Acid Reflux & SIBO: The methane gas producers

In our earlier blog we have discussed what causes Acid Reflux. Today we are going to elaborate how acid reflux & SIBO can lead to excessive gas & bloating & can be starting point of irritable bowel syndrome.

So what do you really do when you are facing issues of heartburn or acid reflux? Probably take an antacid! So does this end up your gas & bloating? Yes, but it manages these symptoms temporarily. Taking such drugs & antibiotics can actually amplify the impact of gut dysbiosis. In case of acid reflux, antacid reduces the concentration of stomach acid( or hydrochloric acid) which further changes the entire gut composition & profile.

Gas & Bloating is one of the common digestive issues today with 10% to 25% of people suffering from this dreaded digestive condition. One of the most prominent reasons for gas/bloating is acid reflux & small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). SIBO is linked to acid reflux when our body has less stomach acid which makes bacterias move from the large intestine to small intestine to feast on the food not digested properly due to acid reflux. Is it very easy to have medications or antibiotics to alleviate the issues related to gas & bloating however these antibiotics kill both good & bad bacteria leading to gut dysbiosis & change in gut environment. However, the question arises: does taking over the counter medications is a sustainable way to overcome the issue of heartburn & SIBO?  Can nutrition intervention improve this situation.

We have discussed earlier that having heavy meals at night, consumption of alcohol, smoking, high fat & carb ( western diet) are the basic reasons for causing acid reflux & SIBO.

So what should be done to cure this condition which can be a hallmark for irritable bowel syndrome rather than just suppressing symptoms? Optimising & nourishing your gut microbiome.

Bloating happens when gas builds up in your digestive system. This can be really uncomfortable. Taking medication or laxatives can give relief temporarily by enforcing a bowel movement. However this also means that bloating will come back once again when you consume gas promoting food( not aligned with your gut microbiome). Some people are able to figure out foods that cause bloating & minimise/avoid their consumption but for a lot of us it is tricky to figure out which food may cause bloating since a nutrition solution is unique for everyone. For instance, Broccoli may create inflammation & bloating for one person while may be healthy for others. Determining which foods may cause bloating is difficult to crack. Similarly, just identifying one or two foods that can lead to gassy, bloating or constipation does not mean that you have figured out the root cause of the problem.

Gas & Bloating occurs when there is imbalance in gut bacteria or gut dysbiosis. When gut dysbiosis happens, production of harmful gases in our body- methane gas & hydrogen sulphide gas can increase.

Specifically Methane gas can slow down your digestive system & reduce mortality of whole body system ( slow movement of food along digestive tract) This can lead to inflammation, bloating & abdominal cramping. Certain bacteria such as archaea live in your gut. Some of these are capable of producing in the gut if they are present & active. Having said this, some of the archaea present in your may be beneficial depending upon your rest of gut microbes. 

As mentioned in the beginning of this blog, when you suffer from acid reflux some of these bacterias can move from the large intestine to small intestine (which is not their home). This leads to Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth(SIBO) which results in bloating & gassy & can lead to inflammation.

A lot of us on the advice of doctors take drug rifaximin to overcome SIBO however on a number of occasions consumption of this drug can further imbalance your gut bacteria & environment & can cause inflammation & further digestive issues.

If you are experiencing heartburn or SIBO, it is important to learn about your gut microbiome profile rather than going for these ill fated drugs. If you take medication to alleviate acid reflux/SIBO, it changes your gut environment & composition. As such, you should look at solutions that can help overcome digestive issues without use of antibiotics & drugs. Optimising & resetting your gut microbiome is the perfect sustainable solution to this.

If you are suffering from acid reflux, understanding your gut microbiome condition is the best step forward. Sign up for a free discovery call to know more.