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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Joanne Hart, Registered Nutritional Therapist (BSc (Hons))


I was reading some research the other day and it linked irritable bowel with irritable brain. I thought its hardly surprising! Someone with gut issues is going to feel irritated, stressed, anxious or low aren't they? What the research goes on to talk about is how our gut is called the second brain and how there's back and forth talk between our gut and brain. The science is there and is useful to know, but I think it might mean that sometimes when we have IBS the health professional we are talking to puts it all down to stress. They've done the medical tests and they can't help anymore.


That's where nutritional therapy steps in, and has been stepping in for many years.


Reasons for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) are personal to you, that is why a personalised diet is so useful and gives you confidence. Some of the possible causes might be food intolerance, food allergy, sensitivity to certain chemicals, parasites, endurance exercise, ultra processed ingredients, lack of fibre, the wrong fibre, FODMAP issues, gluten, dairy, the integrity of the gut wall, stomach acid, digestive enzymes, histamine, and maybe it is caused by stress.


The list goes on.


I've worked with people with all of these different types of causes, occasionally it might just be one but often we work through a few. And at the same time I'm helping you to find foods that you enjoy alongside your lifestyle, which could be a busy office worker, marathon runner who want quick ideas, or someone with plenty of time who would like to cook more and try new recipes.


A lot of people start seeking help for food intolerances, They notice that certain foods aggravate them, then they notice that even more foods bother them and their list of foods start getting less. In these situations we want to build up slowly with foods, to find your tolerance levels but we also want to build up the strength of the digestive system and we can do this through food, targeted supplements, scientific tests and sometimes relaxation techniques. (I'm a yoga teacher too so can give you some simple tips there).


I've also worked with people who have got IBS after a nasty infection or food poisoning, sometimes they have ended up in hospital. Over time I've supported them to add foods back in and they're eating better than before, which is going to have positive affects all round.


There's also a group of people who are getting IBS issues around their sport, usually running even though they seem ok the rest of the time. It causes anxiety and that energy could be better spent on performing, it also carries on into recovery when they're back at work and their digestion isn't quite right. There's lots we can do there and as a keen runner similar issues and doctor experiences 'go and eat more fibre', are why I got into nutrition work myself.



There is also IBD - Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's disease), there's Coeliac disease and Diverticulitis. We can use nutrition to support all of these conditions because nutritional therapy works alongside medical advice. On your health form you'd list your medication and conditions, and we'll let your doctor know we're working together. If you decide to take supplements we can check for any interactions with your medications.


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Get some help and get answers more quickly than on your own.

You don’t have to live with flare-ups, fatigue, and second-guessing every meal. There is a way through it, and it starts with listening to your body properly with some expert advice– not just ignoring it and hoping it goes away.


If you’re ready to get to the bottom of your digestive issues, I offer a free 30-minute Nutrition Refresh call. Let’s talk symptoms, testing options, and how to feel like you again.



Book your call here – your gut will thank you.














 
 
 

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