Do you suffer from irritable bowel?

Do you suffer from an irritable bowel?

Did you know that Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common GI (gastrointestinal) disorders in the world! In the US up to 10-15% of adults experience symptoms of the disorder every year. With an increase in new toxins and processed ingredients in our food system, it is no wonder that the majority of people are struggling to combat this disorder with modern medicine. Which by the way, often does not work to alleviate the symptoms of IBS.

As a functional medicine nurse practitioner, I want to help you get to the root cause of what is contributing to your IBS symptoms. Taking yet another pill is only a band-aid approach.

So what are some of the root causes of IBS? IBS is caused by many things, such as the excess of insoluble fiber, alcohol, caffeine, fructose, sorbitol, and carbonated drinks. It is also caused by factors that lower your gut immunity such as stress, and hidden infections. All of these things increase your risk of food intolerances as well.

Not sure if you have IBS? If you have abdominal pain bloating, gas, cramping, constipation, diarrhea and general discomfort in the bowel area you are experiencing the symptoms of IBS. These symptoms can lead to further complications such as anxiety, depression, loss of appetite, and more. IBS is a very debilitating disease which can get in the way of one’s everyday life. Most modern doctors simply treat the symptoms and neglect to investigate what might be causing the discomfort in the first place.

The Functional Path For IBS

As mentioned, functional medicine treats the source or root cause of the issue and will help you to establish your triggers, allergies, and sensitivities that are preventing your gut from being as healthy as it can be!

Why treat the symptoms and allow the disease to persist if you could prevent the onset entirely?

It’s worth remembering that IBS is ultimately a gastrointestinal condition, and so any course of treatment which does not incorporate gut health and cultivating healthy gut flora is not productive. By increasing your gut’s ability to absorb nutrients, you will slowly but surely be able to heal and reduce the effects of IBS. It requires a constant source of awareness that you must commit to maintaining, but functional medicine has your back!

So where do you begin?

First take a good, honest look at what you are eating. If you are consuming mostly processed foods and sugars, start switching them out with real, whole organic foods.
Remove coffee and alcohol from your diet.
Make sure you are drinking adequate water. Adequate hydration helps to flush toxins from your body.
Find ways to limit your stress
Try a food elimination diet and avoid known food triggers.
Get your gut microbiome tested. I can help you with this. Sometimes in spite of doing everything right you still don’t feel well. It may be time to have your gut microbiome tested for hidden infections and balance of your good vs. bad bacteria in your gut.

Becoming ‘literate’ in IBS is key to understanding it and implementing change. I encourage you to get to know your gut as much as possible. It could save you a lot of money and frustration from years of medical tests that “all come back normal”, yet your IBS symptoms persist.

To help get you started try this simple gut health promoting recipe to start improving your digestion TODAY!