Constipation, heartburn and excess gas are some of the common symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) present in both males and females. If you are interested in learning more about what foods to eat for good gut health, including the Low Fodmap Diet and lifestyle strategies but unsure where to start then read on and learn how manage your gut symptoms and ultimately your quality of life.
Dysfunctional gut disorders are those in which the gastrointestinal (GI) tract looks normal but doesn’t work properly. They are the most common problems affecting the GI tract (including the colon and rectum) and examples include chronic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Do you suffer with troublesome symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating, wind, heartburn and diarrhoea or constipation? Are these symptoms an occasional issue for you or are they controlling your life and causing you anxiety? If so it is likely you are suffering with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and diet plays a pivotal role!
At your personalised 1:1 session, I will help you identify your trigger foods, discuss why you might be experiencing symptoms and how diet and lifestyle can contribute to gut symptoms. I can recommend specific tests and provide tailored evidence based dietary advice to help you improve your gut health, take back control of your symptoms and regain your quality of life.
The Low FODMAP Diet is a treatment option for people with IBS symptoms. Some carbohydrates can trigger IBS symptoms because they are fermented by bacteria in our gut. These carbohydrates are called Fermentable, Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols (FODMAPs).
This diet approach involves a 6-8 week strict exclusion phase followed by a structured food reintroduction phase and has been shown to provide symptom relief in up to 75% of patients suffering with IBS. It is a tricky diet to navigate but I will advise on the practical aspects of the diet and offer support on how to go low fodmap and continue with your busy lifestyle.
Diverticular disease is the presence of pouches along the inner wall in the large bowel and Diverticulitis is when these pouches become inflamed. People who suffer with chronic constipation have a higher incidence of diverticular disease and diet plays a pivotal role in preventing and managing an acute flare up. Together we will discuss how you can modify the fibre content of your diet to improve your symptoms and reduce your risk of further flare ups.
Inflammatory Bowel disease is a broad term to cover both Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis. I will take a thorough medical, symptom and diet history to help understand how best to help you. Are you unsure what to eat to prevent a flare up? Do you feel restricted in what you can eat, confused about what you should be eating or are you struggling with weight maintenance or low energy levels?
Do you also have an ileostomy or colostomy? I can help advise on what to eat, how to control your output and balance your hydration status and simply get on enjoying your life!
Gastro Oesophageal Reflux disease, GORD is a term used to describe symptoms including reflux, heartburn and oesophagitis and it is thought to affect 1 in 10 of us on a weekly basis. Whilst these symptoms might be due a medical reason, diet and lifestyle can also cause these symptoms. We can discuss known dietary changes that can help reduce or resolve your symptoms so you can finally throw away those Rennies or Gaviscon!
If you are struggling with other gut conditions aside from IBS such as Liver disease, Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency, Bile Salt Malabsorption and Coeliac Disease, then I can help you to improve your GUT symptoms and rekindle your love of food.
