5 Root Causes of IBS
Do you think you should settle for a diagnosis of IBS and just deal with it? I don’t think so. The only thing an IBS diagnosis tells you is that you have digestive issues that haven’t been explained yet. With testing and assessments that most conventionally trained doctors aren’t using, we can dig deep to uncover issues that may be contributing to the symptoms of IBS. Here are 5 common root causes underlying IBS to consider: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) Statistics are all over the map on this one, but the most recent data showed that about 35% of people diagnosed with IBS test positive for SIBO. That’s more than 1 in 3. Gut Infections Parasites, bacteria, or yeast infections can all disrupt gut health. A Mayo Clinic review found that 1 in 9 people who experience food poisoning go on to develop IBS. Leaky Gut ‘Leaky gut’ (not a real medical term) means there’s a breakdown in the barrier of the intestinal lining. It’s linked with inflammation and gut issues. Food Sensitivities The most common foods to aggravate IBS are those high in fermentable carbohydrates (FODMAPs), but other foods can trigger problems in specific individuals. Stress The gut is undeniably linked to the brain (ever heard of the gut-brain axis?). IBS is commonly linked with anxiety, depression, and high stress. Could more than one of these issues be going on at the same time? Absolutely Do we have natural approaches to address each of these underlying causes specifically and uniquely? Yes Functional medicine excels when it comes to making sense of and improving gut health. Up next I’ll be sharing nutritional strategies to support digestion. If you want to get to the root cause of IBS or gut symptoms, we are accepting new patients!
