Every week I meet clients who suffer with GI distress, some of which they have endured symptoms for years at a time.
More often than not, these are tell-tale symptoms of IBS, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
You should normally seek an official diagnosis from your GP but you may be able to work out if you have it by reading on...
IBS is very common and very manageable by making small changes to your diet. Read on to find out more.
The 9 major tell tell signs of IBS:
Pain and cramping
Diarrhoea
Constipation or urgency to go
Or alternating diarrhoea and constipation
Blood or mucus in the stool
Gas (especially if it's foul smelling gas)
Bloating
Self diagnosed food intolerances
Fatigue and difficulty sleeping
Anxiety and depression
Skin issues including acne
IBS vs IBD
Don't mistake the two.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term for two conditions: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These conditions are characterised by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.
IBD tends to have 'flare-ups' and aggravated by diet or lifestyle such as dairy, processed foods or smoking, stress, other medication must notably, your own bodies immune response.
If you haven't been diagnosed, it's important that is done first by a healthcare professional. This could include a stool test, colonoscopy or diagnosis based on clinical signs and symptoms.
Both IBS and IBD can be supported through nutritional therapy once this is done.
What happens once I've been diagnosed with IBS?
There are a few treatment routes available:
Holistically - so through diet, lifestyle changes and if needed supplements
Speaking to your GP for advice which could include prescriptions
How can a nutritionist help?
As a nutritionist, I aim to work with your and your life to support your health in as natural way as possible. Together we'd work on what triggers your symptoms, are there outside forces impacting your stress or do you simple need guidance on what foods to eat.
We work on what is called the 4 R's Protocol:
Remove phase- Remove anything causing the gut to react: pathogens eg: parasite, bacterial overgrowth, food allergies, stress, lifestyle
Replace phase - Replace the offending triggers with antioxidant rich foods, high fibre, essential fatty acids
Repair phase - Repair the gut lining with the right vitamins, minerals and nutrients to support a healthy mucus membrane and reduce inflammation and 'leaky gut'
Reinoculate phase - Reinoculate with the necessary pre and probiotics to support a healthy gut microbiome
It can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to see improvements in your IBS symptoms. This will all be discussed with your therapist.
Whatever your knowledge or symptoms are, we create a personalised plan that suits you, with constant support to keep you on track. There's no quick fix with IBS, but even in just a few weeks with some changes, the impact on how you feel will be noticeable.
If you'd like to speak to me today about your symptoms book a free consultation and learn how I can help you today.
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Kelly Mulhall
Registered Nutritional Therapist
Kelly is a Registered Nutritional Therapist who focuses on positive physical and mental wellbeing, achieved through diet, lifestyle, sleep and exercise. Having struggled for years with IBS and hormonal imbalance, and increasingly frustrated with the lack of support and helpful advice from her GP, Kelly began her own journey of healing the body from the inside out. After seeing huge improvements she quit her job to study nutrition and focus on harnessing the healing powers of food to help other people in similar situations.