I have SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) and it’s a well known thing that having that overgrowth can cause depression and anxiety. But how?
In: Biology
It doesn’t. “Leaky gut” and even SIBO unless diagnosed by a doctor with fecal cultures are not real and proven problems. The idea of leaky gut is someone inventing a problem so they can sell you a solution that won’t actually work. They set it up so that you blame yourself for still having issues to try to get you to try a different cure for a made-up disease.
SIBO can be a real thing, but it’s extremely rare and isn’t an *overall* overgrowth. It’s a situation where, usually through antibiotic use, something like c. dificile or other bacteria gains ground that it usually can’t in a healthy system. Your body is always at almost maximum capacity for bacteria, especially in your guts. There is competition for food that keeps the balance between good/bad/neutral. Bringing antibiotics in can override the balance and allow a semi-permanent change in what has the most resources and where it can be. You aren’t suddenly having a huge increase in bacteria, but rather are having a problem with what is in charge.
Treatment is antibiotics and probiotics, and usually takes several months.
Latest Answers