Everything you need to know about Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome isn’t the most glamourous health condition out there, nor is it something people necessarily like to discuss outside their GP’s office, but the fact is around 10-15 per cent of the world’s population are likely to experience it.
It’s one of those disorders that you could live with for years and not recognise what it really is. In fact, even those who recognise they have symptoms don’t always seek treatment. We spoke to Sydney nutritionist Lisa El-Behnaihy to learn more about the condition.
“It is characterised by abdominal cramping and altered bowel movements, although not all symptoms are gastrointestinal, with fatigue being a very common symptom,” she explains. “Signs and symptoms must be present for at least 12 weeks and the patient must have at least 2 of the 3 following features – a change in stool, a change in frequency of a bowel movement (i.e. diarrhoea or constipation) or abdominal pain/bloating.”
Sufferers can develop IBS at any age, but some experts believe stress may be a factor. Women are also at a slightly higher risk of the condition, with around just one third of sufferers reported to men.
While medication is available, IBS is best treated by changes to the sufferer’s diet. The Low-FODMAPs diet is particularly popular among those affected as it cuts out fermentable carbohydrates – a food group particularly triggering for sufferers.
However, there are other small changes you can make to help alleviate symptoms. Here are Lisa’s top tips.
- Avoid trigger foods.
- Supplement your diet with a probiotic to repair and maintain healthy gut flora.
- Increase intake of water and fibre to encourage healthy bowel movements.
- Exercise more to maintain GI function and reduce stress, thus improving symptoms.
In addition to the above, Lisa recommends a few nutrients to help reduce inflammation.
- Glutamine – also improves gut barrier function. Aim for between 500 and 3,000 mg per day.
- DHA/EPA – also regulates mood. Try for 1–3 grams per day.
- Curcumin – also provides antioxidant benefits. It is found in turmeric but also comes in tablet form.
Any advice in this article is for information purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment in any manner.