What is causing my bloating and digestive problems and how do I fix it?

Chronic bloating, gas, and digestive discomfort are signals that something in the gut ecosystem is off — but the specific driver varies significantly between people. The most common culprits include:

• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) — bacteria that belong in the large intestine migrate upward and ferment food in the small intestine, producing gas and bloating within 30–90 minutes of eating
• Dysbiosis — an imbalanced gut microbiome with insufficient beneficial bacteria and overgrowth of pathogenic or opportunistic species
• Low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) — insufficient acid impairs protein digestion and allows bacteria to survive that should be neutralized before reaching the intestines
• Food sensitivities — distinct from allergies, sensitivities to gluten, dairy, FODMAPs, or other compounds trigger delayed inflammatory responses that produce bloating and discomfort hours after eating
• Intestinal permeability — a compromised gut lining allows partially digested food particles and bacterial byproducts into the bloodstream, driving systemic inflammation

The gut is also directly connected to systemic inflammation, hormone metabolism, and brain function through the gut-brain axis. Digestive symptoms rarely stay isolated — they often co-occur with fatigue, brain fog, skin issues, and hormonal imbalances because the gut is central to all of these systems.

Fixing gut health requires identifying the specific pattern through functional testing — not just eliminating foods or taking probiotics blindly. The right protocol depends entirely on which driver is present.