IBS

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder dependent on many factors. Symptoms are caused by changes in gastrointestinal function but not because of structural damage. It is not a specific disease but instead a group of common symptoms including abdominal discomfort/pain, bloating, and gas. IBS is accompanied by changes in bowel habits such as constipation and diarrhea, or may alternate between the two.

Signs and Symptoms

The most common symptoms associated with IBS include unexplained abdominal pain, GI distress, altered bowel habits, diarrhea/constipation, gas, bloating, and worsening of symptoms in response to stress.

 

Additional symptoms include:

  • Indigestion
  • Nausea
  • Fatigue
  • Passage of mucous in stool
  • Fullness
  • Upset stomach
  • Intestinal cramping
  • Rectal pain
  • Loss of appetite
Therapy for IBS

A clear-cut treatment for IBS is not available due to large differences in symptoms and causes from person to person. What works for one person with IBS may not work for the next, so individualization is key. According to recent research, it seems that nutrition intervention, plant-based herbal supplements, and stress management are the best approaches for treating IBS. Your nutrition practitioner will work with you to determine your individual triggers and make recommendations tailored to your individual needs.

The Role of Food Sensitivities

The Alcat Food and Chemical Sensitivity Test measures immune cell activation in response to individual foods, helping you to identify which foods trigger your symptoms.

The Alcat Test has been independently validated at Yale School of Medicine.  Yale research showed it to be a clinically useful diagnostic tool for the identification of foods and other substances that trigger gastrointestinal and potentially many other illnesses.

Testing rather than guessing allows individuals struggling with IBS to know what to avoid and what to include in their anti-inflammatory/gut healing eating pattern. Learn more about food sensitivities and the Alcat Test here. 

“I had extreme IBS, with constant pain and cramping, along with nausea, constipation and excessive gas. My abdominal pain was so severe at one point that I was housebound for over a year–living on water, weak tea, boiled chicken and rice. To make it worse, I had been to multiple doctors and specialists who were well-intended, but didn’t have the slightest idea how to help me.

Since I took the Alcat test and used the diet faithfully for 6 months, my life has totally changed for the better. Let me be clear–my symptoms are still healing, but it’s the difference between day and night for me. For instance, I can now go out to eat in restaurants with friends and go to social events. It was amazing; within 48 hours of getting the test results and starting the diet, I had NO PAIN. I just couldn’t believe it!”

Lynda A.

Beaux Bridge, LA

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