Vital Food Therapeutics Blog
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The Best iPhone App for Managing SIBO
My SIBO Soothe and Manage Program is powerful for not only easing the symptoms of small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) but for managing recurrences. It can sometimes be overwhelming to begin a new program like mine. Luckily, there is an app that can help you on...
Using the Bristol Stool Scale
The Bristol Stool Scale was created in 1992 and is widely used today to chart and discuss bowel movements. Type 1 is the most constipated and 2 is mildly constipated. Type 3 and...
8 Ways to Avoid Unwanted Weight Loss
Many people who have SIBO tend to lose weight. There can be a multiple reasons, including malabsorption, ongoing diarrhea, or an overly strict diet. Here are some tips to help...
8 Easy, IBS & SIBO Friendly Breakfasts
Breakfast can be tough. You're in a hurry and maybe not even hungry as you walk out the door. But inevitably, you feel those hunger pangs. If you have IBS or SIBO, picking the right breakfast can be difficult. Here are five easy breakfasts to...
Is Snacking Healthy for IBS & SIBO?
Is Snacking Healthy? We're told and read so many different things so it's hard to know if snacking is healthy or not. Some people prefer to graze or have multiple, smaller meals. As Americans, we experience an overabundance of food options. There is a Starbucks on...
New SIBO Series in Portland
Thursdays, October 4 – November 8, 2018 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Location: Charlee’s Kitchen, 2220 SW First Avenue Portland Sign up HERE to join me to learn more about small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and cook SIBO-friendly low FODMAP recipes. Whether you’re...
Alcohol and SIBO
"Is it ok to drink alcohol?" is a question I hear frequently. The answer is essentially "Yes, maybe, sometimes". Wait, what? My first answer, the most general one, is Yes. It's ok to try anything when you have SIBO because we know that while food consumption may cause...
FREE Online Class – 3 Key Points for SIBO Recovery with Dr. Siebecker
If you have SIBO or IBS, then you know how miserable it can be. The bloating that doesn’t go away… The fear of eating something that makes you feel worse... The embarrassing bathroom symptoms that you don’t even want to talk about... Many people with IBS have an...
My New Book – The SIBO Diet Plan!
My new book, The SIBO Diet Plan, is available now on Amazon.com., BarnesandNoble.com, Target.com and Walmart.com. I'm really excited to be able to share information about SIBO including a four week meal plan, a calming menu for flare states, shopping lists, over 90...
5 Reasons to Reevaluate Your Strict SIBO Diet
As a nutritionist who just put out the book, The SIBO Diet Plan, one might guess I’m a stickler for people staying on a strict SIBO diet. However, one of my favorite phrases is, “The diet works for you, you don’t work for the diet.” This means that if a strict SIBO...
Dirty Chai
Ingredients:3/4 cup hot decaffeinated or regular coffee 3/4 cup warm milk of choice 1 small spoonful chai powder (Blue Lotus Chai recommended) 1 teaspoon clover honey 2 tablespoons collagen hydrolysate (optional - Great Lakes recommended) 1 tablespoon MCT...
Bulk Cooking Basics
Bulk cooking is typically when you cook multiple meals over the course of a whole or half day. You can then either freeze some portions of the meals to eat later or eat the meals over the course of the week. I don’t often have the luxury of a free day to spend cooking...
Level Up Your Bone Broth
Ok, let’s be honest. Bone broth is great for you, but some people feel a bit blah about the taste. Not to fear, it’s time to take your bone broth to the next level. Try different add-ins for extra taste and nutrition. Here are a couple of combinations to...
Connections: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome & SIBO
Guest Post by Stephanie Kelly, Vital Food Therapeutics Nutrition Intern What is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)? EDS is a range of roughly 6 types of possible genetic disorders that affect the connective tissues, specifically collagen synthesis, characterized by skin...
Choosing Your SIBO Team
Tackling SIBO all on your own can create isolation, time issues and anxiety. It’s helpful to have an entire team because SIBO can be connected with many other conditions and people tend to have a large variety of symptoms. Your team size or members will likely change...
8 Food Substitutions for a SIBO Diet
Starting a SIBO diet can be extremely challenging! Here are some substitutions to use for foods you may be missing: Garlic:Garlic is high FODMAP and is an issue for many people, even in small amounts. Substitute store bought garlic oil (Here are some...
20 Nutrient Dense Foods for a SIBO Diet
This post was created in conjunction with Brooke Hopfauf, The Nourished Roots. All of the foods listed are low FODMAP and are part of Dr. Siebecker’s SIBO Specific Food Guide, which limits polysaccharides and FODMAPs. Food sensitivities and reactions vary widely, so...
The Importance of SIBO Testing
I’ve spoken with many people who know that they have been diagnosed with SIBO but don’t know their SIBO numbers or what they mean. It’s not only important information to have when talking with health practitioners but also helpful to know and understand yourself....
Leaky Gut: 6 Causes & 4 Ways to Heal
Guest blog post by Vital Food Therapeutics Intern, Brooke Hopfauf. The intestinal lining acts as a first line of defense for our immune system. The function of the intestinal barrier is to regulate the absorption of nutrients, electrolytes, water, as well as...
7 Reasons to Eat Healthy Fats
Guest post from Vital Food Therapeutics Nutrition Intern Marne Bishop. Far from what we’ve spent many years being told about dietary fat, fat actually plays an essential role in any diet and is a key component to the regulation of our bodily functions. Fat cells,...
Three Steps to Coming Back to Presence
We all have our stories and our issues, big and small. When you have a chronic illness, sometimes it's hard to stay present in the midst of what feels like an ongoing state of crisis. During my journey with SIBO, one of my wonderful teachers, Russell Delman, told me,...
5 Tips for Traveling While on a Therapeutic Diet
Whether you have SIBO or are on a therapeutic diet for another reason, traveling can make things extra challenging. Here are a couple tips to make your trip more enjoyable. 1. Location, Location, Location! If you’re going on vacation, choose a place that has a...
Seven Ways to Enjoy your Meals More Now
Being on a therapeutic diet can bring up a myriad of feelings – from frustration to guilt to boredom. Here are seven easy ways to help you enjoy your food more NOW. Set a beautiful table. Sit at the dining room table instead of in front of the TV. Set cut...
Bone Broth – The Facts
Nutritional Powerhouse Bone broth is power packed with nutrients. Collagen keeps our hair thick and our nails strong. It’s also a component of organs, bones, tendons and ligaments. The amino acid glutamine helps reduce cravings and aids in tissue recovery. Hyaluronic...
Gut Health Basics
5 Ways to Stay Hydrated
3 Fermented Foods to Try NOW
15 Tips for Healthy Shopping on a Budget
Kristy’s Nutritional Beliefs
Kristy's Nutritional Beliefs I believe in eating whole foods – food that hasn't been processed - the items that don't come in a box and are generally found on the perimeter of the grocery store. I believe, when possible, in buying organic and shopping local. In going...