Treating Ibs By Supporting Gut Health
After her functional medicine appointment we put Mona on targeted supplementation to support her adrenals and liver function, and modified her diet so that she produced the right balance of stomach acid.
We did not use a popular supplement for stomach acid called Betaine HCL because her examination revealed it would most likely cause further damage to her stomach.
Most people who have IBS have an underlying stomach problem in which not only stomach acid levels are too low but they are also on the verge of developing an ulcer or having stomach lining inflammation.
For these cases, it is absolutely paramount to first heal the actual stomach tissue while also supplying the raw materials for the stomach to make stomach acid on its own without taking Betaine HCL.
She started to meditate to reduce stress and got counseling for some unresolved past trauma. Over the course of a few weeks these healthy habits started having the desired effect – getting her body out of a chronic ‘fight or flight’ state and into a restorative parasympathetic state.
Within weeks, her digestive symptoms lessened to the point where she finally had normal bowel movements, was no longer was bloated, digested her food easily and she could, for the first time in years, feel confident about her health.
Return To A Strict Low Fodmap Diet
The low FODMAP diet is a two-phase diet, and a scientifically-proven therapy to manage IBS .
The first phase of the diet involves removing foods that are rich in specific sugars that are likely culprits for IBS symptoms.
Once symptom control is achieved, each group of FODMAPs are re-introduced one at a time to identify which are responsible for that individuals symptoms.
Many consider the initial strict version of the low FODMAP diet their safe diet.
It is a good idea to return to this baseline diet during a flare to let your symptoms pass.
Follow A Specialized Diet
The right IBS diet approach can substantially alleviate your IBS symptoms and improve your health.
The first step to naturally treating IBS is to avoid foods that trigger your IBS symptoms. 70% of people with IBS stated that certain foods worsen their symptoms.
There are 7 diets available that may reduce IBS symptoms:
A low FODMAP diet will include many of the fruits and vegetables in that list, but its important to keep in mind that quantity matters. You can make a lower-FODMAP food trigger your symptoms if you eat too much of it.
What are the benefits of an IBS diet? The benefits of the IBS diet include treatment of various gastrointestinal symptoms, reduced abdominal pain, distension, constipation, and diarrhea.
One study in 2021 found that the low FODMAP diet has highly positive effects on symptoms of all subtypes of IBS . The low FODMAP diet has proved to be an effective therapeutic approach for decreasing abdominal symptoms.
These results are supported by other research. A low FODMAP diet considerably reduced the major symptoms of patients with IBS and improved their stool output.
A large study published in 2016 concluded that for those who follow a low-FODMAP diet, the odds of reduced stomach pain and bloating are 81% and 75% higher, respectively.
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Lifestyle Factors Affecting Ibs
Are you feeling frazzled and stressed out from ALL the pressures of modern day living? It is worth considering if stress triggers your IBS symptoms.
Stress puts us into the fight or flight state and can alter digestive function. In short, our blood gets sent to our limbs and brain and digestion of food gets put on the back burner.
Bloating and constipation are undesirable side effects resulting from this type of stress. There’s a definite interplay between the two, where stress can cause bloating and vice versa. Learn more about the relationship between stress and bloating.
Following these simple tips can help you relax before meals this will give your body the best chance of being able to break down and digest your food properly.
- Sit down to eat in a quiet and comfortable place, with no screens.
- Take three full, deep belly breaths before you start eating.
- Chew your food properly, aim for a minimum of 15 chews per mouthful.
Anxiety provokes IBS and IBS provokes anxiety thus ensues a vicious cycle that can be hard to break. The link between the gut and the brain has been extensively researched and studies continue to take place in this area. Learn more about the gut-brain axis.
Breaking this cycle can be challenging, but not impossible.
Taking up a meditation practice is not only good for helping you deal with stress and anxiety, but it has shown to improve pain and bloating scores in up to 57% of participants with IBS in one study6.
Why not give it a go?
More Or Less Fiber May Help
The evidence for the best type and amount of fiber in the diet is conflicting.
Some people are certain that a high fiber diet helps their symptoms, whereas others find a low fiber diet is more effective.
The type of fiber supplement that has the most research completed on it is psyllium husk .
Psyllium husk is a soluble fiber, meaning that it dissolves in water.
It soaks up water like a sponge to add bulk to loose stools, but also softens hard stools to help them pass easier.
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Best Natural Home Remedies For Ibs
Looking for natural home remedies for IBS? While prescription medicines may help relieve some IBS symptoms, they’re not appropriate for everyone, and many people prefer to use herbs and other non-medicated tools to promote better gut health and ease IBS symptoms.
But, while natural remedies may have less side effects compared to prescription medicines, be aware that there is more research available on the long term effects of prescription medicines, and they’re better regulated. No matter which home remedy you choose, make sure you talk to your doctor about all the things you are doing to manage your IBS. With that in mind, let’s countdown the top 10 best natural home remedies for IBS.
Natural Remedies For Ibs
Irritable bowel syndrome is a chronic disorder that affects the digestive system. Signs and symptoms of IBS include cramping, abdominal pain, stool irregularities, bloating, flatulence, and diarrhea or constipation.
Living with IBS can be frustrating the side effects on your everyday life are significant.
IBS can be caused by a vast number of factors, from genetics to chronic stress to antibiotics to SIBO and more.
It is possible to treat irritable bowel syndrome if the root causes are identified. Working with a functional medicine provider, you may be prescribed various treatments and medications to understand what works best for your condition.
Keep in mind: Every persons body and circumstances are different. No single treatment for IBS can reverse this condition for every patient. However, a targeted, active approach to addressing the root causes of your IBS can produce dramatic results.
Done letting your gut issues rule your life? Join PrimeHealths Gut Health Group Visits and find lasting relief with a community of others who understand. only a few spots remain for the next group beginning on Sept 20!
Lets review the 11 best natural remedies for IBS, backed by scientific research.
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Psychological Therapies For Ibs
Continuing on from above, the gut and the mind are strongly linked.
If the mind is calm, then gut symptoms improve.
Thus, it makes sense that psychological therapies play an important role in keeping IBS symptoms to a minimum.
Probiotic supplements are a promising additional treatment option for those with IBS .
The term probiotics refers to beneficial bacteria that we consume specifically for health benefits.
However, probiotic supplements are not created equal.
They vary in the strains they contain and the amounts.
A comprehensive review on the best probiotics for IBS can be found here.
/7include More Soluble Fiber
Fiber is digestion-friendly- and is more easily broken down by your body. All said and done, it is important that you choose the right kind of fiber which doesn’t prove to be harsh on your stomach and disrupts the flow of stomach juices. Try and have more foods that contain a high concentrate of soluble fiber and lesser of the insoluble one, which takes longer to break down. Good food options would be fiber-rich foods like carrots, celery, citrus fruits, beans, rolled oats, barley and even some kind of nuts and seeds. You can also try meeting your fiber requirements in the form of natural supplements like adding psyllium powder and glutamine.
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Cure Ibs Permanently In 5 Simple Steps
It is controversial to say anyone can cure IBS at all. But at PrimeHealth, we have seen a huge percentage of our IBS patients live full lives without IBS symptoms after treatment.
The key is in the first step: testing for IBS triggers. IBS can be triggered by a dozen underlying causes and each IBS trigger requires a different treatment.
5 steps to permanently cure IBS:
How long does it take for IBS to go away? It takes several months for IBS to go away completely for many patients. However, some IBS sufferers can experience a reduction in IBS symptoms in less than a day. It depends on which IBS trigger is causing the discomfort.
Below, we will go into a little detail for each of these steps.
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
Small intestine bacterial overgrowth occurs when bacteria usually found in the large intestine overgrows in the small intestine. It is sometimes considered a potential cause of IBS.
“The most common symptoms of SIBO are persistent abdominal pain, cramping, gas, bloating, and diarrhea, with those experiencing constipation possibly due to intestinal methanogenic overgrowth ,” says Dr. Keller.
The latter is caused by microorganisms with methane which can also overgrow in the small bowel or colon and lead to constipation. In short, more focus is being placed on the role of gut bacteria and the bacterial makeup of IBS patients who do not have the disorder to understand if bacteria in the small intestine contributes to IBS.
“Both conditions can be diagnosed with a simple breath test and there are options available for treatment,” she says.
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How Can We Cure Or Fix Ibs
The key approach to fixing Irritable Bowel Syndrome is to do the full testing to identify YOUR root causes. Then address these so that you dont have to eliminate healthy foods from your diet for the rest of your life. Working with a skilled practitioner is the best way to do this.
Bacterial overgrowth Sydney Nutritionist
How Can I Manage My Stress To Feel Better
Unpredictable symptoms can leave you stressed and anxious, which can lead to more problems. But when you learn ways to worry less, that can break the circle.
Talk therapy. Two types tend to help treat IBS. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps you change negative thoughts and actions. It may focus on stress management or your reaction to anxiety about your symptoms.
Psychodynamic therapy looks at how your emotions affect your symptoms. Often youâre taught ways to help you relax.
Hypnosis. This puts you in a different state of awareness and uses the power of suggestion to help you feel better. The hypnotist may use calm imagery to help relax the muscles in your gut.
Visualization. Itâs like taking a mental vacation to distract you from your worries and pain. Imagine yourself in a place you find calm and relaxing. Maybe itâs in a boat on a mountain lake. Feel the warm sun on your face. Dip your toes in the water. Listen to the birds chirp. Smell the mountain air.
Go back to that place every time you feel stressed or when symptoms bother you.
Mindfulness meditation. This can calm your mind, ease stress, and help manage pain. It’s taught in a class or group session. Youâll learn breathing, visualization, and relaxation techniques to lessen your stress. The main goal here is to help you focus on the present instead of worrying about the past or future.
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Acupuncture Can Help Ibs
Acupuncture has been demonstrated to improve digestion, and relieve diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and other digestive symptoms. It is also amazing for pain and helping the body recover from symptoms of stress.
If acupuncture is a treatment option youd like to consider, you can read more about the acupuncture services we offer here at A Path to Natural Health at .
What Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is a long-term gastrointestinal disorder that is characterized by symptoms like abdominal bloating, irregular bowel movements, mucousy stool, and so on.
This condition is also known as spastic colitis, nervous colon, and mucus colitis. IBS is a chronic condition, but its symptoms may change with time.
The cause of irritable bowel syndrome is unclear. However, the following factors are often associated with this syndrome.
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Try The Failsafe Diet
The FAILSAFE diet is an alternative diet therapy that can be considered when the low FODMAP diet doesnt provide good symptom relief.
Its another type of elimination diet that aims to identify a sensitivity to particular natural food chemicals and artificial food additives.
Similar to the low FODMAP diet, there are two main phases that involve an elimination phase to confirm a reaction, followed by a reintroduction process.
The Better I Eat The Sicker I Feel
Sally was in her mid twenties and also had a healthy diet. The problem was, when she was ‘good’ on her diet, she felt worse.
If she was out and grabbed a quick sandwich, her stomach felt fine, but if she was home on the weekend and prepared a perfectly healthy meal of baked vegetables, a fresh salad and a chicken breast – she was tired and had stomach pain and bloating the rest of the day.
One of the best things about a functional medicine appointment is its length – Sally’s first patient appointment with me was an hour long, giving us enough time for her to tell me, in detail, about her health since she was a child.
Sometimes it only becomes clear when your illness started when you go through every seemingly inconsequential detail.
Sally remembered that she got food poisoning in college, a few weeks after that she got a urinary tract infection . Her doctor put her on a round of antibiotics. The UTI came back a few times over the course of a few months. Each time, she would refill her antibiotics and after a few days the symptoms would be gone.
After that incident, her digestion was never quite the same and slowly deteriorated over the course of a few years.
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When To Contact A Healthcare Provider
If your symptoms do not get better with diet and lifestyle changes, you should see a healthcare provider for evaluation. You also should see a healthcare provider if:
- You notice changes in your stool like blood, pus, or tar-like appearance.
- Your symptoms seem to have come out of nowhere over the past few weeks.
- You experience unexplained weight loss, fever, or diarrhea.
- Your pain wakes you up at night or interferes with your day-to-day life.
- You are over the age of 50.
Symptoms Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
The symptoms of IBS may vary from one individual to another. The most common ones include:
- Irregular bowel movements
- Abdominal cramps accompanied by pain
- Passing of mucus via the rectum or while passing stool
- Sudden and urgent need to use the loo
Most of these symptoms usually worsen post eating. A flare-up may follow and last for about 2-4 days before the condition begins improving.
Certain symptoms may also affect other body parts and mimic other conditions. Such symptoms may include:
Most of the above symptoms are quite common to both men and women, other than the signs associated with sexual intercourse and menstruation.
If you can relate to the above symptoms, it is better to get yourself tested for IBS to rule out other underlying conditions.
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Yoga Brings Ibs Symptom Relief
While mindfulness may reduce symptoms, physical activity is an integral part of the mind-body connection. One of the most effective ways to pair mindfulness and exercise is through the ancient practice of yoga. And, studies suggest it can be helpful in managing IBS, but the quality of the data is limited.
A review published in December 2019 in the journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences analyzed several studies that looked at the benefits of various yoga practices focused on the mind-body-breath connection. It found that a majority of participants saw improvements in their IBS symptoms, their digestion, and their physical health, as well as improvements in mood, anxiety, and their outlook on life. The results suggest that practicing yoga can lead to improvements in physical health and a more positive outlook on life, which helps decrease IBS symptoms.
Mindfulness For Stress Relief
Reducing stress with breathing exercises and mindfulness may also help calm down the gut nerves that are misfiring. The ACGs guidelines recommend various mindfulness techniques that have the potential to improve IBS symptoms. A study published in September 2020 in the journal Neurogastroenterology and Motility found that after an eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction practice, more than 70 percent of the participants in the study reported improved IBS symptoms. The reduction in severity also continued for three months after the eight weeks of the study.
I recommend 5-5-5 to my patients, Powell says. That is, smell the roses by inhaling through your nose for a count of five. Hold that breath for five counts, then exhale through your mouth for a count of five or longer, as if you are blowing out candles on your birthday cake. This breathing technique is very calming to the autonomic nervous system, which can help with IBS, she adds. Best of all, its portable. You can do it anywhere, such as when youre waiting in your car at a stoplight.
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