F*ck, I’m losing my hair! For a while now my son has been complaining that I’m losing my hair, that he’s finding my hair all over the place, including in his lunch which I make (disgusting!). Is it menopause? Is it stress? Is it medication side effects? Is it due to nutritional deficiencies? I actually think it’s primarily due to menopause, but as to nutritional deficiencies, read on.
Back in the spring I had my first colonoscopy. (Remember once you turn 50, get a colonoscopy to screen for colorectal cancer.) The gastroenterologist had me take a hydrogen breath test, took a biopsy, and diagnosed me as having SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). The treatment regimen included going on a low FODMAP (Fermentable, Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides and Polyols) carbohydrate diet and taking ciprofloxacin antibiotic. He recommended going off the low FODMAP diet after a few weeks and then periodically take ciprofloxacin to control the bacterial overgrowth. Since I do not want to regularly take a broad spectrum antibiotic, I’ve been trying to follow the low FODMAP diet. It is very restrictive, but keeps my gut healthier. I won’t go into details, but I notice a difference when I eat high FODMAP foods. Halloween I ate all of the Tootsie Rolls, as well as other candies chock full of high fructose corn syrup. My intestines are not happy. Bloated, running to the restroom, not a pleasant price to pay for the indulgence.
About SIBO:
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome. World Journal of Gastroenterology. Jun 28, 2010; 16(24): 2978–2990. Published online Jun 28, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i24.2978
- SIBO – Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth at siboinfo.com, website of naturopath Allison Siebecker, ND, who specializes in the treatment of SIBO.
About the low FODMAP diet:
- Monash University > Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences > Cecs > Gastro > Fodmap >
- http://www.med.monash.edu/cecs/gastro/fodmap/description.html
What does FODMAP stand for?
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Fermentable |
The process through which gut bacteria degrade undigested carbohydrate to produce gases (hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide) |
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Oligo-saccharides |
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Disaccharides |
Lactose found in; milk, soft cheese, yoghurts |
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Mono-saccharide |
Fructose (in excess of glucose) found in honey, apples, high fructose corn syrups |
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Polyols |
Sugar polyols (eg. sorbitol, mannitol) found in some fruit and vegetables and used as artificial sweeteners |
~ http://www.med.monash.edu/cecs/gastro/fodmap/description.html
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