IBS: Looking for the Cause Behind the Label
IBS, irritable bowel syndrome, is a name for a set of symptoms: constipation, diarrhoea, cramps and bloating with no obvious explanation. It describes what is happening. It does not say why. I treat the label as the place to start looking.
How I think about IBS
When I look closely at the people who come to me with IBS, there is nearly always something specific behind it. Bile that is thick and slow is one of the most common, and one of the most overlooked. So are missing gut bacteria after food poisoning or antibiotics, which is often when reactions to FODMAP foods begin.
A restricted diet can calm things down, and sometimes it is needed for a while. The aim is to find out why digestion is struggling and to rebuild your tolerance, so that the diet does not become permanent. If your symptoms are new, severe or changing, see your doctor first.
Articles on IBS
- IBS
IBS Not Improving? Signs of Sluggish Bile and What Helps
What bile does for digestion, the signs it is struggling, and how I support it.
Read the article - IBS
Low FODMAP Diet Tips: 6 Ways to Eat Better and Rebuild Tolerance
Flavour without the FODMAPs, why portions matter, and how to get your tolerance back.
Read the article - IBS
Chronic Diarrhoea: What Your Gut May Be Trying to Clear, and Where I Start
Food you cannot digest, toxins and microbes, weak digestion and the nervous system.
Read the article
- How to Reintroduce Foods After an Elimination Diet
The physical steps, and the fear of reactions most guides miss.
- Why Does SIBO Keep Coming Back? The 5 Root Causes I See Most
Mold, dental issues, food poisoning, medication and stress, and how each one disrupts digestion.
Questions I am often asked
What causes IBS?
IBS is a description of symptoms, so the cause differs from person to person. The ones I find most often are sluggish bile, bacterial overgrowth and gut bacteria lost after food poisoning or antibiotics.
Is a low FODMAP diet the answer to IBS?
It can calm symptoms, but it was not designed to be permanent. I use it as a tool while working on digestion and the microbiome, so that tolerance can return.
When should I see a doctor about IBS symptoms?
Always for symptoms that are new, severe or changing, for blood in the stool, for unexplained weight loss, and for anything that worries you.
Not sure what is behind your symptoms?
The free Gut Health Quiz shows which part of your digestion needs support. My free Comprehensive Food Sensitivities List covers the food groups people react to most.
I’m a coach, not a medical doctor. This page shares my experience and what I see with the clients I coach. It is for education only and is not medical advice, a diagnosis or a treatment plan. Speak to your doctor before changing medication or if your symptoms are severe or new.