IBS & Gut Health

Has your digestion been a bit off for a while? You might have seen your GP, told there was nothing wrong and been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This is an umbrella term for a collection of symptoms and doesn’t provide insight into what is causing your constant upset stomach.

Together with a client I work out what part of their diet, lifestyle and stress response is driving their discomfort. I also ask a lot of questions; How often do they have a bowel movement ? And do they feel fully evacuated? Did they have multiple ear infections/tonsilitis as a child which may have required lengthy doses of antibiotics?

I ask many questions about food; do they feel gassy with too much protein? Or does a kale salad with a side of sauerkraut leave them feeling like they are 9 months pregnant?

Once all the information has been gathered the client and I decide on the best way forward.

I might suggest supplements such as probiotics, enzymes, soothing tinctures, enzymes or gut healing powders. If the array of symptoms has been going on for some time, I often recommend a comprehensive stool test to get a better picture of what is going on inside.

What is a comprehensive stool test?

This single-sample stool test allows us to see what’s going on in the gastrointestinal system. It provides a comprehensive picture of the microbiome – both the pathogenic and beneficial bacteria (a colonoscopy won’t show you this!) as well as covering enzymes, parasites and giving an indication of leaky gut and gluten sensitivity. With these results we can create an individual program that provides targeted support for long-term gut healing.

Do you recommend a FODMAP diet?

This can be helpful for some clients for a short time (particularly those diagnosed with SIBO) but it is not a diet I recommend regularly. The reason this is not a good long-term solution is that certain high FODMAP foods are rich in beneficial prebiotics which feed the good bacteria in our gut. When our diet is lacking in this nourishing food source for the good bacteria, more problems can arise.