IBS & GUT HEALTH SPECIALISTS
Dietary Support
Diets for IBS, SIBO, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and other gut conditions.
If you’re living with digestive symptoms such as bloating and pain, food can become scary and stressful.
While working to help you understand what foods you’re reacting to is an important part of the process, our focus is to understand why you’re reacting to food in that way.
When this underlying issue is addressed the goal is to move towards a diet that is unrestricted and stress-free.
The aims of these diets are to:
Identify Triggers
Identifying trigger foods can take a lot of the guesswork out of how you react to each meal.
Manage Symptoms
In the short term, managing symptoms can help you feel more comfortable as the underlying issue is addressed.
Support Balance
Focusing on the right foods can support the balance of the friendly bacteria and the health of the gut lining.
”The aim is not to live on a restricted diet. But to address the underlying imbalance so a restricted diet doesn't need to be followed.
Feel like yourself again
Schedule a no-obligation call
Does diet matter?
Diet can help to support many areas of an imbalanced digestive system. While there are foods that can lead to the worsening of digestive symptoms, it’s rarely the case that the food itself is the issue.
Inflammation, bacterial imbalances and immune dysregulation along the gut lining can all alter how we respond to food. By focusing on addressing these underlying imbalances, we aim for the diet to be as varied and as stress-free as possible.
IBS Diet
A common dietary approach to IBS is the low FODMAP diet. This diet removes certain groups of carbohydrates that can worsen digestive symptoms in those with IBS.
While the full version of the low FODMAP diet can feel restrictive and overwhelming, it’s not always necessary to follow it in its entirety. Modified, less restricted versions of this diet may be the best place to start for some.
The low FODMAP diet isn’t a diet to follow long term. However, it can be used to help manage symptoms in the short term while the underlying imbalance is identified and addressed.
IBS Symptoms
- Bloating
- Cramping
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
Dietary Aims
- To remove problematic food to help manage symptoms
- To keep the diet as varied as possible
- To support anti-inflammatory processes along the gut lining
SIBO Diet
As SIBO is often the underlying cause of IBS a low FODMAP diet can also be helpful here. It’s also possible that food reactions may extend beyond FODMAP-containing foods. With reactions to histamine-containing foods as well as carbohydrates such as resistant starches not uncommon.
Removing groups of food can often feel tempting to manage symptoms, however, keeping the diet as varied as possible, even while on a more restricted phase of a diet, will continue to support the bacterial balance in the digestive system.
SIBO Symptoms
- Bloating quickly after eating
- Cramping/abdominal pain
- Increasing food reactions
- Diarrhoea/ Constipation
- Brain fog
Dietary Aims
- To remove problematic food to help manage symptoms
- To keep the diet as varied as possible
- To support anti-inflammatory processes along the gut lining
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Diets
Diet has been researched and shown to help to reduce disease activity in inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis) as well as helping patients maintain remission.
The aims of this approach are to work to reduce inflammation along the gut wall, to support the growth of key friendly bacteria to balance the gut microbiome and to remove any foods that trigger or exacerbate symptoms.
The dietary approach to IBD is based on the SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Diet) and offers a 3-phase protocol. Each phase can be used depending on disease activity.
The 3 phases:
- Phase 1: During a flare where symptoms are prominent
- Phase 2: Used where symptoms are intermittent
- Phase 3: For when the condition is in remission for maintenance
Dietary Aims
- Support the beneficial bacteria
- Reduce inflammation
- Support the gut lining
- Correct nutrient defieciencies
Other Dietary Approaches
As research develops we understand how much of a role the digestive system and the beneficial bacteria play. Not only in the way we digest food, but in our overall health. The gut is the root of health.
Focusing on supporting the gut bacteria and the gut lining can improve other conditions, even when no digestive symptoms are present. Specific dietary options are used to focus on nourishing and optimising the gut microbiome. This can have systemic effects, influencing our overall wellbeing
Conditions Include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Autoimmunity
- Skin issues
- Other
Dietary Aims
- Support the beneficial bacteria
- Increase SCFA production
- Reduce problematic foods
- Support the gut lining
- Reduce inflammation
The Role of Diet
Food is more than just calories
Food serves many roles in our lives and when it comes to digestive health it is key. Vitamins, minerals, plant fibres and polyphenols all help to support and balance the digestive system.
However, if you’re living with digestive symptoms, it can be tempting to try and find the perfect restricted diet to keep symptoms at bay.
This often means that this restricted diet has to be followed forever. Instead of this, there is another way. To address the underlying imbalance in the gut so a restricted diet doesn’t need to be followed.
We Can Support You With
IBS
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
SIBO
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
IBD
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Other Conditions
Eg. Heartburn and constipation
Your Next Step
Gut health consultations
Follow the link to learn more about our consultations and how we can support you.
I have some questions
Book a 15-minute consultation where we’ll review your symptoms and answer any questions.
IBS and SIBO
Are there different types of IBS?
IBS is an umbrella term that describes someone’s symptoms. Within this, there are 4 subtypes of IBS. IBS with diarrhoea, IBS with constipation, IBS with a mix between the 2 and IBS with unclassified bowel movements.
Even though these subtypes give a clearer indication of someone’s symptoms, they go no further to inform us what the underlying issue is.
If you have a diagnosis of IBS we will work to identify and address the underlying issue with the aim of resolving your symptoms.
Are there different types of SIBO?
The SIBO tests measure 2 types of gas, hydrogen and methane. If there are elevations in 1 of these gases, we can name that Hydrogen or Methane SIBO. It’s also possible to have elevations in both gases.
The type of gas that is elevated helps to guide supplement protocols to target the specific organisms that produce that type of gas.
A third type of gas, hydrogen sulfide, can also be produced by gut bacteria. However, it is not currently possible to test for this gas in the UK.
Are supplements needed to address SIBO?
There are 3 components to a supplement protocol to address the elevated bacteria in SIBO. These can include a combination of probiotics, prebiotics, and antimicrobial herbs.
Depending on the underlying issue (eg. the reasons why the bacteria are there in the first place), additional supplements may be suggested.
Can SIBO be cured?
SIBO is a bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine with several underlying causes. If we address the underlying cause we are aiming to fully resolve symptoms.
Is the SIBO breath test available on the NHS?
This SIBO test may be offered through the NHS, however, it’s not uncommon for the waiting time for this test to be several months.
By ordering directly from the laboratory, we are able to have the test sent to your home within 3-5 days. The results will be back 7-10 days after the laboratory has received the samples.
To read more about the tests that we often consider, click here.
Supplements
Will supplements be needed?
Supplements are not always needed and their requirement depends on your individual case.
We will discuss appropriate options with you at your first consultation.
How long do supplements need to be taken for?
The duration of a supplement protocol will vary on your symptoms, the underlying imbalance and any additional factors that may be contributing to your digestive issues.
Generally speaking, 8 weeks is an average time to be on a specific supplement protocol. Following this, a maintenance protocol may be recommended.
What kind of supplements do you recommend?
The supplements we recommend vary depending on your specific situation and set of symptoms. Common recommendations include probiotics, specific herbal extracts to help rebalance and modify the gut bacteria as well as beneficial, gut-friendly prebiotics.
We direct you to the specific supplements and brands that we know and trust.
Qualifications
Are you Doctors?
We are not doctors and can therefore not officially diagnose your condition.
However, as with the diagnosis of IBS, labels may not always be helpful. By digging deeper and identifying and addressing the underlying imbalances we aim to bring symptoms under control.
Consultations
What do the consultations involve?
The initial consultation is 90 minutes long. Here we talk about your symptoms in depth, how and when they started, other contributing factors as well as your current diet and lifestyle.
From this consultation, you will receive your health plan. This will include detailed dietary suggestions, a supplement protocol, recommendations for further testing as well and appropriate lifestyle recommendations.
From this point, we suggest a follow-up appointment every 4-6 weeks to monitor progress and update your health plan.
How do I book the consultations?
We find many people can have questions about the approach we take. This is why we offer free 15-minute consultations which can be booked by clicking here.
It is also possible to book for the first in-depth consultation without booking the 15-minute consultation by clicking here.
For more information on the consultations and what is included please click here.
Is this the right approach for me?
We understand this can feel like a big step and you might not be sure if this is the right approach.
To watch interviews with previous clients click here.
We also offer free 15-minute consultations. This is an initial assessment with one of the team where we will explain our consultation process and answer any questions you may have. You can book this here.
How many consultations will I need?
Without knowing more about your specific symptoms this is a hard question to answer.
However, generally speaking, the majority of those that we support typically need 3 consultations, over a 2-3 month period. In more complex cases, longer-term support is also provided.
How quickly will I see results?
There are several approaches that often offer symptom relief over a matter of days. While these are not long-term approaches, they can be a way to help ease symptoms and help you feel more comfortable as the underlying issues are identified and addressed.
Alongside these short-term interventions to calm symptoms, we are working to address the underlying issues.
The metric of progress that we use is wanting to see a significant improvement over the treatment window (the time being consultations).
