My Journey with “SIBO” and the Natural Hygiene Diet
For years, I dealt with what doctors diagnosed ‘Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth’ (SIBO), but I eventually realized it wasn’t really about bacteria, it was fermentation happening in my gut. Even though I’d been eating a whole food plant-based diet and living a pretty holistic lifestyle since the early 2010s, I still had persistent digestive issues. The bloating, sulfuric gas, and discomfort felt like they’d never go away, and I started to wonder if this was just how things were going to be.
I tried everything: supplements, teas, digestive enzymes, probiotics.. A lot of my friends who were also diagnosed with ‘SIBO’ ended up taking antibiotics even after seeing naturopathic doctors. I was never ready to go that route, so I kept looking for more natural options. I even tried intermittent fasting, hoping it might help, but nothing gave me lasting relief.
Then in October 2024, I started incorporating more elements of the natural hygiene diet into my routine. I wasn’t super strict, but I added a lot more fruit and fresh salads throughout the day. Within just two weeks, my symptoms were completely gone.
The biggest shift for me was realizing that the bacteria weren’t the problem. They were just doing their job, breaking things waste. It was the fermentation itself that was causing all the discomfort. Once my digestion sped up and I started having more regular bowel movements, the fermentation process didn’t have a chance to build up, and all the bloating and gas disappeared.
I also realized I just had a sluggish digestive system. It wasn’t about bacteria overgrowing, it was more about waste moving too slowly. I wasn’t constipated exactly, but I’d sometimes go a day or two without a bowel movement. Now, with this new way of eating, everything’s more regular and balanced.
My digestion feels clear and consistent, and I haven’t dealt with the old symptoms since. It’s not something I think about much anymore which, after everything, is probably the biggest relief of all.