SIBO Bi-Phasic Diet

Eating my way to a happier gut on the SIBO Bi-Phasic Diet

As a part of my treatment, I had to follow the SIBO Bi-Phasic Diet for 12 weeks, which was a daily challenge as my body and mind craved freedom of food choices.

The SIBO Bi-Phasic diet, what is it?

The diet is explained, "This protocol of diet combined with specific gut healing and antimicrobial phases was created by Dr. Nirala Jacobi. The diet is based on Dr. Allison Siebecker’s SIBO Specific Food Guide, a therapeutic diet combining the low FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols), and Specific Carbohydrate Diet. The goal of the protocol is to help eliminate bacterial overgrowth from the small intestine."

There are 3 options of diet, an omnivore version, a vegetarian/vegan version and an histamine version, which can be downloaded from the SIBO Bi-Phasic diet website. Each with a 2 phase protocol to repair and restore the gut, in combination with herbal digestive support.

Phase 1

Being on the Vegetarian/Vegan Bi-Phasic Diet for the first 7 weeks, I was extremely grateful I had allowed myself to re-commence eating chicken eggs, as the capacity to get enough "protein" food at 100g of tofu/tempeh per meal was extremely difficult and unsatisfying at that. I was hesitant to include the protein powder as I don't like to take "supplements" but would rather eat eggs regularly to be getting my protein requirements from my food. (This later changed after finding an amazing GP and trusting that this is what I needed to do for my body.)

During the 'strict' phase of Phase 1 of the diet, life consisted of tofu, vegetables, nuts, seeds, tofu vegetables, nuts, seeds, and you guessed it, more tofu, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Everything that wasn't allowed to be consumed in unlimited amounts, was portion controlled and weighed. You'd have thought this was the hardest part of the diet, however with new motivation to heal my gut, and the reduction in long standing symptoms egging me on, I was ok in the beginning. As time went on, and although I spiced things up a bit and started making curry and 'crumble' to add some different flavours and textures to my meals, my mental stamina was wearing thin and I just wanted to be able to eat what I felt like, to not have to care about exactly how much of each vegetable I was eating and to be able to engage in social eating with the people I love (however this was made easier at the end of my time on the diet as it coincided with social distancing through the covid-19 pandemic and all social gatherings around food ceased).

Semi-restricted Phase 1

After 2.5 weeks on the restricted diet and having a marked improvement in my symptoms, Anne that I could move onto the semi-restricted phase of Phase 1. Excited by the idea of bringing some small serves of fruit into my day, I was also fearful of moving on too soon and thought to myself, 'No I've got this, I will keep going with the restricted phase and REALLY give my gut the space and time it needs to heal.' So I continued on the strict phase for a total of 3 weeks. However, reading the Bi-Phasic diet protocol, I realised there was value in expanding the variety of foods I was eating, in order to shake things up a bit for any dormant bacteria hiding in my digestive system. When being starved of their food source, the bacteria can go into hibernation, so by introducing foods that "feed" them, they re-activate which gives the antimicrobials the opportunity to kill them off.

"Never before would I have thought I could have an orgasmic experience from eating banana."

The semi-restricted phase of Phase 1 allowed me to introduce 2 small serves of specific fruits per day, along with some some grains. I started eating half a banana twice a day and 1/2 cup of cooked basmati rice with some meals. After only 3 weeks of no, fruit except for the juice of limes, the rich sweetness of the banana melting in my mouth was complete divinity.

Four and a half weeks into the diet, I had my next appointment with Anne. By now the hormone test results were in and we took a closer look at the Hormone Mayhem that was occurring in my body. Anne prescribed me a hormone balancing program, along with 2 more weeks on the semi-restricted phase, before moving to Phase 2.

Phase 2

In my GP appointment to get a script for DHEA, he recommended I not be eating tofu, but instead tempeh would be a better alternative, although ultimately I would do better to be eating meat in my diet. So I switched to tempeh, but was having flare ups of gut symptoms at the same time so went off it again as I was concerned the tempeh was the issue. I was devastated by the return of pain and bloating, I was waking in the middle of the night craving food and was never feeling satiated. In a very difficult decision, I decided to follow my body's calls and introduced animal to my diet during this phase to see how my body and gut responded. In Phase 2 I introduced a few new foods including:

1/2 cup soaked and cooked buckwheat with some meals

Soaked and cooked oat porridge with 1 tsp honey, unsweetened almond milk, roasted nuts, seeds and coconut

Offal and meat

The allowed increase 'restricted vegetables' per day

I am 2 weeks into Phase 2 at which point Anne wanted to see me again to reassess. However, I want to be on the hormone cream protocol for at least 3 weeks before I see her again, and to see how the introduction of animal affects things, so will continue Phase 2 for a little longer yet. Update coming soon.