Heather's IBS Newsletter - Help for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

IBS news flash. Sleep apnea linked to IBS... Common sleep disorder could cause or worsen IBS symptoms There is an interesting link between sleep apnea , a common sleep disorder, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Your body’s autonomic nervous system controls involuntary actions like heart beats and digestion. That system has two divisions: sympathetic and parasympathetic. Your sympathetic system activa...

Herbs as medicine for IBS? Try oregano... The idea that herbs are nature's medicines really applies to Irritable Bowel Syndrome... The idea that herbs are nature's medicines really applies to IBS. Oregano , Origanum vulgare , contains two volatile oils, thymol and carvacol, that act as anti-spasmodics in the gut. They also increase the production of gastric juices, ease bloating and gas, and relie...

IBS quick tip. Use only egg whites, not yolks... Because lowering your fat intake will help keep your gastrocolic reflex calm. When cooking or baking, use only egg whites instead of whole eggs. Egg whites are pure protein. Egg yolks are pure fat. Lowering your fat intake will help keep your gastrocolic reflex calm (gastro what?!) . Simply replace each whole egg in a recipe with two egg whites. Egg...

Is alcohol an IBS trigger? Yes! Alcohol is a strong GI irritant and a colon carcinogen. Can I drink if I have IBS? Or is alcohol an IBS trigger? Alcohol is a strong GI irritant (and a potential colon carcinogen) . It can cause painful spasms, urgency, and diarrhea , as well as bloating and rebound constipation . The worst drinks ? Ones that contain other IBS triggers as well: * Carbonation (beer,...

IBS rant. It’s not you, it’s them! It’s not your IBS questions that are stupid. It's so many of the answers you're given... Have you been made to feel like IBS is somehow your fault? Have your questions and concerns been ignored, diminished, or even thrown back in your face? It’s not you, it’s them! I’ve lost track of how many rude, belittling, and flat-out wrong answers I’ve been given about IBS...

IBS quick tip. Safe protein powder for IBS? Yes, and it should have just one ingredient. Rice protein. Trying to get extra protein in your diet by adding a protein powder? There’s really just one super safe option for IBS. Plain rice protein powder . One ingredient. Nothing else added. What about whey? Or c asein? No. Dairy proteins can cause all kinds of gut upsets - bloating, gas, cramps. Pea pr...

IBS news flash. Weight loss medications.. The new injectables have a lot of GI side effects, and that's not great for IBS New research is coming out about the risk of gastrointestinal side effects of weight loss injections that are GLP-1 receptor agonists. These are medications such as liraglutide (Saxenda), tirzepatide (Zepbound), and semaglutide ((Wegovy, Ozempic). It’s not great news. Gut upset...

IBS fast fact. IBS is a physical brain-gut dysfunction, which means... It's not mental, not emotional, not psychological, and not imaginary. Just look at this brain scan... Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a physical brain-gut dysfunction . That means it is not mental, not emotional, not psychological, and not imaginary. It is a bowel motility disorder that causes lower abdominal pain, diarrhea, consti...

IBS restaurant tip. Eating with friends? Make it clear you need a restaurant where you can actually eat the food. Going out to eat with friends? Make it clear that you need a restaurant where you can actually eat the food . You deserve consideration here. Remember that eating with friends is as much about socializing as it is about food. Real friends will be happy just to be with you. If someone i...

Infuriating IBS news flash. Seriously, Dr. Mayer? 3 supplements for a healthier gut, per a gastroenterologist, and 1 of them increases colon cancer risks! I read a lot of news and research studies about Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and I try to pass along the most relevant, helpful, or just plain interesting ones. But for every IBS news article I feature, there are at least a dozen I don’t, because t...

IBS news flash. See the mechanisms behind IBS and functional constipation pain. Many pathways with multiple factors add to abdominal pain in chronic constipation A fascinating new research abstract just came out on decoding abdominal pain in constipation-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome and functional constipation. It’s focused on the mechanisms underlying the pain . In plain English: There ar...

Herbs as medicine for IBS? Yep. Fennel is top of the list... The idea that herbs are nature's medicines really applies to Irritable Bowel Syndrome... The idea that herbs are nature's medicines really applies to IBS. Top of the list is fennel, Foeniculum vulgare , which is exceptional for IBS bloating, gas, and spasms . Big bonus! It's also really helpful for upper GI issues like heartburn or acid...

IBS news flash. It’s not just stress… Common misconception about IBS that it is purely stress-related One of the most common misconceptions about IBS is that it is purely stress-related. While stress can definitely trigger or worsen symptoms, it is not the sole cause. “The gut and brain are deeply connected, which is why emotional stress can impact gut function,” explains Dr Imran Shaikh, Consulta...

IBS quick tip. Gluten free does not mean IBS safe Lots of trigger foods have no gluten at all... If you're following a gluten free diet beware that gluten free does NOT mean safe for IBS. Gluten free foods can still have plenty of other IBS diet triggers - fats, insoluble fibers, GI irritants/stimulants such as caffeine, artificial sweeteners, alcohols, carbonation. As an aside, note that gluten i...

Alarming news. Alzheimer’s and IBS genetically linked... Certain genes tied to both Alzheimer’s and irritable bowel syndrome, GERD, diverticulosis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastritis-duodenitis. Researchers have found genetic links between Alzheimer's and five gastrointestinal disorders. IBS is one of them . This is really distressing. My own beloved grandmother died from Alzheimer’s. Certain gen...

IBS quick tip. Low FODMAP does not mean IBS safe Lots of trigger foods have no FODMAPS at all... If you're following a low FODMAP diet beware that FODMAP free does NOT mean safe for IBS. Low FODMAP foods can still have plenty of other IBS diet triggers - fats, insoluble fibers, GI irritants/stimulants such as caffeine, artificial sweeteners, alcohols, carbonation. Always read labels and ingredient...

IBS news flash. How to tell if bloating and pain are from SIBO or IBS? Or both? Is your bloating and pain from Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth or Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Although small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) share many of the same symptoms, SIBO affects the small intestine and IBS affects the large intestine. A recent study examined SIBO a...

Mornings are hard on IBS. Try this... Prevent, prepare, protect! Mornings are rough on people with IBS, but these three steps can help I hate mornings. That is the worst time of day for my IBS, and I know I'm not alone here. Why are mornings so awful for so many people? Lots of reasons...When you wake up in the morning, so does your gut. Your stomach is completely empty. You're in a rush to get ou...

IBS quick tip. After an attack, expand your diet carefully... Especially when adding insoluble fiber foods. If you're just getting over an IBS attack, be especially careful expanding your diet with insoluble fiber foods . This is where HOW you eat can make a big difference. Break down that insoluble fiber before it’s even in your gut. Try blending fresh fruits into smoothie drinks, or blending coo...

IBS Gotcha! Sugar-free means unsweetened, right? Wrong! Sugar-free means artificial sweeteners have been added... This is one of the most confusing labels out there on foods and drinks. “Sugar-free” does NOT mean unsweetened. It means that instead of real sugar, artificial sweeteners have been added. And virtually all artificial sweeteners are terrible for your gut. In some cases, they cause probl...

IBS news flash. IBS pain might be treated by targeting touch receptor A receptor responsible for your sense of touch and temperature could provide a target for treating IBS pain. A provocative study suggests that pain due to gut disorders - like IBS - might be treated by targeting a touch receptor. A receptor that is responsible for our sense of touch and temperature, and which researchers just fo...

It's IBS Awareness Month. About damn time! I say the more people hear about IBS the better... This April the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD) is launching a social campaign called Raising Awareness About the Real Impact of IBS. April is IBS Awareness Month , meant to shed light on the serious impacts of IBS beyond digestive discomfort. As we all know far too well, wh...

Is Peppermint Tummy Tea right for your IBS symptoms? Find out! I get a lot of questions from folks about whether peppermint or fennel tummy teas are a better fit for their IBS. Well, it depends! Today it’s all about peppermint - the best fit for quick relief of IBS pain, spasms, and cramps. Peppermint is an anti-spasmodic and a smooth muscle relaxant. Menthol and methyl salicylate, the main active...

IBS Deep Dive! Why buccal is your word of the day Here's the true story on why the word buccal is the secret behind high volatile oil, medicinal strength peppermint. And why that's magic for IBS . When I was a little kid an IBS attack could hit me out of the blue. I'd have seconds to get to a bathroom before I was unable to move or even breathe from the pain. Then the world would go gray and I wou...

Is High Volatile Oil Fennel Tummy Tea right for your IBS symptoms? Find out! I get a lot of questions from folks about whether peppermint or fennel tummy teas are a better fit for their IBS. Well, it depends! Today it’s all about fennel - the best fit for quick relief of IBS bloating and gas . It’s also great for gut spasms. Fennel is naturally a carminative and an anti-spasmodic. Bonus? Fennel is...