If you’re ready for a deep dive into one of the most misunderstood gut health conditions on the planet, you’re going to love my conversation about small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, AKA SIBO, with registered dietitian Ayten Salahi.
I discovered Ayten’s work a while back on Instagram, and let me tell you, it’s rare to discover a practitioner I am so aligned with so it’s exciting for me to introduce you to her wonderful work! She dives deep into topics around irritable bowel syndrome, SIBO and diet with a lens on inclusive, positive and joyful - and yes, effective - nutrition strategies for getting your digestive function back on track.
We’re tackling SIBO today, which is the subject of a lot of misinformation online, particularly around the role that nutrition plays in caring for it. SIBO is a debilitating gut condition that is notoriously difficult to treat…which sets it up as prime internet fodder for wellness discourse.
We get super specific about what SIBO is - and isn’t - on this episode, as well as tackling diagnosis, treatment, and the very surprising role of nutrition in SIBO care.
If you’ve got SIBO - or know someone who does - this episode may lead to a lot of surprising insights!
About Ayten Salahi RD:
Ayten Salahi, MS, RDN is a GI- and plant-focused registered dietitian, culinary nutritionist, and intersectional food policy advocate. She completed her masters degree at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and her Dietetic Internship at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). There, she completed a concentration in medical nutrition for gastroenterology and received the Louise Hatch Award for outstanding professional promise and standards of practice.
On this episode we chat about:

How Ayten’s background in neuroscience got her interested in the gut brain connection
What is SIBO, actually?
What are the symptoms?
What are methanogens and how do they impact motility?
Why SIBO is so difficult to diagnose and treat
All the underlying causes of SIBO (you’ll be shocked)
The truth about how nutrition affects SIBO
Should you go low FODMAP?
Why pharmaceuticals are an important part of SIBO care
Why physical movement is important
Why you can still eat food you love while you help your gut feel better
The major red flag when evaluating SIBO information

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