Cara: Alternative health guru

Cara Spiritguide is a natural healer and ascended reiki master. Each month, she takes an alternative look at a health problem.

Dear Cara

While studying for my university finals, I was diagnosed with IBS. I’m prone to diarrhoea and always need to be near a loo! It’s very debilitating. How can I better manage my condition? Ella, 21, Nottingham Dear Ella

IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) is a condition which affects the bowel, causing bloating, cramps, constipation and/or diarrhoea. It’s exacerbated by stress (such as your university finals, for example) and the causes are varied.

One major cause, however, is food intolerances - not true allergies but low grade reactions which lead to chronic symptoms and inflammation, along with overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine.

The small intestine can start fermenting digested food, particularly sugar and starchy foods, and is a major cause of IBS. It equates to 60% of our immune system so if the lining breaks down due to stress, then antibiotics, steroids, alcohol, low fibre or high sugar could all act as triggers and activate an immune response, creating havoc and leading to IBS, arthritis, mood disorders, allergies and more.

Simply - when the gut is out of balance, it makes you sick. Luckily, there’s plenty you can do to help manage this.

Whattodo

 Keep a food diary over 12 weeks and try eliminating the foods you know trigger an attack.  Make a friend of fibre but be aware that too much, especially insoluble fibre found in the skin of fruits and vegetables, can wreak even worse havoc.  Make sure it’s not a gluten or wheat intolerance.  Eliminate alcohol, coffee and processed foods such as chips and biscuits.  Avoid breads and cereals made with refined (not whole) grains.  Avoid starchy and sugary meals - including carbonated drinks,chocolate, lactose, soy, corn and eggs.  Check if you may have a yeast infection. It’s surprising how many people do.  Avoid dairy, especially cheese.  Avoid high protein diets.  Have small regular meals rather than big ones.  Drink lots of still water and herbal teas - peppermint or chamomile, fennel, turmeric, slippery elm or calendula.  Exercise regularly. Don’t ignore persistent stomach pain – seek medical advice if this is ongoing. And try some reiki!