As a Nutritional Therapist I am finding more and more that I am working with people with irritable syndrome (IBS). Basically the term is given to you by a doctor before they have decided (with or without testing) that your symptoms are not related to a condition like coeliac, diverticulitis, Crohn's Disease or other inflammatory bowel disease. If you don't fall into these categories you will get advised to take peppermint oil, Buscopan and pain killers. However, there is much that can be done to relieve symptoms so that it does not affect your life too much. Do have a look at the list below and if these don't change things please don't hesitate to contact me as I do have a programme designed to look at you the individual, your triggers, and your underlying issues that can and does get to the bottom of IBS and helps you get your life back. Click here for further details of my 90 Day Programme.
The Do’s and Don’ts of IBS
There are some do’s and don'ts that I would recommend if you are living with IBS.
DO’s
Eat fresh, homemade food.
The majority of food you eat should be homemade or fresh. This helps to eliminate trigger foods, sugar, additives and preservatives.
Record your meals.
Keep a diary of everything you eat in order to understand what triggers symptoms. That way you know what to avoid reducing the chances of a flare up.
Take Probiotics
Take probiotics to help with the overall health of your digestive system. It is difficult to say what is best for the individual but always use a good quality one which does not contain FOS. Optibac provide a good range of probiotics. VSL#3 is recommended in the management of IBS by the NHS. Sacchromyces Bourlardii has been shown to be effective in the case of diarrhoea.
DON’T's
Eat processed foods.
Eat unhealthy processed foods. Processed foods are filled with sugar, salt and unhealthy fats which all feed bad gut bacteria and may contribute to inflammation.
Drink alcohol.
Drink alcohol or carbonated drinks. Both may cause inflammatory responses in the body and they can also contribute to the feeding of bad bacteria which may result in further gut imbalances and symptoms.
Eat quickly
Eating too quickly does not help prepare the stomach for digestion and may lead to reduced stomach acid. Mindful eating is key. If you are not eating food in a relaxed and controlled manner your digestive system cannot work properly leading to poorly digested food, flatulence, diarrhoea, constipation, wind and pain.
If you are experiencing IBS like symptoms first consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis.
You may find my Free Downloadable 7 Day Reduce The Bloat Plan helpful. Visit my Services page to sign up to the mailing list to receive it.
These are a few things that you can try. As a Nutritional Therapist my goal is to help you get your health back on track and to reduce your IBS symptoms to a point where you can enjoy life without the worries of your toilet habits taking over. Please do feel free to check out my https://www.mariejarvisnutrition.co.uk/services page to find out how I can help you further.
Have a great day,
Marie Jarvis, Nutritional Therapist / Nutritionist, BANT