Gut Health - IBS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, FODMAP diet, Gluten…
Many people who suffer debilitating gut symptoms such as pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea and/or constipation are given a diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Symptoms are often alleviated after the elimination of certain foods whether that be gluten, dairy or the full FODMAP elimination diet.
The problem with self-prescribing elimination diets is that it can miss important information and/or lead to worsening of reactions long term. People may eliminate gluten thinking that is the problem, missing the opportunity for celiac testing, OR, it may not be gluten at all but foods that contain gluten such as a wheat allergy.
IBS sufferers are often prescribed the well recognised FODMAP elimination Diet that can be very effective at reducing symptoms. FODMAPs is the acronym for a range of fibres found in many foods that our gut struggles to digest. While eliminating these fibres reduces symptoms, it doesn't give us any long term solutions as we are cutting out a huge range of foods that are actually very healthy and the offending fibres are actually beneficial for a healthy gut. Many clients come to me frustrated at the limited range of foods they can eat while on FODMAP diet, and are worried about an upcoming event or holiday, or they are finding their reactions when they do eat these foods are becoming even worse than before.
So, what do we do then?
Here at EveryBody Nutrition, I still use elimination diets such as FODMAP, when absolutely necessary, but often I find that I can narrow down to the trigger foods by asking a series of questions. More often than not, clients walk away being able to eat more foods than they thought they could, and then we begin treatment strategies to improve gastrointestinal health long term.
I commonly use a 3 step approach to supporting clients restore their gut health for long term results:
Assess causative factors such as allergies/intolerances, parasites, nutrient deficiencies, stomach acid/reflux, and stress, and address these accordingly. This may or may not involve some testing, dietary modification and or/ a supplement where needed.
I address the environment within the gut by reducing inflammation and degradation of the mucosal layer in the intestines as well as supporting the gut-immune interface within the gut. Did you know at least 70% of our immune system is in our gut? Parasites and bacterial overgrowths don't just happen for no reason. They happen because the environment is suitable for their colonisation or for an imbalance of healthy bacteria to occur as in the case of 'Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth' which is where our normal bacteria that is meant to be in the colon, overgrows into the small intestine due to slow movement of stool through the intestines. A healthy gut environment and regular bowel motions, paves the way for our healthy bacteria to colonise and flourish while preventing things like SIBO from developing.
Once we have established a healthy gut environment, we then support microbial diversity. Our bodies need a broad diversity of beneficial gut flora for overall health. And no, this isn't done using expensive probiotics! Every person is born with their own Microbial blueprint. We nourish and support your OWN natural microflora which in turn can crowd out anything micro-organisms that shouldn't be there or shouldn't be overgrown, as well as that, healthy bacteria produce something called short chain fatty acids which lead to improved colon health as well as all kinds of health benefits for the entire body (including the brain).
