Elemental Diet for SIBO: HOW TO USE 

Can I use the elemental diet while I am taking prescription medication everyday? I take pregabalin for nerve pain.

@@kasperorganics-organiccott6881 this is a question for your doctor or pharamcist, I can't comment on safety alongside medications...though the elemental diet is really the same things you would be consuming with food, just broken down. That said, if you're concerned about an interaction, do check with an appropriate medical professional. Thanks for watching!

Thanks for this video! Is it a good idea to take biofilm disrupters before going on the elemental diet?

How many servings per day are you suppose to take the Elemental powder?

@@Denise0752 It depends on your age, nutritional requirements, and weight. Helpfully, Dr. Ruscio has a special calculator to help you estimate how much you need: drruscio.com/eh-dosing-calculator/

Thank you Freda, I'm glad you feel helped. Take good care!

Ha ha! Good question! It’s really more that they are complementary…MDs are generally looking for overt pathology and something to diagnose. If they don’t find it, they don’t have much to offer you. But there is a gap between that place and what else you can do to feel better, and that’s where a coach can help you navigate the diet and lifestyle piece to find improvement. Thanks for watching, and thanks for your question!

Hi Bill, it's designed to starve the SIBO bacteria, but depending on how high your SIBO numbers are, you may need multiple rounds of treatment, whether that's the elemental diet, herbs, or antibiotics. And SIBO management always requires using prokintetics after treatment to prevent recurrence, and sometimes longer term diet changes. Everyone wishes it was a simple 2 week treatment, and then they're done, but this isn't how it works in real life. Despite that, it IS possible to get to remission... this is exactly what I help my clients with inside my comprehensive coaching program. If you're in a place where you're maybe ready for support with all this, I'd love to meet you in a discovery call so we can assess if the program might be right for you. You can schedule that call at confluencenutrition.com/contact. Thanks so much for watching, and good luck with your elemental diet.

Since I think that the items you're already using are more like supports for the gut lining, it's likely ok to continue, but do check with your doctor or ND for specific advice. Thanks for watching!

Many people do find that they don't have as many bowel movements during the ED, if any at all. You can do periodic plain water enemas, as you would if you were doing fasting to ensure you're eliminating and detoxing.

Hi Michelle, it might be helpful, but it might also be constipating, as many people poop a lot less during the elemental diet. The advice I give my clients abuot supplements is usually to test carefully and see if they feel better or not, and to use that response to guide your action. Thanks for watching!

Hi Kiley, a protein powder isn't complete nutrition like an elemental diet, so it wouldn't be suitable for a complete elemental diet for any length of time. But it can be a single meal replacement at times. Does that answer your question?

Hi Timothy, I think the ultimate purpose of the recommendation is to discourage "chugging" the ED, as it may be irritating for the gut to do so. So sip at the rate that's comfortable for you. 1 cup per 15 minutes could be good. You might aim to complete a serving in about 30-45 minutes. There's no hard and fast rule.

@@ConfluenceNutrition Okay thanks. You're awesome!

@@ConfluenceNutrition Another question: How does the elemental diet affect microbes in the large intestine? Do they eat? Or do they die too? 🤔 😥

@@timothybullock5418 You're very welcome :)

@@timothybullock5418 Because the microbes in the large intestine require fermentable fiber to survive, the elemental diet starves them as well. It can't possible kill them all, so they should bounce back and reseed afterwards.

Hi there, I would think tea wouldn't contain any fiber and would be fine to include while on the elemental diet, but I'm not totally sure. Do ask or check with the person who recommended it for you. If clients need to take medication with food, I usually suggest my clients take it when they drink their morning shake. If it goes badly, then I might suggest eating a small amount of low FODMAP food with the medication, and doing a mostly elemental diet. The elemental diet doesn't have to be ALL or NOTHING. You can do a hybrid model, though the results will be a little different than if you do the all or nothing.

Hi P Sharma, the elemental diet is considered a treatment for SIBO on par with herbal or pharmaceutical antibiotics. It's similarly effective. Because it will starve out the bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, it has the same possible side effect profile as the other types of treatment: bowel changes, headache, nausea, fatigue, etc. I recently watched some videos by Dr. Siebecker where she discussed elemental diet clinical tips, and it was very educational. Here's where to find that: www.siboinfo.com/elemental-formula.html Regarding which Dr. R. formula, I believe he claims that the regular (whey) formula IS casein free, but if you're really concerned about dairy, you can choose the dairy free formula. Good luck clearing your SIBO! You can do it! And thanks for watching :)

@@ConfluenceNutrition thank you Amanda for your reply. One thing comes to my mind for the elemental diet from your reply, if you could resolve this concern of mine as well- Can the elemental diet be taken during pregnancy? Assuming it provides all the nutrition the body requires, and additional prenatal multivitamin should do the trick? Thanks for your reply

@@ps120 Hmmm, I actually don't know the answer to that question, and it's a good question. I encourage you to ask Dr. Ruscio's customer support team. Generally, we don't want to treat infections of this type during pregnancy, but this advice is usually due to the contraindications of antibiotics or antimicrobial herbs, which are not safe during pregnancy. I imagine the ED would be safe for use during pregnancy, but you should absolutely, positively, no-excuses check with your doctor before attempting this. Thanks for watching :)

@@ConfluenceNutrition How do you feel now? Are you better?

@@AA-hj8er HI A A, I've had a good, solid 6 months of feeling well, but I have done a little backsliding in the last few weeks. Am exploring my next steps...

My understanding of how it works is that the nutrition is all the way broken down, so it absorbs before the bacteria have a chance to access it. The length of the elemental diet I think would make it difficult for the bacteria to survive that whole time, but I have heard people discuss this. I'm not sure what the data say about this...Sorry I don't have more for you there!

Hi KR, there is not direct protein because the elemental diet is designed to give your gut less work to do. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and these are what's included in the elemental diet to cover your protein, they just don't need to be digested. Great question, and thanks for watching!

I would schedule a retest or find another doctor and retest.

You can do so, or simply test the meds. The elemental diet is also a recognized treatment for SIBO, so either option is testing your hypothesis that SIBO is causing your symptoms. Answering this question is an important part of your treatment path, so you can know whether SIBO is or isn’t connected to your symptoms. Thanks for watching!

Hi Lois, the elemental diet has similar success rates to antibiotics and herbal antimicrobials, and I believe that relapse rates are similar. The SIBO relapse is largely about motility. For best results, it's important to speak with your doctor about motility support post-treatement, or to use something OTC. However, my ND claims that she's not seen the OTC options work as well as medications, even though she and most of her patients would prefer not to use prescriptions.

Hi Linda, it really depends on you and your unique triggers. I don't tolerate chocolate, so that would be a no-go for me, but for others, it might be fine.

Confluence Nutrition Thank you, Amanda!

@@lindareif584 You're welcome!

good morning! You should only mix the powder with water...the main point of the elemental diet is that the nutrition is broken down before eating. If you add those other liquids, your gut will have to work to digest them. Most people find that the nutrition is sufficient for them to feel satisfied while using the elemental diet. I hope that helps answer your question, and thanks so much for watching!

Hi James, no, protein shakes with fruits and veggies are very different than elemental diet because in the elemental diet products, the ingredients are in their most "elemental" state, meaning that your body doesn't have to break them down further. This means proteins are present as amino acids, which are the most basic protein building blocks. Carbs are present as simple sugars, fats as simple fatty acids. All this translates to being VERY easily absorbed wtihout your body needing to do much digesting work, which is why it gives your gut a rest, and reduces the response from gut bacteria. A smoothie with protein powder and fruits and veggies will have longer chain proteins and complex carbs that your body needs to break down. Especially if they're FODMAPs, this may be triggering. It is true that the liquid smoothie will be easier to digest than solid food, and may be helpful, but not for the purpose of addressing SIBO. I hope that helps!

Most people DO lose some weight on the elemental diet, which I believe is the shedding of stored stool and a kind of detox. I'm not sure there is a way to prevent it, other than making sure you consume the maximum recommended amount.

Generally, xifaxin and the elemental diet are each stand alone SIBO treatments, so doing both at the same time isn't necessary. I usually suggest Dr Ruscio's Elemental Heal for the elemental diet.

Hi Holly, I think it's ok to drink coffee, but the almond milk would not be part of an elemental diet. Can you tolerate drinking your coffee black? This might be a good opportunity to give yourself a break from your coffee if you can tolerate it :) But if not, just ditch the almond milk.

Hi Dom, I don't know for sure, but I would think that the malto dextrose wouldn't be as ideal. The idea behind elemental diet is to use ingredients that don't require your gut to break them down, to give your gut a break on digesting. So the simpler sugar would be better. Thanks for watching!

@@ConfluenceNutrition i have another doubt, i buy a Multivitamin and i see that one of the ingredients in the label says " corn starch" in it, can i use this multivitamin in my shake since it's in a low quantity? It has all the vitamins and minerals, the only thing that worries me is the corn starch in the label. I saw that one of the formulas of the elemental diet that are recommended has a modified corn starch as a ingredient in their formula aswell.

@@KIke190JRF I would guess the quantity would be insignificant. So unless you see some negative side effects, I think it is fine.

Hi Zhayda, for a true elemental diet, you do need to access via a practitioner, but the partial elemental diet, like Dr. Ruscio's Elemental Heal is available OTC at his website. I don't know about insurance coverage, but probably not, unless deemed medically necessary by your provider. Thanks for watching!

Hi Noema! Tea is find on the elemental diet :) It's somewhat normal to not have bowel movements during the elemental diet, as your digestion no longer has bulky fibers to eliminate. If you're feeling backed up, a gentle enema cna help keep things moving. Here is my video about how to do that. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HbyPfI8L31A.html

@@ConfluenceNutrition thank you so much for replay me I really appreciate your help 🙏❤️

check out drruscio.com, and visit his store to see the elemental diet options, I believe they can ship anywhere, though shipping charges may be significant. Reach out to their customer service. Thanks for watching!

Hi I also live in Brasil doing diet now, you can text me on instagram @paulawbrazylii

Hi Angel, you'll want to introduce FODMAP groups one at a time, using a representative test food. I discuss in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Kk8GTrCqKxw.html Keep me posted!

@Angel Winans - Congratulations! Can you please state what Herbal supplements you took. Can you also tell me if your SIBO reocurred.

Hi Noema, during the elemental diet, you're "eating" something, though of course nothing solid. The easiest thing to try would be to simply get one bottle and test it out before committing to the whole thing. If you replace one meal with the ED shake, does it bother your stomach like when you don't eat? Thanks for your question and for watching!

@@ConfluenceNutrition ok I’ll tried , thank you so much 🙏

The elemental diet is a lot of liquid, so there may just be some distension from that. It's generally recommended to sip on the elemental diet a little more slowly, rather than drinking it all in one go, like you would a meal. That might help?

Hi Denise, an elemental diet can be useful in two situations for reflux or GERD. One, if SIBO is an underlying cause of reflux or GERD, then the full elemental diet may be helpful, but I generally suggest the elemental diet as a last resort treatment for SIBO, as it's challenging to complete (exclusive ED for 2-3 weeks). The other way it can be helpful is as a short 2-3 DAY reset, just to give your gut a break from your regular foods and digestion. If this reset helps improve your reflux, this is a sign that foods you're eating, or your digestive function is part of the reflux problem. You can also use the ED to replace one meal a day to give your gut a little break on digestion, if this is part of your reflux challenge. You just have to experiment with it. I hope this helps, and thanks for watching!

No specifically, it could signal several kinds of problems. Sorry i don't have a clearer answer for you than that.

Hi, it's "MotilPro" and it's made by Pure Encapsulations. YOu can likely find it on Amazon, or in my supplement dispensary: us.fullscript.com/welcome/confluencenutrition

Hi D L, the get the maximum benefit from the ED, it's recommended to avoid snacking between meals. The ED removes anythign fermentable for bacteria, and this is why it helps, AND frequent snacking also slows down your digestion. I think the collagen is ok, since it is just amino acids essentially...But see how it all feels. Keep me posted on your results!

@@ConfluenceNutrition I am only having breakfast. Do you think that is ok or should I go all in? I am on my third day today and it's not easy but doable.

@@dl9118 I encourage you to get support with your practitioner to answer that question...certainly reducing to 1 meal a day will be a lot less gas production and digestive work for your gut than eating 3 meals per day, so I kind of like this hybrid model! We often need to do what works, rather than the theoretical "right thing". I wish you well!

@@ConfluenceNutrition well my plan didn't work. I had to stop the treatment. My skin was turning yellow. I am not a professional obviously but I think there is something wrong with my liver. I will be seeing my doctor for another plan.

@@dl9118 oof, yes, that sounds like a good idea to have a doctor evaluate you. Good luck with that and keep me posted!

Hi Denise, sometimes, SIBO is one of the underlying causes of reflux. If it is, then yes, the elemental diet could be a useful tool. It also reduces the digestion work your gut needs to do, which could also be helpful. But this is theory, the real question is will your body respond that way. You find that out by testing it for yourself.

Hi Charles, no, but I do first like to meet for a "Discovery Call" so I can make sure I'm a good fit to help with your specific problem. You can book that call at www.confluencenutrition.com/contact.

Generally, I suggest people continue with whatever diet they're already eating during treatment, as I only want my clients to change only ONE thing at a time, so we can get a clear read on whether that particular thing is truly effective. It is generally ok to mix the elemental diet and antimicrobials, provided this doesn't cause a major die off flare. I do have a video where I discuss what to eat during SIBO treatment, you can watch here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XmvjfYjlJyw.html

Hey there! The 3-4 day reset isn't designed to get rid of SIBO like the 2-3 week exclusive elemental diet, it's more just to give your gut a quick break, dial down symptoms for a moment. If it succeeds in reducing symptoms, this is a really excellent clue that bacterial overgrowth are part of the problem, which helps you chart a course going forward. If you're not planning to do a full elemental diet course, then you would return to eating normally, probably with a low FODMAP diet or similar. If you're going to do the full course of elemental diet, then just continue for the full period. And as to how you acquired it, maybe it's easier to get now than it was a few years ago for direct consumers. Thanks for all your questions, and thanks for watching!

Thank you very much

Hi Jane Doe, thanks for your comment. Bile insufficiency can be a root cause, but I find a much more common root cause is previous abdominal trauma, including from infections, that slow down motility. Is bile insufficiency a problem for you specifically? Thanks for watching!

@@ConfluenceNutrition Thank you for your reply! I'm just a mess I guess. I have SEVERE gallbladder insufficiency, SIBO, Hypothyroidism, and a laundry list of other diseases (POTS, MCAS, ect.)

@@janedoe2596 got it! This kind of situation is much harder to untangle, but I've heard of people with these multiple diagnoses who really benefit from something called limbic system rebalancing. Have you heard of the Gupta Program? I invite you to check it out :) And though it may not be possible to completely recover, I do know it's possible for you to improve your body's function. I wish you the best :)

@@ConfluenceNutrition Yes I've actually done both Gupta and DNRs. They didn't help

@@janedoe2596 That's so frustrating...I feel pretty strongly that when nothing seems to work, there is often an ongoing exposure to infections or environmental exposures, like mold, that are continuing to trigger the body. I had a client a while ago who had a similar situation, and it turned out she had a genetic condition called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. But I believe moving into a moldy house really tipped the scales. She sadly got diagnosed too late to do much about it, but keep digging for answers, they're out there.