Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal (GI) disorder that can begin in childhood, adolescence or adulthood, and can resolve unexpectedly for periods throughout an individual’s lifespan. It can also recur at any time, bringing with it uncomfortable symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea. The GI tract is an extremely complex system, influenced by a vast network of hormones and nerves. There is currently no one-off treatment for IBS, careful management of diet and lifestyle is the only known way to reduce suffering from key symptoms. It is important to eat well-balanced, medium-sized meals while maintaining and healthy sleep and exercise schedule. Another increasingly popular dietary therapy is the low FODMAP diet. Those who follow this diet aim to reduce their intake of certain types of carbohydrates for 6-8 weeks, with the aim of assessing which specific foods are triggers for their IBS. We have included a link below to the GI Society of Canada website, which is an excellent source for more information about IBS symptoms and potential treatment guides. You can find out more about the GI Society of Canada and learn more about IBS here: https://badgut.org/information-centre/a-z-digestive-topics/ibs/ |