We all tend to experience an irregularity to our bowel movements and digestion at times. It could be slightly looser bowels or diarrhoea, constipation, wind, gas or abdominal discomfort. For most of us, these symptoms are not regular and easily explained away because of abnormalities in the diet or high stress. For some people however, these symptoms may be affecting everyday life. You may experience these symptoms daily, sometimes multiple times per day. These symptoms may affect your social life, work life and general comfort. Some people have no idea what triggers these symptoms and find it very difficult to manage. If this sounds like you, please read on.

What is Irritable bowel syndrome?

It is a gastrointestinal or gut disorder that is based on common symptoms that are not explained by any other health conditions.

How do I know if I have irritable bowel syndrome?

Before changing your diet, be sure to seek medical advice to organise tests to investigate and rule out gastrointestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease and bowel cancer. It is also important for women to rule out gynaecological conditions. Once these conditions have been ruled out as a cause for your symptoms, your doctor may diagnose you with irritable bowel syndrome.

How can I manage irritable bowel syndrome better?

Once all necessary medical investigations have been completed and the irritable bowel syndrome diagnosis has been given, the next step would be to visit an Accredited Practising Dietitian who is experienced in irritable bowel syndrome and food intolerances. A Dietitian will guide you in investigating and possibly changing your diet to assist with reducing or eliminating your symptoms with the hope of identifying any possible food intolerances. This could take anywhere from weeks to months to investigate depending on each individual person. It is important to note, that not all cases of irritable bowel syndrome are caused by food intolerances. For some people it can be as a result of high stress, low physical activity, an unbalanced diet and for others it may be a combination of many factors. At Fresh Nutrition, we are well equipped to help you with your specific symptoms.