IBS is believed to affect 1 in 5 of us at some point during our lives, leaving many with painful symptoms such as stomach cramps, bloating, digestive difficulties and more.
We’ve rounded up 10 expert tips to help manage the condition and how you can improve your gut health.
1. IBS Awareness – Keep a food diary
“By keeping a food diary you may discover that there are certain foods that trigger the symptoms or it could be the time of day which makes them worse, for instance when you are tired or you may find your symptoms are linked to regularly stressful aspects of your week,” explains Dr. Marilyn Glenville, the UK’s leading nutritionist (www.marilynglenville.com), author of Natural Alternatives to Sugar.
2. IBS Awareness – Silver Linings
As well as looking after the bacteria in our gut it is also important that we strengthen our mucus lining, which is one of the most important tissues of the gastrointestinal tract. Dr Nigel Plummer, creator of ProVen Probiotics explains, “Our intestine is connected to almost all other parts of our body by way of nerve or chemical signals, and the billions of bacteria we have lining our gut seem to be able to change the signal process. If the right signals are sent, then we see health benefits such as lowered infections and better mood. That’s why we call these probiotic bacteria ‘friendly’ – because they send the right signals”. Opt for the brand new ProVen Probiotic, ShapeLine (RRP: £29.95, www.provenprobiotics.co.uk). ShapeLine is born from 15 years of clinical trials, which provide evidence that Pro-Ven Probiotics have an array of health related benefits, including digestion and gut health.
3. IBS Awareness – De-Stress
“When we’re feeling stressed, digestion is not our body’s main priority, and so our brain doesn’t send the right ‘digest’ signals that trigger release of digestive juices and other helpful substances. It’s therefore important to manage our overall stress levels, whether it’s taking some time out from work or using practices such as meditation. And whilst working from home, don’t eat on the sofa – get away into a more calming environment,” explains Cassandra.
4. IBS Awareness – Snack on Oatcakes
To help regulate your digestion between meals, nutritionist Cassandra Barns recommends snacking on oatcakes, “Oats provide gentle fibre, which not only helps us stay regular, but also ‘feeds’ the friendly bacteria in the gut. These bacteria then make a substance called butyrate, which helps keep the lining of our gut healthy. Try Nairn’s Gluten Free Superseeded Oatcakes [£1.75, Sainsbury’s] for a alternative to regular wheat-based snacks.”
5. IBS Awareness – Chew Properly
“Don’t talk with your mouth full, as in doing so you can gulp mouthfuls of air and this can cause excess belching. Chew well, chewing is the first part of digestion and can reduce foods fermenting lower down in the digestive tract,” says Marilyn.
6. IBS Awareness – Cut out coffee
Coffee stimulates peristalsis the wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract. So with IBS, coffee should be avoided in order to reduce these contractions.
7. IBS Awareness – Calm your Anxiety Don’t be a late night worrier
Stress, sleep and the digestive system are closely related, if we do not get enough sleep we find it harder to function and when we are stressed we find it harder to get to sleep. If you’re a late night thinker it can be extremely difficult to break this cycle. A 2015 analysis of previous studies concluded that CBD oil is a promising treatment for numerous forms of anxiety, including social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder
Top tip: To help say goodnight to your anxieties try dispensing a controlled amount of the brand new CannabiGold Terpenes+, 250MG Oil RRP (£24.99, www.cannibigold.co.uk) directly under your tongue. This oil is the perfect strength if you are new to the CBD world. It has a mild, palatable taste and contains a full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes.
