Many clients contact me with the goal of improving their health or having more energy, but many are not aware than the root of the problem lies in their guts – that they are suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). One in six people suffers from IBS, although only 75% of these cases have been diagnosed.
What Is IBS?
IBS is an inflammation of the intestinal mucosa with symptoms of bloating, gas, abdominal distention, constipation and even stomach cramps. Another issue it brings is poor absorption of the food we eat, due to the damaged state of the intestine walls, which can lead to malnutrition of essential micronutrients.
The symptoms associated with this illness are some of the most common reasons we go to the doctor. However, medical tests such as a colonoscopy often do not show up any anomalies, structural problems, cancerous cells or any other obvious cause for your symptoms. Therefore, many doctors are unable to determine the cause and, consequently, may not have a treatment protocol.
How Do I Know If I Have IBS?
If you have: Gas, Bloating after meals, Abdominal pains, Diarrhea or constipation (going to the bathroom less than once a day) then you have IBS.
Why Do I Have IBS?
Experts in integrative medicine know that an illness may have many causes or that one root problem may lead to many illnesses. According to these experts, there are 5 factors for any illness: allergens, microbes or imbalance in gut flora, toxins, poor diet and stress. In the case of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, there are 2 very important factors to bear in mind:
Foods That Cause Hypersensitivity
Certain foods can cause irritation in the gut, which is known as food sensitivity. Symptoms of food sensitivity are milder than those of a food allergy (nuts, egg, seafood, etc.), but they can still cause terrible discomfort.
Foods that are widely known to cause sensitivity are those that contain gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and spelt) and milk and dairy products. With regard to gluten, it is possible to test negative for celiac disease and still experience gluten sensitivity. With regard to milk, 75% of adults are not able to digest lactose (the main sugar in milk), which can cause bloating, wind and diarrhea. Furthermore, milk proteins (mainly casein) can cause irritation and inflammation of the gut.
Gut Flora Health
Our gut is home to more than one hundred trillion bacteria from 500 different species, known as gut flora. We have 10 times more bacterial cells than the cells of our body, so if our gut flora is not in a good condition, neither are we. An imbalance in gut flora or an overgrowth of bad bacteria, yeasts, parasites or worms in the gut can cause symptoms of IBS.
The use of antibiotics, steroids, birth control pills and antacids can cause bacteria and yeast overgrowth in the gut.
Can I Cure Myself, Naturally?
The answer is yes. You don’t have to continue suffering with IBS symptoms, you can cure yourself, and you can do it naturally. By following a few simple diet steps, you can eliminate this debilitating problem and get your vitality back, and soon.
Steps To Follow
The best things you can do to put an end to IBS are:
Contact a professional nutritionist to guide you through an elimination diet, which will enable you to identify the foods that are causing sensitivity.
Eliminate harmful bacteria and other parasites in your gut and repopulate your gut flora with a good probiotic supplement (containing bifidobacterium and lactobacillus), as well as incorporating probiotic products in your diet, such as kimchi, Kombucha, miso and sauerkraut.
Include a good amount of prebiotic foods (those with a high fiber content) in your diet and supplement it with digestive enzymes, in order to facilitate digestion during the gut healing process.
Maintain an anti-inflammatory diet, with clean, high-quality products. Eat foods that are rich in vitamin A such as carrot, broccoli and cabbage; and foods that are rich in omega-3 such as oily fish, walnuts and flax seed. This will help to repair the intestinal walls. Turmeric has great anti-inflammatory properties, so try using it to season your dishes.
Practice relaxation exercises such as yoga, Tai Chi and meditation. These can help you to manage your stress levels. Remember that stress is one of the main causes of many contemporary illnesses.
Following these directions can lead to a big improvement and even eradication of Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. You have nothing to lose, and so much to gain.
