Gut health is fundamental to overall well-being, influencing digestion, immunity, mood, and even chronic disease risk. One of the most common reasons vegans and vegetarians seek out my services is when they’re experiencing digestive discomfort, including bloating, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms, or when they suspect they have conditions such as Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) or a candida overgrowth . Seeking guidance from a plant-based healthcare professional ensures tailored advice that both aligns with and specialised in their ethical dietary choices while addressing specific gut health concerns.
Understanding Gut Health and SIBO
The gut microbiome is composed of trillions of bacteria that play crucial roles in digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune regulation (Valdes et al., 2018). An imbalance in this microbiome can lead to digestive distress, food intolerances, and the onset of chronic conditions.
SIBO occurs when bacteria proliferate excessively in the small intestine, leading to symptoms such as bloating, gas, diarrhea, and malabsorption (Pimentel et al., 2020). While SIBO is often associated with high-fat, high-protein diets, it can also affect those consuming plant-based diets, particularly if gut motility is impaired. I observe it most frequently in those with compromised thryoid function, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, or in those who experienced a bout of severe food poisoning, and found their digestion to never fully recover. Upsettingly, often people with extremely clean and healthy plant-based diets can be most affected – and instead of getting to and treating the root cause, most non healthcare professionals blame it on a lack of animal-derived foods.
Why Choose a Vegan Healthcare Professional?
1. Understanding the Unique Needs of a Plant-Based Diet
The vast majority of conventional healthcare professionals lack training in or understanding of plant-based nutrition, often recommending unnecessary dietary eliminations or supplementation due to misconceptions about vegan diets. A vegan healthcare professional understands:
- The importance of diverse plant fiber in fostering a healthy microbiome.
- How to optimise nutrient absorption from plant sources.
- Plant-based strategies to address deficiencies linked to digestive issues, such as vitamin B12, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids.
- How to treat conditions such as SIBO or IBS in a way that is compatible with following a plant-based diet.
2. Tailored Approaches to Gut Healing for Vegans
A vegan-friendly healthcare provider offers evidence-based strategies to improve gut health without compromising ethical dietary principles:
- Low-FODMAP Vegan Diets: Many FODMAP-rich plant foods (e.g., onions, legumes, cruciferous vegetables) can exacerbate symptoms in individuals with SIBO or IBS. This leaves when many plant-eaters feeling confused and overwhelemed. A plant-based professional can help create an appropriate dietary plan that maintains adequate nutrition while reducing gut irritation as a first step in a more comprehensive treatment plan (Staudacher et al., 2017).
- Fibre-rich, Non-Irritating Foods: A plant-based practitioner understands which fibre-rich foods promote gut healing without triggering symptoms.
- Gut Motility Support: A knowledgeable professional can get to the bottom of the reasons for the problem and recommend suitable natural medicines and lifestyle interventions to support digestive function and any other compromised organ systems in the body.
3. Expertise in Holistic and Natural Healing Methods
A plant-based natural medicine healthcare professional is more likely to recommend holistic interventions for gut health, including:
- Herbal antimicrobials: Instead of relying solely on antibiotics, many of which can disrupt the microbiome, plant-based experts often use natural antimicrobials like oregano oil, berberine, and allicin to manage bacterial overgrowth (Chedid et al., 2014). These typically have lower risk of side effects and adverse reactions, but should still be used with caution.
- A short-term vegan-friendly elimination diet: A natural healthcare practitioner understands that an elimination diet is not a long-term solution and works with the patient to ensure they can widen their healthy food options.
- Mind-Gut Connection: Stress and trauma impact gut function tremendously. A holistic natural healthcare provider may incorporate or recommend mindfulness, breathwork, or even trauma-informed therapy to support digestive healing.
Conclusion
Gut health is a complex interplay of diet, microbiome balance, and digestive function. For vegans and vegetarians struggling with SIBO, IBS, or general gut discomfort, consulting a plant-based healthcare professional ensures evidence-based, ethical, and sustainable guidance. By understanding the intricacies of plant-based digestion and offering holistic, microbiome-supporting interventions, these professionals provide a more tailored and effective approach to gut healing.
If you’d like to work with an experienced vegan natural healthcare practitioner who works with both cooked and raw food diets, and has completed SIBO Doctor advanced practitioner training, check out my services page and get in touch!
References
- Chedid, V., et al. (2014). Herbal therapy is equivalent to rifaximin for the treatment of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 3(3), 16-24.
- Pimentel, M., et al. (2020). Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: a framework for understanding irritable bowel syndrome. Gastroenterology, 159(1), 47-61.
- Staudacher, H. M., et al. (2017). Mechanisms and efficacy of dietary FODMAP restriction in IBS. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 14(6), 373-384.
- Valdes, A. M., et al. (2018). Role of the gut microbiota in nutrition and health. British Medical Journal, 361, k2179.
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