The causes and solutions to IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects around one in five New Zealanders, with women being twice as likely to be affected than men.
This common condition is not normal – food is not supposed to bloat you – and it doesn’t have to be this way. Here are a few of the common reasons people experience IBS and how to address them.
Common symptoms of IBS
❚ Abdominal pain or cramping that is often relieved by passing wind or faeces. ❚ Alternating diarrhoea or constipation. ❚ A sensation that the bowels are not fully emptied after passing a motion. ❚ Abdominal bloating. ❚ Mucous present in the stools. ❚ Nausea.
What causes it?
Getting to the heart of why someone is experiencing IBS is critical, as the road into any condition is the road that needs to be taken out. At the heart of IBS can be a range of triggers including: ❚ Relentless stress hormone production, anxiety or excessive worrying. ❚ Food intolerances, poor digestion, low digestive enzyme production. ❚ Sex hormone imbalances. ❚ Gut bacteria disruptions, possibly after an episode of food poisoning, antibiotics, or an upset holiday tummy.
Stress-related IBS
If your gut function has changed after a challenging time in your life, your bloated abdomen may have initially been due to poor stomach acid production. Now, however, if poor stomach acid production has been ongoing because of an almost low-grade (or high-grade) anxiety inside you, the changes in digestion that were initially due to poor stomach acid production may have changed the gut bacteria and hence the pH of the large bowel.
It is important to focus on stimulating stomach acid production by slowing down your meal consumption, avoiding drinking water 20 minutes either side of eating and chewing your food really well. It’s also important to eat mindfully – focus your attention on consuming meals without looking at your phone, TV or book and do your best to eat in a calm state. To help reduce the stress your body is experiencing, integrate a breathing exercise into your daily routine.
IBS caused by food intolerances
Observation is the key to this process, as your body does not have a voice. Your body communicates through symptoms, and lets you know if it is happy or not. A food that bloats you is, in that moment, not your friend, and your body is simply letting you know. So take a break from whatever you suspect and notice if it makes a difference.
You will feel so different when you feed your body precisely what it wants. Common irritants include substances found in processed foods, gluten, casein (the protein found in all foods that come from an udder) and coffee. Even too much fruit can irritate some people’s digestive tract. Remember that just because it bloats you today does not mean you will never eat that food or drink that drink again (unless you have a true allergy). It simply means that right now, in this moment, it does not serve you.
Sex hormone imbalance IBS
If your tummy only bloats and gets sensitive in the lead-up to your period, it is likely to be estrogen dominance. An imbalance in your sex hormones could be related to poor digestion, stress, a liver that needs support, or a nutrient deficiency, specifically of those nutrients required to build your sex hormones.
It’s advisable to work with a health professional who can ascertain your specific sex hormone imbalance picture. However ensuring your liver is functioning efficiently is a wonderful place to start.
Dark leafy greens and vegetables from the brassica family (including broccoli, cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts and cauliflower) contain specific nutrients our liver needs to transform harmful substances to be eliminated. Reducing your consumption of liver-loaders (alcohol, trans fats, refined sugars and artificial substances) will also be helpful.
IBS caused by gut bacteria disruptions
Despite negative stool tests, I have seen this health picture frequently. Where once they had an iron gut, this person now feels like they react to everything. Discuss with your GP about having a Helicobacter pylori test. Under the guidance of a health professional, take a herbal anti-parasitic tablet or liquid, even if your stool test has come back negative. Dietary changes can be very useful in this situation, until the gut has healed. ❚ Dr Libby is a nutritional biochemist, best-selling author and speaker. The advice contained in this column is not intended to be a substitute for direct, personalised advice from a health professional.