What You Need to Know About Microbial Overgrowth

Every healthy human carries trillions of bacteria in their body – a few pounds worth. The largest colonies live in our digestive system, and many beneficial species help us to survive. As long as the amount of beneficial bacteria is kept high in the body and the immune system is kept strong, then populations of potentially harmful bacteria are typically kept under control.

The health of your gut determines what nutrients you absorb and what toxins, allergens, and microbes are kept out. Gut health is directly linked to the health of your whole body. However, a typical American modern diet and lifestyle can kill off beneficial bacteria to the point that harmful bacteria flourish and wreak all sorts of havoc on the body…from constipation to behavioral problems to IBS to compromised immune systems to cancer.

Dysbiosis

In fact, many people struggle with dysbiosis, an imbalance of microbes in the digestive tract that can lead to a whole host of health ailments and diseases. Typically, we become ill due to low-virulence organisms. Unlike salmonella which can cause the immediate (and often violent) symptoms of food poisoning, low-virulence microbes are insidious. They cause ongoing inflammatory symptoms that almost always go undiagnosed and, if untreated, they become deep-seated and cause chronic health problems. Inflammation, pain, swelling, and discomfort are our body’s way of telling us to stop a behavior and let the body heal. Many times we just take medications to remove the inflammatory irritations and further suppress our body’s ability to signal distress.

There are many causes of dysbiosis, most of them common in our modern way of life. Ongoing stress, chemical exposure, a diet high in sugars and processed foods, and chronic use of medications (particularly oral contraceptives, antibiotics, steroids, antidepressants, and NSAID painkillers) are all ways in which we disrupt the healthy bacterial balance in our guts. Low-fiber diets may increase the transit time of food through our GI tract and allow more time for bacteria to proliferate.

Those with Type 2 diabetes and others may have reduced digestive enzyme output which overfeeds gut microbes. Many people have reduced stomach acid which is a primary defense against harmful bacteria (especially true for those who take proton pump inhibitor drugs for an extended time (e.g. omeprazole, Protonix®, Nexium®). NSAID painkillers (e.g. ibuprofen) eliminate pain artificially but also block healing and repair; ongoing use can increase intestinal permeability (which makes your gut “leaky” and can cause food sensitivities or other inflammatory dynamics) and increase your risk of ulcers. All these circumstances create an opportunity for opportunistic, harmful microbes to “move in” and multiply.

Candida

One of the most common forms of dysbiosis is a fungal infection caused by the overgrowth of a microbe called candida Albicans or other species of yeast. Candida is endemic in the human gut, but it can readily overgrow via sustained stress.

This species is very effective in colonizing your GI tract and causing symptoms such as:

Anxiety
abdominal bloating
Fatigue
Allergies
weight issues
food sensitivities
strong sugar cravings
recurring infections
Fuzzy thinking.

Damage from candida can also cause leaky gut which can promote food sensitivities. Slow and persistent treatment is key. When overgrowths are killed, they often release toxins that can make symptoms worse for a few weeks; this is called a “die-off” reaction. Another common invader is Helicobacter Pylori, the most common cause of stomach ulcers. Sometimes dysbiosis is just an imbalance of endemic microbes in the wrong place such as what happens in SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) and is the primary cause of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Stop Feeding the Invader

One of the most important things you can do to combat bacterial overgrowth is to stop feeding the invader. Ideally, eliminate all sugar, alcohol, bakers’ and brewers’ yeast, and vinegar, and aggressively limit high-carbohydrate foods (especially all refined grains, sweeteners, and fruit juices). The resulting diet is high in vegetables, proteins, healthy oils/fats, nuts/seeds, and whole fruits. This approach also increases fiber in the diet which promotes bacterial growth and diversity (also consider adding supplemental fiber via ground psyllium husks or ground flaxseeds). Typically this sort of cleansing diet is effective if implemented at least 3 months. As you experience symptom relief, begin to add back other foods slowly (one at a time for several days) and take careful note of how you feel.

Many natural, herbs and plant extracts can help to kill off overgrowths and heal your gut.

It is also important to support the proliferation of healthy bacteria in your gut while you are trying to kill off the harmful ones. Taking a daily probiotic supplement can be hugely beneficial. Be sure to work with your health care practitioner when beginning any new supplements or healthcare regimen.

Interested in working together on your gut health and getting to the root cause of your health issues. Be sure to sign up for a FREE 20 Minute Consult today!