Hello, this is Miko!
Are you suffering from abdominal bloating, gas, or unexplained abdominal distension? You may have SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth).
I personally use Japanese honeybee raw honey every day. I got my hands on this year's supply early!
There are two large bottles, which is enough for my husband and I to last a year.
You might be surprised at the price - it's enough to buy a luxury bag, but that's the going rate for real honey.
When you open the lid, you can see the bubbling fermentation. Even if you try to scoop it up with a spoon, it has crystallized and is too heavy to lift. 🤣 This is proof that it is unheated and unfiltered. This is the real raw honey made by Japanese honeybees. It is so rare that it is called the "phantom honey."
Today, I would like to share in detail why this rare raw honey is so effective against SIBO, a modern disease known as gas, bloating, constipation, and brain fog.
Well then, let's get started!
Oh, by the way, you can get the same honey here ⬇️
Related article: Causes of intestinal imbalance and how to improve it | To maintain a healthy and youthful body
- Why does SIBO occur?
- SIBO is often overlooked in the medical field
- Modern Life Factors Causing SIBO
- 1. Antibiotic overuse
- 2. A diet full of processed foods and additives
- 3. Gluten and casein damage the intestines
- 4. A chronically stressful society
- 5. Environmental Pollution and Chemicals
- 6. Effects of electromagnetic waves
- 7. Lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle
- 8. Lack of sleep and disrupted daily routines
- Distance from nature leads to poor intestinal health
- Contradictions in common SIBO treatments
- 4 reasons why Japanese honeybee honey is effective against SIBO
- Not all honey is good! Three points to keep in mind
- Honey from Japanese honeybees, found at the southernmost tip of the mainland, is of special value
- What you need to know about SIBO treatment: Die-off symptoms
- To make improvements safely
- summary
Why does SIBO occur?
Modern people are becoming increasingly distant from nature, and their stressful lifestyles, including those filled with exhaust fumes, chemicals, and additives, diets full of synthetic detergents, and electromagnetic waves from smartphones and other electronic devices, seem to be affecting the intestinal flora.
SIBO is often overlooked in the medical field
In fact, SIBO is still not well known in Japan, and there are many cases where even doctors do not fully understand SIBO.
Even if you go to the hospital complaining of stomach problems, you will often just be diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or dismissed as being caused by stress.
While stress is certainly a contributing factor, SIBO does have a clear bacteriological mechanism. Despite this, SIBO diagnostic methods such as breath tests are not common in Japanese medical institutions, and many patients are unable to receive an appropriate diagnosis or treatment.
Modern Life Factors Causing SIBO
So, what specific lifestyle habits cause SIBO?
1. Antibiotic overuse
In today's world, antibiotics are often prescribed for colds and minor infections. Antibiotics not only kill bad bacteria, but also wipe out the good bacteria in the intestines. As a result, the balance of the intestinal flora is disrupted, creating an environment in which bacteria that should not be present in the small intestine can easily proliferate.
2. A diet full of processed foods and additives
Convenience store bento boxes, instant meals, and fast food are convenient and delicious, but they are full of additives that gut bacteria dislike, such as preservatives, colorings, and artificial sweeteners. These disrupt the intestinal environment, reducing good bacteria and increasing bad bacteria.
3. Gluten and casein damage the intestines
Inevitably, the modern diet is plagued by gluten and casein.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, etc., and is found in foods we eat every day, such as bread, pasta, udon, ramen, sweets, etc. Casein is a protein found in milk and dairy products.
Modern wheat, in particular, has a very high gluten content due to selective breeding. This gluten is difficult to digest, and if it reaches the intestines without being completely broken down, it loosens the bonds between cells in the intestinal wall, causing leaky gut (increased permeability of the intestinal wall).
When you have a leaky gut, undigested proteins, toxins, and bacteria enter your bloodstream, causing inflammation throughout your body. This inflammation further reduces intestinal peristalsis, creating a vicious cycle that worsens SIBO.
4. A chronically stressful society
Work pressure, relationship issues, social media comparison fatigue... Modern people are constantly under stress. Stress slows down intestinal peristalsis, reduces the secretion of digestive juices, and disrupts the balance of intestinal bacteria.
As the term "gut-brain axis" suggests, the brain and gut are closely connected. Stress directly affects the gut and is a major factor in worsening SIBO.
5. Environmental Pollution and Chemicals
Air pollution such as exhaust fumes and PM2.5, chlorine in tap water, chemicals in household detergents and fabric softeners, and environmental hormones leaching from plastic containers... We are surrounded by many chemicals in our daily lives without even realizing it, and these accumulate in our bodies and damage our intestinal bacteria.
6. Effects of electromagnetic waves
It has been pointed out that electromagnetic waves emitted from smartphones, computers, Wi-Fi, microwave ovens, etc. may affect the intestinal flora. There are also reports that electromagnetic waves cause stress at the cellular level, adversely affecting the intestinal environment.
7. Lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle
Modern people who work at desks spend most of their day sitting. Lack of exercise reduces intestinal peristalsis, making it easier for digested food to stagnate in the intestines. This creates a breeding ground for SIBO.
8. Lack of sleep and disrupted daily routines
Staying up late at night on your smartphone or leading a nocturnal lifestyle can disrupt the circadian rhythm of your intestinal bacteria. Your intestinal bacteria also have their own "internal clock," and living a regular lifestyle can help them function healthily.
Distance from nature leads to poor intestinal health
In the past, people lived in contact with the soil, ate fermented foods on a daily basis, and lived in accordance with the rhythms of nature, coexisting with a diverse range of microorganisms.
However, modern people are surrounded by disinfecting and antibacterial products, and mistake a sterile state for "cleanliness," causing us to lose the symbiotic relationship with microorganisms that humans should naturally have.
This "disconnection from nature" may be the root cause of modern diseases such as SIBO.
Contradictions in common SIBO treatments
When researching SIBO, the one thing you will always see is advice to "avoid high FODMAP foods and switch to low FODMAP foods."
But is that really the case?
Isn't it a bit contradictory to say that we shouldn't eat fermented foods or foods high in dietary fiber, which are said to be good for the intestinal environment, in other words, foods that please the good bacteria in our intestines?
So, I realized that reading articles from Japan, a country where SIBO is still relatively undeveloped, would be of no use, so I started looking for useful information from overseas, and found many different approaches to improving SIBO.
Among these, genuine raw honey produced by nature has the potential to help improve SIBO, so I would like to share it with you all!
Related Article - The foods you eat that you think are good for you may be making SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) worse
4 reasons why Japanese honeybee honey is effective against SIBO
1. Powerful antibacterial and antifungal effects
Our Japanese honey has amazing antibacterial properties. Research has shown that gargling with just 1% honey water can reduce cavity-causing bacteria by 68%.
Mechanism of antibacterial action
First, the glucose oxidase enzyme in honeybees' saliva mixes with water and sugar in their bodies to produce hydrogen peroxide (a component of disinfectant).
It is also rich in bioflavonoids such as quercetin, apigenin, and luteolin, which have antibacterial properties.
And importantly, research has shown that honey also inhibits fungal growths, such as candida. This antifungal effect is crucial, as SIBO patients often suffer from both bacterial and candida overgrowth.
2. Rich source of nutrients and energy
When SIBO worsens, many people find that they are able to eat less and lose a lot of weight.
The problem is that not only fat but also muscle is lost. When the visceral muscles that move the intestines decrease, intestinal peristalsis weakens, further worsening SIBO, creating a vicious cycle.
Our honey is an efficient energy source, providing approximately 200 calories per heaping tablespoon.
3. Improves insulin resistance
People with SIBO often develop a state of insulin resistance, which occurs through the following mechanisms:
Bacteria that have proliferated in the small intestine die in large numbers, releasing a toxin called lipopolysaccharide (LPS). When LPS enters the bloodstream due to leaky gut, white blood cells produce large amounts of substances called cytokines, which interfere with the function of insulin.
As a result, symptoms such as post-meal drowsiness, decreased concentration, abnormal appetite, palpitations, and cold sweats may appear.
Benefits of Japanese honeybee honey
Polyphenols are said to have the effect of improving insulin resistance. Japanese honeybees collect nectar from a variety of wildflowers in virgin forests, so honey is rich in a variety of polyphenols and nutrients.
This makes it a more complex and nutritious honey than honey from a single flower, and also makes it a better option for blood sugar management.
4. Replenish beneficial bacteria
Raw honey, especially honey from Japanese honeybees, contains Bacillus subtilis (a spore-forming lactic acid bacterium).
This bacteria is a beneficial bacteria that is also contained in the intestinal regulator "Bios3" and has the following characteristics:
- Protected by an eggshell-like structure, it is resistant to stomach acid and heat and reaches the intestines alive.
- It has a tendency to adhere particularly easily to the mucous membrane of the small intestine.
- It produces an antibacterial protein called bacteriocin, which inhibits E. coli and other bacteria that cause SIBO.
Additionally, the oligosaccharides contained in honey act as prebiotics, providing food for beneficial bacteria.
Not all honey is good! Three points to keep in mind
So far we have been talking about the wonderful benefits of honey, but in fact not all honey has the same effects.
Unfortunately, most commercially available honey has lost its original benefits.
1. It has not been heat-treated (unheated, raw honey)
Most commercially available honey is heat-treated to make it easier to distribute and store.
However, heating inactivates enzymes such as glucose oxidase, kills beneficial bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis, and also causes the loss of some vitamins and minerals, resulting in the loss of antibacterial properties.
How to tell the difference : Genuine unheated honey will crystallize over time. If the honey doesn't crystallize, you can be sure it's been heated. Furthermore, if it's truly unheated and unfiltered, it will bubble and ferment in the bottle.
If you take a look at this, you will see how different it is from commercially available honey.
2. Pure and unadulterated
Unfortunately, there are a number of types of honey available on the market that are:
- Animals that have been fed starch syrup, sugar, or isomers of fructose, or are suspected of being adulterated
- Honey blended from multiple regions
- Artificial honey syrup
These products do not provide the benefits of honey.
In particular, it is well known that Western honeybees harvest honey three to four times a year, and that the bees that struggle to find food during the winter are given sugar water. Therefore, even if it is the same honey, depending on the time of year, the composition of the honey can vary greatly. It is also important to keep in mind that the time of year it was harvested.
3. Honey harvesting environment and beekeeping methods
The quality of honey depends largely on the environment in which the bees collect nectar.
Key Takeaways
- Unpolluted natural environment: Honey harvested in areas free from pesticides and industrial pollution
- Feeding the bees: In most beekeeping, the bees are fed sugar water during the winter when there is no food, resulting in poor quality honey.
- Frequency of harvesting: Western honeybees harvest honey three to four times a year, but such frequent harvesting can lead to immature honey being mixed in.
Pesticides are detected in most honey, especially honey collected from nectar from flowers that many people enjoy eating. This is an important fact to know. I do not recommend buying honey that is bottled and sold by farmers, with the excuse that "it's fresh because it's sold at roadside stations!" This is because there is a high possibility that it has not been inspected at all. You should always buy products that clearly state that they have been inspected.
Furthermore, if we consider a place that is free from contamination in the first place, the most ideal location would be a marginal village at the end of the Osumi Peninsula, with no major roads running through it, like our products.
Honey from Japanese honeybees, found at the southernmost tip of the mainland, is of special value
Why Japanese honeybees?
Compared to the Western honeybees used in general beekeeping, Japanese honeybees have the following characteristics:
Rare honey with low yield
This honey can only be harvested once a year, from late November to early December, when a cold snap hits. As a result, the honey matures in the hive for a year, resulting in several times the normal amount of organic acids. Furthermore, only two-thirds of the honey is harvested from the hive to allow it to survive the winter. The rest is left to survive the winter, so the organic acids continue to ferment for years.
Honey harvested from a variety of flowers
It has a highly nutritious and complex flavor, thanks to the nectar collected from various wild plants in the untouched primeval forest planted by the Satsuma Domain over 100 years ago. It is grown in an area where many native species of Hetsuka orchids, Hetsuka oranges, and wild herbs used as herbal medicines are planted, and it is the only place in Japan where it still exists, completely untouched by human hands. Therefore, there is absolutely no need to worry about pesticides. (However, it is still subject to annual bacterial testing before shipping.)
No heating/no additives
Our honey is completely unheated, so the enzymes, vitamins, and minerals remain intact.
natural environment
This honey is harvested in a minimally polluted environment, the virgin forest at the southernmost tip of the mainland.
For more details, please take a look at this video, which I watched last year to witness the honey harvesting.
What you need to know about SIBO treatment: Die-off symptoms
When starting treatment for SIBO, many people experience the "die-off symptom (Herxheimer reaction)."
This is not necessarily a bad thing, and in fact is evidence that things are improving, but if you experience it without understanding it, it can be unsettling.
What are die-off symptoms?
When you try to suppress bad bacteria in your gut with antibiotics or natural antibiotics (including honey), a large number of bad bacteria are killed at once.
At this time, the bacterial cell wall is destroyed, and large amounts of toxins such as endotoxin and LPS (lipopolysaccharide) are released into the blood.
As your body has to process all these toxins at once, you may experience temporary symptoms such as:
- Headache, fever, chills
- Fatigue, muscle pain
- Nausea, diarrhea
- Increased abdominal bloating and gas
- Skin rash or itching
- Feeling depressed or anxious
Why the honey approach is better
Treatment with antibiotics rapidly kills not only bad bacteria but also bacteria in the intestines, so it tends to cause severe die-off symptoms.
On the other hand, honey's gentle antibacterial approach:
- Reduce only bad bacteria gradually, not suddenly
- At the same time, it replenishes good bacteria and restores balance.
- Nurturing good bacteria with prebiotics such as oligosaccharides
- It also serves as a source of nutrition and energy
This means that the die-off symptoms are relatively mild and put less strain on the body.
To make improvements safely
By starting with a small amount of our Japanese honeybee honey, you can gradually get your body used to it and improve your intestinal environment.
And here are some other items you should take with honey:
- Yaeyama Chlorella
- Black roasted brown rice tea
- Blackened pickled plums
These are our three core detox sisters. Add in some effective probiotics for SIBO and you're sure to see improvement in your gassy stomach!
The best probiotics recommended for SIBO are shared in the Nihonjinfufu highlights, so check it out!
summary
I hope this article will help you to improve your intestinal environment, lose weight, achieve beautiful skin, and live a long and healthy life.
Genuine raw honey from Japanese honeybees is not just a sweetener, it is a valuable medicine given to us by nature to regulate our intestinal environment.
If you suffer from gas or SIBO symptoms, be sure to give this a try.
We sincerely support your healthy everyday life ❤️
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At Kokako Shoten, I, the owner, personally use and offer only carefully selected Japanese seasonings and foods that I truly believe to be the "real thing."
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