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Those who have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) are often told “it’s all in your head” or that nothing can be done for IBS symptom management. Despite IBS being challenging to treat, many people achieve reduced symptoms and even remission of symptoms when working with a specially trained GI dietitian. These dietitians help patients identify and reduce their symptoms. Keep reading to discover more about IBS and how GI-registered dietitians can help you.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome affects an estimated 10% to 15% of adults worldwide. It is one of the functional gastrointestinal disorders that includes involvement of the gastrointestinal tract, sensitivity of the nerves of the intestines, and how the brain controls some of these functions.
Those with IBS understand it is a frustrating disease. Irritable bowel syndrome has a wide variety of symptoms, and there is no known cause. An IBS diagnosis is based on the symptoms and eliminating known causes and diseases.
Some of the factors that may contribute to IBS include:
Stress
Genetics
Changes in intestinal bacteria
Food sensitivities or food intolerances
Mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression
One hallmark of irritable bowel syndrome is the variety of symptoms. People with IBS may chronically experience all or some of the common IBS symptoms, including cramping, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, alternating constipation and diarrhea, gas, and bloating.
This is a list of the most common symptoms and is not all-inclusive.
One of the main goals of IBS treatment is to determine what foods, if any, may be triggering symptoms. A low FODMAP diet is often used as the first dietary intervention and helps with the dietary management of symptoms.
FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. These are short-chain carbohydrates that ferment in the digestive tract, causing IBS symptoms.
A FODMAP diet eliminates all high FODMAP foods for a short time – generally two to four weeks. During this time, symptoms are tracked, and any changes or improvements are noted, often using a food diary and a symptom log.
After the elimination phase, FODMAP-containing foods are slowly reintroduced. As a group is reintroduced, any changes in symptoms are tracked and noted. After all of the FODMAP groups are reintroduced, the patient has a list of which foods, if any, may be contributing to symptoms and should be avoided.
Some people have intolerances to FODMAP-containing foods. Symptoms experienced by those with irritable bowel syndrome and FODMAPS result from these carbohydrates not being adequately digested in the small intestine. This causes additional water to be drawn into the small intestine, leading to feeling bloated.
When the undigested carbohydrates pass into the large intestine, the microbes that populate it digest them and emit gas and other byproducts. Their byproducts and the additional water from the small intestine cause abdominal pain, bloating, stomach distension, diarrhea, and discomfort.
A low FODMAP diet leads to a reduction in these carbohydrates and a reduction in associated symptoms.
A registered dietitian nutritionist with additional training in irritable bowel syndrome (an IBS dietitian) and guiding clients through the FODMAP protocol can help in the following ways.
An IBS dietitian trained in the FODMAP protocol has in-depth knowledge of IBS, digestive issues, and how the FODMAP diet is applied to each patient’s situation. While the FODMAP diet initially seems simple, its proper implementation is intricate.
For example, clients have different FODMAP threshold tolerances. A trained FODMAP dietitian helps clients understand and identify their threshold tolerance. Some foods and other food products also contain hidden sources of FODMAPs. A trained registered dietitian nutritionist helps identify these foods for exclusion in the low-FODMAP diet.
People with irritable bowel syndrome all have different experiences, symptoms, and triggers. That’s why an IBS dietitian is essential to help determine the best way to ease IBS symptoms.
A dietitian begins working with their IBS patients by conducting a full assessment of the client’s health, medical history, lifestyle, and IBS symptoms. They then work with each client to develop a customized plan to help improve the client’s health and provide IBS relief.
The customized plan considers medical needs, dietary restrictions, food preferences, and cultural considerations. The dietitian will also address any non-FODMAP food triggers while working on other things that can impact IBS symptoms, including stress management, hydration, meal timing, and appropriate portion sizes.
Due to the restrictive nature of the low FODMAP diet, many people may not get all the necessary vitamins and minerals. An IBS dietitian helps ensure clients have a nutritionally complete and balanced diet while following a FODMAP diet protocol. They identify appropriate meal choices while assisting with meal planning and prep ideas. When applicable, they may recommend using supplements to fill in nutrition gaps.
Following a FODMAP diet can be challenging. Until the IBS patient’s FODMAP triggers are determined, the diet can restrict the ability to eat out with friends and family. Some find the highly restrictive nature of the diet mentally challenging.
IBS dietitians help their clients with coping strategies and guidance for traveling and eating out. They also help IBS patients maintain a positive relationship with food while managing IBS symptoms.
Helping IBS patients find relief from their symptoms takes time, support, and monitoring. A registered dietitian helps their clients through all phases of the FODMAP diet and the process of other appropriate treatments and gut healing.
They help patients monitor their food intake and symptoms, often using a food diary and symptom logs. These logs can be used to adjust the patient’s diet, determine when other treatments are appropriate, or adjust other lifestyle factors such as getting adequate sleep and stress management.
Working with a trained GI dietitian can be highly effective in improving your IBS symptoms and potentially getting them into remission. They work to understand your symptoms, flare-ups, dietary requirements, and lifestyle. They also can partner with your GI doctor to help ensure proper diagnosis and treatment. The goal is to work together to determine the best IBS diet to manage each patient’s symptoms.
If you are ready to reduce or eliminate your IBS symptoms, then working with a registered dietitian trained in gastrointestinal disorders can put you on the road to reducing or even eliminating your symptoms. Our specially trained registered dietitians are ready to help you develop a personalized plan that reduces your IBS symptoms. Contact us today.
Offices currently located in Syracuse, Buffalo, Albany, and Rochester, NY, but we see patients all across the country.
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