Adelaide IBS treatment. IBS Naturopath Australia.
There is a lot of confusion surrounding the diagnosis of and treatment of Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Often suggested treatment can be vague and leave you feeling even more confused? Countless patients have explained that after receiving a diagnosis of IBS their doctor suggested a low FODMAP diet and sent them on their way. While a low FODMAP diet may initially clear up a lot of those uncomfortable symptoms, it's restrictive and often these patients relapse within a few months (and don't have the best things to say about the diet).
What is a low FODMAP diet?
FODMAP stands for Fermentable, Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols which are types of carbohydrates that can be difficult to breakdown and are poorly absorbed by some individuals. These carbohydrates can cause or worsen symptoms like bloating, cramping, distention, pain, reflux, constipation and diarrhoea, especially in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). There are a few other conditions that may benefit from a low FODMAP diet too.
What is IBS?
IBS is a very common gastrointestinal disorder that affects 1 in 7 people. It's characterised by a cluster of symptoms which indicate that the digestive system is not functioning properly. IBS is an umbrella term used to describe a broad set of symptoms and an IBS diagnosis alone, does not necessarily help us to specifically address the cause.
I have IBS, why can't I just follow a low FODMAP diet forever?
If you do not investigate the underlying functional cause of your IBS, the low FODMAP diet is just a temporary bandaid solution. If you stray from the (very restrictive!) diet your symptoms will likely resurface not to mention your poor gut microbiome will suffer (due to lack of diversity from your diet) which can lead to subsequent immune system problems.
Is there a more effective way to treat IBS?
Absolutely there is. Given that IBS is an umbrella term, the most important treatment priority as a Naturopath is identifying what the underlying cause of your IBS really is. By asking the right questions during a consultation I can find out a lot of information as well as recommend further functional testing to identify exactly what the driving cause may be. Some common causes of IBS are; gut sensitivity (from stress/anxiety), poor diet (excessive alcohol/sugar/caffeine), gut bacterial imbalance, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), leaky gut or a gastrointestinal tract infection.
Does treatment still usually involve the low FODMAP diet?
Often it does! But the difference is that it is temporary (usually 10-12 weeks is recommended) as we will be actively addressing whatever the cause of your IBS is with targeted nutrients, herbs and lifestyle strategies at the same time. Treatment may also involve following an individualised meal plan if you would like the extra guidance. This means that when we eventually begin to challenge and re-introduce as many high FODMAP foods as possible, your body will be in a state of balance and likely able to tolerate a lot of the foods that it could not in the past.
What to do if you have IBS and the low FODMAP diet isn't working?
Book a Naturopath consult with Georgia to investigate the root cause of your IBS and get you feeling better as soon as possible.
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