Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastro-intestinal disorder that has significant impact on a person’s quality of life. Symptoms of IBS include: cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation, or both.
Most people with IBS experience times when the symptoms are worse and times when the symptoms improve or completely disappear. In general, it is a condition that is not cured but requires long-term management. IBS causes digestive discomfort but generally does not cause inflammation and does not increase the risk of inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer.
For most people, IBS can be well managed through diet, lifestyle and, if required, stress management. The low FODMAP diet is a relatively new evidence-based approach that helps people with IBS identify which foods are well tolerated and which foods are not. This diet is accepted and recommended as one of the most effective dietary therapies for IBS, with a success rate approaching 75%. I began implementing the low FODMAP diet and additional supporting strategies since its inception. Together, we work through the testing phase, identifying the categories of food that trigger the symptoms. I then build an eating style that minimizes IBS symptoms, is easy to maintain and is healthy.
