Working with our Dietitians on your Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) symptoms

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) symptoms usually include several of the following:

• Diarrhoea and urgency or constipation or a variable bowel habit;
• Lower abdominal pain/cramping;
• Abdominal distension;
• Bloating;
• Excess passage of ‘wind’.

IBS Sufferers also regularly report:

• A feeling of incomplete bowel emptying;
• Nausea at times;
• Fatigue.

The cause of the above symptoms is not known, however may involve many factors including

• A more sensitive gut;
• An increased or decreased movement of gut contents;
• Damage caused by infections;
• Gut microbe upsets;
• ‘Leaky gut’ with some gut inflammation.

Our Dietitians will work with you on a range of management strategies including an Irritable Bowel Syndrome Diet (IBS Diet) to improve your gut function and reduce your symptoms including:

• Food choices and managing these within your preferences, lifestyle;
• Meal and snack timing;
• Hydration;
• Activity level;
• Sleep habits;
• Self-care strategies/Stress management;
• Eating speed;
• Other investigations.

Working with our Dietitians on the Low FODMAP diet

The FODMAP group of dietary carbohydrates can be poorly absorbed in the intestine of IBS-sufferers resulting in excess water being moved down the gut and/or excess gas production causing painful symptoms.

(*FODMAP stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, And Polyols)

This diet does not ‘cure’ IBS, but the IBS Diet works by helping individuals identify which FODMAP groups trigger their symptoms and through the challenge protocol determines how much of a FODMAP food group they can tolerate. This individualised ‘adapted’ diet is the key to improving digestive comfort.

The world leaders in this research is Monash University and we use their scientifically-researched protocols to enable our clients to improve their gut function long-term.

This approach achieves significant symptom improvement in 3 out of 4 IBS sufferers.

Reference: The 3 steps of the FODMAP diet, https://www.monashfodmap.com/blog/3-phases-low-fodmap-diet

1. Low FODMAP Diet

This phase is to be carried out over 2-6 weeks under the supervision of a Dietitian. This phase works to calm and settle your gut by restricting high FODMAP foods using the Monash University Low FODMAP Diet App and book.

Once phase 1 has been successfully completed and your symptoms have reduced, phase 2, FODMAP Reintroduction begins.

2. FODMAP Reintroduction

This phase includes “liberalising” foods back into your diet to determine which FODMAP foods trigger your gut symptoms.

Our dietitians will advise:

• When to reintroduce;
• The order of foods to be reintroduced;
• Which foods to reintroduce with;
• The amount of the reintroduced food to have; and
• Interpret your responses.

Our Dietitians will also you in the interpretation of your responses over this phase of 6-8 weeks, and then you will move onto phase 3, FODMAP Personalisation.

3. FODMAP Personalisation

Phase 3 focuses on establishing your longer term personalised FODMAP diet.

Personalisation allows our Dietitian’s to utilise the interpreted trigger and intolerant foods over the course of the FODMAP diet. Foods and FODMAPs are reintroduced that were tolerated well, eliminating foods that triggered your symptoms.

Our Dietitians ensure your diet remains nutritionally adequate and we deliver a personalised approach to suit your preferences.

This approach ensures you can create a long-term, symptom-free balanced diet, enabling you to enjoy life without IBS.

If you suffer from IBS, make an appointment to see our Irritable Bowel Syndrome Perth Dietitians at The Nutrition Specialists.

You can book in through our website (HERE) or call us on (08) 9204 2588