SIBO 101: Why You Feel Bloated After Eating (and What to Do About It)

Written by: Charles Paul

Published on September 8, 2025

Last updated on September 10, 2025

Time to read 12 min

Table of contents

Episode Summary — SIBO: Why You Feel Bloated After Eating 🎥 Watch the Full Episode on YouTube 🎧 Listen to the Podcast Audio Full Transcript — Chip Talks Health S5E30 What is SIBO? SIBO vs. H. pylori vs. Parasites: How They Feel Different Why Stomach Acid Matters (for Digestion and Defense) What Tends to Feed SIBO (So You Can Stop Pouring Gasoline on the Fire) The Neighborly Wellness Approach (Education + Testing + Nutrition + Targeted Support) The SIBO Support Bundle (TrueMedX) Food Strategy While You Heal FAQs The Big Picture Related Readings

Episode Summary — SIBO: Why You Feel Bloated After Eating

What SIBO Is

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) often comes from Lactobacillus acidophilus overgrowth.
Even though lactobacillus is considered a “good” bacteria in probiotics and dairy, it becomes harmful when it colonizes the upper digestive tract.

Root Cause: Low Stomach Acid

Stomach acid is your body’s disinfecting soup and first line of immune defense.
When acid levels drop, bacteria, parasites, and viruses can colonize upstream, causing SIBO.

Symptoms of SIBO

Gas, bloating, and abdominal distension after meals (especially carbs, dairy, and fermented foods)
Burning discomfort (lactic acid production)
Food intolerances and nutrient malabsorption
Fatigue, brain fog, and malnutrition patterns

How SIBO Differs from H. pylori & Parasites

SIBO: Bloating after eating
H. pylori: Burning pain, especially at night, reflux/acid burps (can lead to ulcers & cancer)
Parasites (helminths): Cramping, diarrhea/constipation cycles, appetite swings, itchy skin, anemia

Why It Matters

SIBO is linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, hormone imbalance (estrogen dominance), and chronic inflammation.
Chronic inflammation is a driver of most long-term disease.

What Makes It Worse

Probiotics with lactobacillus
Dairy and fermented foods (yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles)
Structured carbs and raw fiber (raw veggies, smoothies during flare-ups)

TrueMedX Solutions

SIBO Support Bundle includes:
- Digest — boosts stomach acid and bile before meals
- Gut Restore — targets bacterial overgrowth with botanicals like berberine and garlic
- Essentials Protein + Aminos — rich in glutamine to repair gut lining and support nutrient absorption
Deworm product available if parasites are also part of the picture

Action Steps

Support digestion before meals, reduce overgrowth, rebuild the gut lining
Stop feeding SIBO with the wrong foods and probiotics
Explore bundles at truemedx.com or book a scan at neighborlywellness.com
Download the Chip Talks Health Gut Health Guide: https://truemedx.com/pages/gut-health-guide

SIBO 101: Why You Feel Bloated After Eating (and What to Do About It)

By Chip Talks Health — Season 5, Episode 30 (SIBO Special)

Feeling gassy, painfully bloated, or “puffy” after meals—especially after smoothies, yogurt, raw veggies, or anything carby? You’re not alone. One of the most common patterns we see at Neighborly Wellness is SIBO—small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. In today’s companion blog to our S5E30 episode, I’ll break down what SIBO is, how it differs from H. pylori and parasites, the symptoms to watch for, what tends to feed the problem, and the practical, nutrition-first protocol we use to support recovery.

Quick note: Nothing here is medical advice or a diagnosis. Always talk with your healthcare provider about your specific situation. Our bioresonance scans are informational tools to help guide wellness decisions.

🎥 Watch the Full Episode on YouTube

🎧 Listen to the Podcast Audio

Follow Chip Talks Health wherever you get podcasts

⏱️ Episode Guide

[00:00] Intro — Why You’re Bloated
Chip introduces SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) and explains how even “good” bacteria like Lactobacillus acidophilus can cause trouble in the wrong place.
[02:00] Low Stomach Acid = Weak Defense
Without enough acid, food isn’t disinfected—opening the door to colonization and chronic bloating.
[06:00] How SIBO Impacts Health
SIBO links to obesity, Type 2 diabetes, hormone imbalance, and chronic inflammation that drives long-term disease.
[09:00] Symptoms to Watch For
Gas, bloating, pain, food intolerances, fatigue, brain fog, and poor nutrient absorption.
[11:00] H. pylori vs. SIBO
SIBO = bloating/distention.
H. pylori = burning pain (especially at night) and acid burps.
[13:00] Parasites (Helminths)
Can mimic SIBO but add cramping, appetite swings, and cycles of constipation/diarrhea.
[17:00] The TrueMedX SIBO Bundle
Digest (stomach acid & bile support), Gut Restore (berberine + garlic), Essentials (glutamine-rich aminos).
Deworm if parasites are part of the picture.
[20:00] Foods That Feed the Fire
Dairy, fermented foods, probiotics with lacto, and structured carbs/raw veggies = gasoline on SIBO.
[23:00] Breaking the Cycle
Infection leads to malnutrition → more infection.
Solution = restore digestion, reduce overgrowth, rebuild gut lining with nutrition.
[25:00] Wrap-Up
Like & subscribe, check the SIBO Support Bundle at TrueMedX, or book a scan at Neighborly.

Full Transcript — Chip Talks Health S5E30

Topic: SIBO — Why You Feel Bloated After Eating Certain Foods

[00:00:00]
Hello, everyone, and welcome to another exciting version of Chip Talks Health.

I’ll bet some of you guys have bloating. I’ll bet you have gastric upset when you eat certain foods. If you don’t, I’ll bet you know somebody in your family who does. This is a very common problem we’re going to talk about today: something called SIBO — small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

SIBO can be caused by a “good guy” — Lactobacillus acidophilus.

[00:00:30]
If you take probiotics, you’re probably taking Lactobacillus acidophilus. If you eat dairy, you’re absolutely getting it — it’s one of the microbes in dairy that helps it ferment. The problem is that we overconsume lactobacillus in our diets through dairy, probiotics, and fermented foods.

[00:01:00]
Over time, our stomach loses the ability to fill up with enough stomach acid. Without full stomach acid, you’re not disinfecting your food. Stomach acid is your immune gatekeeper. It kills bacteria, viruses, parasites, and eggs.

[00:01:30]
If you don’t have enough stomach acid, your defenses are weak, and it leaves the upper part of your stomach and small intestine wide open to colonization. That’s how SIBO develops.

[00:02:00]
Other bacteria can also overgrow, like Dientamoeba fragilis, but lactobacillus is one of the most common culprits.

[00:02:30]
Don’t freak out — there are ways to restart this whole process. That’s what we’ll talk about today.

[00:03:00]
When we’re young, we fill our stomach completely with stomach acid. That “acid soup” is essential for defense and digestion. But as we age, our acid gets weaker.

[00:04:00]
Stomach acid is our biggest immune defense. Without it, bacteria, parasites, and viruses can slip through. Bugs thrive when they shut off stomach acid production.

[00:05:30]
Lactobacillus acidophilus loves to colonize the upper digestive tract. It’s often found together with H. pylori, another common infection.

[00:06:00]
At Neighborly Wellness, we use bioresonance scanning (informational, not diagnostic). We see lactobacillus patterns in about 99% of people, H. pylori in 80%, and parasites in 95%. SIBO is everywhere.

[00:06:30]
SIBO is linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, hormone imbalance, and chronic inflammation. In men, lactobacillus overgrowth can push you toward estrogen dominance, disrupting testosterone balance.

[00:09:00] Symptoms of SIBO

Gas, bloating, and distension (especially after carbs, dairy, fermented foods, or raw fiber)
Food intolerances
Burning or acid-like discomfort (lactic acid production)
Fatigue and brain fog
Poor nutrient absorption (leading to malnutrition)

[00:11:00] H. pylori vs. SIBO

SIBO = bloating/distension after meals
H. pylori = burning, especially at night, acid burps, reflux-like symptoms

If you’re told you have GERD or ulcers, it’s often H. pylori. Left untreated, H. pylori can lead to cancer, including pancreatic cancer.

[00:13:00] Parasites (Helminths)
Common, but often missed in medicine. Symptoms include:

Mild bloating and cramping
Cycles of constipation/diarrhea
Appetite swings (always hungry or never hungry)
Fatigue, anemia, weight loss
Itchy skin, teeth grinding, anal itching (especially pinworms)

We deworm our pets every 6 months but rarely ourselves.

[00:17:00] Solutions — TrueMedX SIBO Bundle
Because SIBO is so common, we built a SIBO Support Bundle at TrueMedX:

Digest — stimulates stomach acid & bile before meals
Gut Restore — botanicals like berberine & garlic to reduce bacterial overgrowth
Essentials Protein + Aminos — glutamine-rich formula to repair the gut lining

If parasites are part of the picture, add TrueMedX Deworm for full coverage.

[00:20:00] Foods That Make SIBO Worse

Probiotics with lactobacillus
Fermented foods (yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles, vinegar)
Dairy products
Structured carbs/fibers (especially raw veggies and smoothies during flares)

These all act like gasoline on the fire.

[00:23:00] Breaking the Cycle
Infection → malnutrition → weaker defense → more infection.
The solution = proper nutrition, restoring stomach acid, and targeted antimicrobials.

[00:25:00] Wrap-Up
If you think you might have SIBO, H. pylori, or parasites:

Check out the SIBO Support Bundle at TrueMedX
Book a bioresonance scan at Neighborly Wellness

Thank you for tuning in to Chip Talks Health. Be sure to like, subscribe, and share.

What is SIBO?

SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) happens when microbes that should live mostly in the large intestine (or in controlled amounts) migrate upward and over-colonize the small intestine. One pattern we frequently see is an overgrowth of Lactobacillus acidophilus—yes, the “good guy” bacteria you get from dairy, fermented foods, and many probiotics. “Good” in one place doesn’t mean “good” when it sets up camp where it shouldn’t.

Why does that happen?

A major driver is low stomach acid. Stomach acid isn’t just for digestion; it’s a frontline defense that helps “disinfect” food before it passes downstream. When you don’t adequately acidify the stomach “tank,” it leaves the upper GI tract more open to colonization. Over time—through stress, infections, or nutrient gaps—many people under-produce acid, and the wrong bugs take advantage.

SIBO vs. H. pylori vs. Parasites: How They Feel Different

We commonly see three patterns show up together or separately. Your experience can help you tell them apart:

1) SIBO (often tied to Lactobacillus overgrowth)

Big tell: Excess gas, bloating, and distention—especially after carbs, dairy, fermented foods, and structured fibers (raw veggies, smoothies with lots of plant fiber).
Other signs: Upper-abdominal discomfort, food intolerances, brain fog, fatigue, and signs of poor nutrient absorption (because inflamed tissues don’t absorb well).

2) H. pylori

Big tell: Burning pain, often worse at night or when the stomach is emptier. Frequent acid burps or “refluxy” discomfort.
People with significant H. pylori often narrow down to a few “safe” foods because anything else burns.

3) Parasites (Helminths)

Big tell: Crampy gut, intermittent bloating, and on-again/off-again bowel changes (constipation ↔ diarrhea).
Appetite swings: Hungry all the time or not at all.
Other clues: Fatigue, low iron/“anemia” patterns, itchy skin; anal itching can hint at pinworms.

You can have more than one at the same time. That’s why we look at the whole picture—symptoms, nutrition status, and scan insights—rather than chasing a single label.

SIBO vs. H. pylori vs. Parasites: How They Feel Different

Why Stomach Acid Matters (for Digestion and Defense)

Think of stomach acid like a disinfecting soup. It helps break apart proteins and fats and also keeps outside “stuff” from becoming inside “residents.” If you’re routinely only “half-filling the tank,” the upper GI becomes friendlier to colonization. Restoring that acid-bile rhythm before meals is a big part of our approach.

What Tends to Feed SIBO (So You Can Stop Pouring Gasoline on the Fire)

If you suspect SIBO, be mindful of these common accelerants:

Probiotics containing Lactobacillus acidophilus
(Not a forever “no,” but adding more lacto while it’s overgrown upstream can worsen symptoms.)
Fermented foods during a flare: yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles, vinegars (ACV can be an exception for some)
Dairy (often naturally rich in lactobacillus)
Structured carbs and fibers, especially raw vegetables and high-fiber smoothies early in the protocol

Carbohydrates aren’t “evil,” but timing and form matter. Early on, favor easier-to-digest choices, then reintroduce fiber strategically as the gut calms.

The Neighborly Wellness Approach (Education + Testing + Nutrition + Targeted Support)

At Neighborly Wellness, we use bioresonance scanning (informational, not diagnostic) to help map patterns like lactobacillus overgrowth, H. pylori tendencies, and helminth signatures. Nearly everyone we scan shows signs consistent with a SIBO pattern; H. pylori and parasite signatures are also common. That means our plan needs to be practical, gentle, and repeatable.

Here’s the simplified framework we teach:

1) Prime Digestion & Defense Before Meals

Support stomach acid and bile flow ~30 minutes before eating to restore that “disinfect and digest” signal.
This echoes the old-school “bitters before dinner” wisdom.

2) Reduce Overgrowth Pressure

Use targeted botanicals that discourage upper-GI colonization (e.g., berberine- and garlic-forward strategies) while you’re restoring the acid/bile environment.

3) Rebuild the Lining, Absorption & Resilience

The small intestinal lining turns over every 3–5 days. When you calm inflammation, support digestion, and feed tissues the amino acids they need (especially glutamine), you can dramatically improve absorption and comfort.

4) Address Parasites, If Indicated

If your pattern suggests helminths, use a comprehensive approach that covers multiple worm types and their lifecycles (including eggs). One pass often isn’t enough—timing matters.

The Neighborly Wellness Approach (Education + Testing + Nutrition + Targeted Support)

The SIBO Support Bundle (TrueMedX)

To make this practical and affordable, we built a SIBO Support Bundle at TrueMedX:

Digest — our “pre-meal primer” to nudge stomach acid and bile production, helping you disinfect and actually digest what you eat.
Gut Restore — berberine + garlic–forward support to discourage upper-GI colonization patterns often seen with SIBO and H. pylori.
Essentials (Protein + Aminos) — a rebalanced amino profile (rich in glutamine) designed to support gut lining repair, immune function, and recovery when your needs are higher.

If helminths are part of your picture, pair the bundle with TrueMedX Deworm to broaden coverage while you restore gut defenses.

You can explore the SIBO Support Bundle and Deworm at truemedx.com. If you’re local (Oklahoma City area), book a consult or scan at neighborlywellness.com—we’ll walk you through results in real time and outline a plan.

Food Strategy While You Heal

Before meals: take your digestive support to cue stomach acid/bile.
Protein & healthy fats first: they’re essential; they also slow gastric emptying, which can feel better during flares.
Go easy on fermentables initially: pull back on dairy, fermented foods, and high-fiber raw veggies.
Reintroduce fiber smartly: as symptoms come down, gradually add cooked veg and gentler fibers.
Hydrate well: adequate fluids support motility and mucosal healing.
Track your response: two-week experiments tell you a lot—note which foods calm versus trigger.

When to Get Help

Nighttime burning, acid burps, or “reflux” that’s getting worse
Unintentional weight loss, persistent fatigue, or iron-pattern symptoms
Severe bloating that makes you fearful to eat
Anal itching, teeth grinding, or skin itchiness that cycles

These can point to H. pylori or parasite involvement alongside SIBO. Don’t white-knuckle it—get evaluated, get a plan, and get relief.

FAQs

Isn’t Lactobacillus a “good” probiotic?

Context is everything. It’s helpful in the right place and amount. During SIBO, extra lacto from probiotics and dairy can worsen bloating.

Do I need carbs?

Carbs supply fiber and micronutrients, but they’re not essential the way amino acids and essential fats are. During flares, shift toward protein/fats and gentler, cooked plant foods.

How long until I feel better?

Many people notice less bloat in days to weeks once they prime digestion, reduce overgrowth pressure, and feed the lining what it needs. Consistency is key; complex cases take longer.

Can I just take a PPI (acid blocker) for burning?

PPIs lower stomach acid, which can relieve symptoms but may weaken upstream defense over time. Work with a professional to identify and address the why behind your burning (often H. pylori or SIBO patterns).

The Big Picture

Gut dysfunction isn’t random; it’s usually pattern-driven and addressable. Restore the stomach’s acid-bile “gate,” reduce the overgrowth pressure, rebuild the lining with adequate amino acids, and—when indicated—cycle a comprehensive deworming strategy. Combine that with smart food timing and you’ll give your gut the best environment to calm down and re-balance.

If this episode helped, like, subscribe, and share. If you’re ready for a personalized plan:

Order the SIBO Support Bundle at truemedx.com
Book a scan/consult at neighborlywellness.com (OKC area)
Download the Chip Talks Health Gut Health Guide: https://truemedx.com/pages/gut-health-guide

We’re here to help you get your life (and meals!) back.