Why Your Gut Feels Off in July — And It Might Not Be the Carnival Food

Let’s be real — summer is one big beautiful disruption.

Between road trips, late-night BBQs, and all the mini donuts at the Calgary Stampede, your digestive system is probably… confused.

And sure — we could blame it all on deep-fried Oreos, but for many people, gut discomfort in the summer isn’t just about what you ate. It’s about how your body is (or isn’t) processing it — and whether deeper issues like IBS or SIBO might be playing a role.

In fact, research shows that up to 78% of people diagnosed with IBS actually have SIBO — Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth — a condition where too much bacteria grows in the wrong part of the gut, causing symptoms like:

• Bloating and gas
  
• Belching and heartburn
  
• Abdominal cramping
  
• Diarrhea, constipation, or both
  
• Food sensitivities and fatigue
  

… not exactly the vacation vibe you were going for

So what’s really going on — and why do your symptoms always seem to show up more in July?

Travel Disrupts Your Gut’s Rhythm

Your gut thrives on routine — regular meals, movement, rest, and hydration. But summer throws that all out the window.

Travel days, carnival snacks, restaurant menus, inconsistent water intake, and disrupted sleep create the perfect storm for bloating, indigestion, and gut freak-outs.

It’s not about being “bad” or eating “wrong” — it’s about your system losing its rhythm.

5 Signs Your IBS Might Actually Be SIBO

SIBO can hide under the label of IBS — but there are clues it might be something more:

• It all started after food poisoning or a travel illness
  If your digestive troubles began after a bad case of “traveller’s tummy,” that lingering disruption could have shifted your bacterial balance.
  
• Probiotics make things worse, not better
  SIBO is an overgrowth of bacteria — so adding more (even the good kind) can fuel the fire.
  
• You’ve felt better after antibiotics
  A temporary improvement after antibiotics might suggest you’ve unknowingly reduced the overgrowth, even if no one told you that’s what was happening.
  
• You snack constantly
  Snacking all day keeps your digestive system too busy to clean itself. (Seriously.) Your gut needs breaks between meals to activate something called the migrating motor complex — a crucial cleaning wave that keeps bacteria from building up.
  
• You thrive on a low FODMAP diet
  
• If cutting out fermentable carbs helps you feel better, it could be a sign that too much fermentation is happening too early in your gut — classic SIBO behaviour.

So What Can You Do?

The first step is recognizing your symptoms aren’t “just part of getting older” or “probably the poutine.”

If you’ve been struggling with digestion — especially in summer — and nothing seems to stick, it’s time to go deeper:

• Test for SIBO or other functional issues
  
• Support digestion while travelling or eating out
  
• Balance gut bacteria with targeted, strategic treatment (not just random probiotics)
  
• Restore rhythm to your gut-brain axis so your whole system functions better

Gut Balance Isn’t About Perfection — It’s About Awareness

Summer’s meant to be fun, flexible, and maybe a little sticky with mini donut sugar. But if your gut is always making you second-guess your plans, you deserve answers.

There’s a reason you feel better when your routine is solid. Let’s help your gut catch up — so you can enjoy the season without feeling wrecked by it.

Let’s Find Out What’s Really Going On

If you're tired of guessing, masking symptoms, or blaming the Stampede corn dogs, we’ve got good news: there’s a path forward.

Dr. Derek Cook, ND is now accepting new clients in Calgary and virtually across Alberta — specializing in gut health, IBS, and SIBO treatment that meets you where you’re at.

You don’t have to live in survival mode with your digestion

Book your free consultation here
Let’s bring some rhythm (and relief) back to your gut.