Food

Digestive Health 101: Can’t Ignore that Gut Feeling

25. SIBO Candida’s best friend Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a serious condition affecting the small intestine. It occurs when bacteria that normally grow in… Rina - September 4, 2020
GOOD BACTERIAL FLORA. Image via Shutterstock

25. SIBO Candida’s best friend

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a serious condition affecting the small intestine. It occurs when bacteria that normally grow in other parts of the gut start growing in the small intestine. That causes pain and diarrhea. It can have mild symptoms or full-blown malabsorption. Small intestine fungal overgrowth (SIFO) occurs when excessive amounts of fungus populate the small bowel. If SIBO is left untreated it can lead to other conditions such as IBS, leaky gut, obesity, acne, anemia, fatigue and an increase of symptoms in gut-brain disorders such as anxiety, depression, and autism.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth

It can also cause weight gain. SIBO can slow down metabolism and affect your insulin and leptin resistance, both of which help regulate hunger and satiety. The most common symptoms of SIBO include: Abdominal pain/discomfort. Bloating and abdominal distention. Diarrhea. Constipation (generally associated with methanogens). Gas and belching. In more severe cases, there may be weight loss and symptoms related to vitamin deficiencies.

A happy woman holds her stomach. Shutterstock

26. In summary

The stomach is the widest part of the digestive system. Your stomach not only digests food, but it also stores it. It can hold a bit more than a quart (1 liter) of food at once. The design of the stomach allows a person to eat a large meal that can be digested slowly over time. The stomach secretes acid and enzymes that digest food. Ridges of muscle tissue called rugae line the stomach. The stomach muscles contract periodically, churning food to enhance digestion. The pyloric sphincter is a muscular valve that opens to allow food to pass from the stomach to the small intestine.

Digestive system. Image via Shutterstock

The stomach has 3 main functions: temporary storage for food, which passes from the esophagus to the stomach where it is held for 2 hours or longer. Mixing and breakdown of food by contraction and relaxation of the muscle layers in the stomach. The digestion of food. It is part of your gut (gastrointestinal tract). A healthy gut contains healthy bacteria and immune cells that ward off infectious agents like bacteria, viruses, and fungi. A healthy gut also communicates with the brain through nerves and hormones, which helps maintain general health and well-being.

Where did we find this stuff? Here are our sources:

https://www.livescience.com/52026-colon-large-intestine.html

https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3046172/stomach-everything-you-need-know-about-vital-organ-you
https://www.livescience.com/52046-stomach-facts-functions-diseases.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4017034/

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