Being told you have ‘Irritable Bowel Syndrome’ means exactly that-
you have symptoms that your bowel is irritated. It’s really just a label for
your symptoms and telling you what you already know- your bowel is irritated. IBS
encompasses a whole host of digestive discomfort such as diarrhoea, constipation,
bloating, stomach cramps, pains and gas. So what causes it? The medical theory
behind IBS suggests the symptoms being caused by stress. While stress may be
the cause for some, it is not necessarily the cause for all. A food intolerance
could be causing your symptoms.
What is a
food intolerance?
Food intolerances are very different
to a food allergy. With an allergy, symptoms are usually obvious, immediate and
severe in nature.
An intolerance is quite different. A
reaction can occur immediately after consumption or up to 3 days following. It
is usually dose dependent, so the more often you eat the food the worse the
symptoms. This also means it can be difficult to figure out exactly what foods
you are reacting to. Who would blame the pasta they had 2 nights ago for their
IBS symptoms?
Most common symptoms are nausea, bloating, pain,
gas, heartburn, diarrhoea, constipation. Other common symptoms caused by
food intolerances include headaches or migranes, skin problems (acne, eczema,
psoriasis), hayfever, sinusitis, poor sleep, depression or low energy levels.
Food
intolerance testing
Having any of the symptoms above is enough to lead you to suspect
food intolerance. I recommend food intolerance testing as the fastest and most
accurate way to diagnose food intolerances. This is done via a blood sample and
is much less confusing using trial and error. If you think you might be suffering
from intolerances, give us a call and we can send you for a simple blood test!
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