What is IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
IBS is a common condition affecting the digestive system, and symptoms can differ for each sufferer. Therefore, understanding your own symptoms and their relationship to your gut health is paramount in finding a way to improve the condition for life and to keeping your gut bugs happy.
Your IBS Symptoms
Constipation or Diarrhoea? You might have been diagnosed with IBS-C, IBS-D, IBS-mixed or IBS-U. Don’t worry, I’ve worked with clients with all types of IBS symptoms and diagnoses. Do you have urgency immediately after eating?
Pain and cramps? IBS sufferers have heightened pain sensors. It’s not your imagination, you do feel more pain. But I promise that a personalised diet and lifestyle changes can help.
Indigestion and acid reflux? This is a complicated subject, caused mainly by too little stomach acid. I’ve written a blog about this subject and you can read it here.
Bloating and wind? Your gut bugs produce gasses, so you need more good bacteria in there to help balance the gut and reduce the bloating.
My job is to find out what your root causes are
Not only are everyone’s IBS symptoms different, but the root cause of their problems will be very different too. Some causes are:
Hormonal imbalance: When our hormones go haywire, they can affect our sleep, our mood and sadly our guts.
Stress and anxiety: Stress can cause our gut and immune system to be dramatically out of balance, so that we are in ‘fight or flight’ mode too often, slowing down digestion.
Sugar and fat: Too much sugar and inflammatory unhealthy fats can disrupt our gut bugs.
Food sensitivity: Sensitivities can start at any time. You could be eating too many histamine-producing foods, too many nightshade vegetables or maybe you’re reacting to one of the top 14 allergens.
We will work together to root out your causes and find the best solutions to improve your life.
IBS and weight: What is the link?
When our gut health is out of balance, we may suffer from all the symptoms mentioned above, including pain, constipation, diarrhoea, heartburn, gas and bloating. Other less obvious symptoms are weight gain, aching joints, skin issues, chronic fatigue, anxiety, brain fog, allergies, hay fever, food intolerances, headaches, migraine, hormone problems and even long covid.
Increasingly, evidence points to weight gain and gut health being deeply connected. Using the best nutritional science and personal coaching, I will empower you to take control of your symptoms, improve your gut health and help you achieve sustainable weight loss. By following one of the programmes I offer, you will recover your waistline and your confidence.
