I heard of a gastroenterologist who told patients to avoid emulsifiers. This is wrong and fortunately there is one easy thing you can do to minimise emulsifier intake. The idea was based on only one study of effects on mice reporting that emulsifiers may affect thickness of the gut mucous lining, gut flora and other gut changes.According to food law in Australia, managed by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) additives may be only added to food in the amounts allowed. I requested … [Read more...]
Lauren’s IBS story
Lauren’s story shows how individual IBS can be. “I am thankful I have had help. The diet detection process offered practical advice at a time when I was at a real loss with what I could actually eat. I now know that everyone has their own food sensitivity symptoms. Some of mine were quite unusual and had really bothered me for years. I had nausea every morning, a burning band of hotness from the waist around the back, after some meals, generally feeling unwell, with bloating and lots of wind. I … [Read more...]
Colonscopy prep drink reaction
Lyn had a very bad reaction to the colonscopy preparation drink with severe headache which took days to resolve. The Lavage solution has a strong artificial flavour. Usually you are recommended one pack of Picolax and one pack of ColonLYTELY. The Picolax is only available as Lemon but the ColonLYTELY can be obtained without flavour. You do need to discuss this issue with the nurse who advises you before the procedure. Each practice is different. It is wise to let staff know a month before … [Read more...]
Diet and IBS – what can you do?
There is no one diet that is just what you do for IBS. It is a whole process of investigation to find the diet that is just the right one for you. Diet Detective Work is not just a gimmick. It is a scientific and practical way to find what symptoms change and how much, so the effort is worthwhile. It would be great if it was a clear diet and you could get diet sheets and solve it quickly. Here I will summarise the steps. The easy to read detail is in Are You Food Sensitive? Write down … [Read more...]
Ever wondered if IBS symptoms can be affected by your 24 hour clock, or by eating?
Those with Irritable Bowel Syndrome [IBS] report that their gut symptoms are often connected to when they wake and when they start meals. They may report that their gut wakes up when they wake up, or their bladder may wake first and their gut a usual time later. Then they may report that they just have to have one mouthful of food when they begin a meal and they get gut urgency! Or they may report that after they have had what for them is a large meal their gut activity at the other end gets … [Read more...]
Is the FODMAPS diet the only option for Irritable Bowel Syndrome [IBS]?
Most people have heard that diet has a role in Irritable Bowel Syndrome [IBS]. Usually it is assumed that the only diet option is to lower all the food that cause bloating and wind and the discomfort, even spasm pain that may follow. This is the FODMAPS diet which is useful for those symptoms. However there is another option, especially for those who have severe pain, crampy pain, looseness, bowel urgency with a wave of almost feeling faint as the motion is passed. For these symptoms the low … [Read more...]
Why might pumpkin scones made on butternut pumpkin (even the smell) made someone with Irritable Bowel Syndrome [IBS] feel ill?
Smell is usually a good guide to tolerance. Reduce the amount of foods that smell ‘too strong’. But if the pumpkin is tolerated as a vegetable there must be a texture/density factor that is making the difference. I presume they were home made? If normal scones are tolerated then try different levels of dryness in the cooked pumpkin. Often it is probably not the ingredients but the final product. Look at the nearest tolerated product and see if you can work out the texture, density, stickiness … [Read more...]