Food and your gut
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
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IBS is a common digestive condition, with symptoms of abdominal pain or discomfort, wind, bloating and a change in bowel habit such as chronic diarrhoea or frequent constipation.
IBS affects up to 1 in 5 people, frequently women. Medical experts think IBS is related to increased gut sensitivity or altered digestive function. It can develop after a stomach bug, antibiotics or a time of extreme stress. Certain foods or the menstrual cycle might make symptoms worse. IBS can make daily life difficult and lead to more stress, increasing your digestive discomfort.
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Can IBS cause another disease? IBS is not a precursor to digestive disease. However, bowel cancer is common in Australia and can be misdiagnosed as IBS. If you have any change in bowel habit that lasts two weeks or longer, see your GP. Healthy diet and lifestyle choices can reduce your bowel cancer risk. Ask Kym for more information.
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Registered with Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC)
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Full member of the British Association for Applied Nutrition
and Nutritional Therapy (BANT)
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Health professional advisor and Board Trustee at Bowel Cancer UK
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Public health professional, advising on health and behaviour change
Managing digestive problems with food
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Small shifts in your diet and eating habits can have a positive impact on your digestive health, especially when they consider your lifestyle, the cause of your symptoms and how you react to different foods. A healthy gut can better absorb nutrients from the food you eat, to help you maintain good health.
There are many ways to improve digestive health through food. This includes finding the right type and amount of fibre for you, and learning eating habits that will nurture your gut. The low FODMAP diet will benefit some people with IBS and other digestive conditions. FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols) are found in foods like bread, beans and pulses, milk, yoghurt, honey and certain fruit and vegetables. Many high FODMAP foods are healthy, and avoiding them long term can reduce your good gut bacteria numbers. I will guide you in systematically reintroducing FODMAPs to your personal tolerance, while maintaining a balanced diet. If this approach isn’t suitable, there are many other strategies we can explore together.
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This is why my nutrition advice is personalised to you. My expert advice is based on the latest evidence and tailored to your needs, helping you safely improve your gut health without sacrificing good food. I can work with your GP or gastroenterologist, and help you integrate healthy eating with positive lifestyle choices like exercise or yoga.
Whether you have a diagnosed condition, or your symptoms persist despite the all-clear from your GP, we will find the best way forward for your digestive health.
If you think you have IBS or are experiencing digestive problems, talk to your GP. Medical conditions like endometriosis, coeliac disease and bowel cancer share similar symptoms, and should be ruled out before you change your diet.
Then book in your free discovery call with Kym. Email hello@pipnutrition.com and get ready to take control of your digestive health.