel surgery, immunodeficient, multiple uses of antibiotics, and organ system dysfunction also put people at risk for SIBO. Depending on what factor(s) may have caused SIBO, the underlying dietary guidelines should be followed in conjunction with a SIBO diet. For example, those with IBS should avoid garlic and onion, even though garlic can help fight excessive bacteria. An overview of risk factors for SIBO was conducted by a team at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and published by Gastronterol Hepatol in 2007. World Journal of Gastroenterology published information collected on SIBO at Charles University in Praha in 2010. The authors here reiterate that therapy for SIBO, including diet, is complex and dependent on lifestyles and outside factors, and must be personalized.

The following list are guidelines for foods to generally avoid with SIBO.

Drinks

Water is the best beverage to have throughout the day, however some drinks will disrupt the digestive tract more than others. Alcohol, so long as it was not a precursor to SIBO, may be consumed in small amounts if it is: dry wine (under 2% RS), bourbon, gin, vodka, or whiskey/scotch. Some beverages to avoid include:

  • Soda (high in sugar)
  • Fruit Juice (high in sugar)
  • Alcohol (Except types listed above)
  • Premade tea (lightly brewed homemade tea is okay for some individuals)
  • Coffee and tea in moderation

Fruits and Vegetables

While small servings of fruits are acceptable, high-sugar and carb fruits should be avoided. Vegetables are important to provide nutrients to the body, however some vegetables contain fructans: a type of carbohydrate that is difficult to digest. Canned fruits and vegetables should be avoided, especially ones with added sugars. The following list are some produce items to cut back on or avoid, however the list is not extensive:

Fruits:

  • Apples
  • Mangoes
  • Peaches
  • Pears
  • Watermelon
  • Coconut
  • Dried fruit
  • Fruit juice

Vegetables:

  • Cruciferous (broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, bok choy…)
  • Raw Onions
  • Raw vegetables should be eaten in moderation

Meats, Poultry, and Dairy

Any processed meat should be avoided. These include:

  • Cold cuts
  • Lunch meat
  • Bologna
  • Hot dogs
  • Any meat from pigs (bacon, sausage, pork, ham)

Processed cheeses and most forms of dairy should also be avoided, including:

  • Ice Cream
  • Butter
  • Most cheese (feta, cream cheese, cottage cheese, any processed cheese such as Velveeta and American, packaged shredded cheese)
  • Milk

Sugars

All forms of sugars, except honey, should be avoided. This includes:

  • Table sugar (white and brown, powdered, granule, etc)
  • Added sugars (fructose, mannose, etc)
  • Agave
  • Stevia (may be okay for some individuals in moderate consumption)
  • Xylitol
  • Artificial sweeteners (Sucralose)
  • Other Sweeteners (Sorbitol, Mannitol)
  • Corn Syrup
  • Lactose

Grains and Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates and starches are important fuel for the body, however many forms will also fuel bacteria if they stay in the small intestine for too long. The following list are some suggestions of starches and carbs to avoid, however personal experimentation is needed to establish how the body reacts.

  • White Potatoes
  • Multi-grain
  • Refined grains
  • Wild Rice
  • White Rice
  • Tapioca starch and flour
  • Lentils
  • Peas
  • Beans (Limit intake)

Other Nutrients to Avoid

  • Cooking oils with additives, including all cooking sprays.
  • Light butters
  • Margarine
  • Soy, including tofu (soybean oil and soy lecithin may be okay)
  • Carageenan and Maltodextrin (processed from corn)