IBS - Irritable Bowel Syndrome??

So many of my clients suffer with IBS and there are countless people that suffer daily with this uncomfortable, painful and miserable condition. Women are twice as likely to suffer from it as men are.

Irritable bowel syndrome is an umbrella term for any digestive problem that can’t be categorised. I have clients that come to me who have been suffering for years. And after numerous visits to their Doctors yet still with nothing resolved. What they suffer from differs greatly and their definition of it varies from person to person. For some it is constipation and for others diarrhoea and sometimes a combination of both. Bloating, cramps, pain, fatigue and wind are additional symptoms. Misery and despair seems to be an all too common cry.

WHAT CAN BE DONE?
There really is light at the end of tunnel, you do not have to suffer the rest of your life. Finding the cause is the first thing, and then treating that problem.

THE CAUSES

• candida
• bad bugs and/or lack of beneficial bacteria - compromised gut flora
• parasites
• food intolerances, particularly to wheat, dairy or fruit
• lowered immune system
• lack of digestive enzymes
• low stomach acid
• stress and anxiety
• hormonal imbalances
• compromised gut permeability
  

HOW TO FIND OUT THE CAUSE.
This can be done through symptom checks by a trained nutritional therapist who can if necessary use functional testing by a laboratory. Tests such as digestive stool analysis, food intolerance testing, adrenal and hormone tests are thorough and can give scientific evidence of a cause. These tests are much more comprehensive and specialised than most tests you can get from your doctor.

HOW TO TREAT
This can vary depending on the results of symptoms and tests but here are some good general guidelines to follow to help.

ENJOY THESE FOODS - 'THE GOODIES'

• Plenty of vegetables and wholegrains such as brown rice, oats, wholemeal pasta, wholemeal bread. All contains fibre which bulks up the stool, speeds up transit time and provides food for healthy gut flora.
• Have porridge for breakfast.
• Try gluten-free grains such as corn, quinoa, spelt, buckwheat, oats and rice.
• Snack on a handful of nuts and/or seeds or oatcakes and humus.
• Add a tablespoon of linseeds to your breakfast every day - particularly good for constipation.
• Drink plenty, at least one and a half litres a day. Best way is to have a pint glass and fill it up first thing in the morning, after lunch and in the evening. Or go to bed with it and drink as soon as you wake up.
• Experiment with plain bio-yoghurt, have with seeds, blend with fruit, add as sauce to meals or just have as a snack.
• Drink peppermint tea.

AVOID THESE FOODS - 'THE BADDIES'

• Irritating foods such as wheat and dairy, spicy and hot foods
• Stimulants such as coffee, tea, alcohol and chocolate
• All refined foods - anything white - white bread, white rice, white pasta, biscuits, cakes.
• Processed foods and soft drinks
• Caution with beans, cruciferous vegetables and sulphur foods such as eggs, onions and dried fruit.

FINAL NOTE

It is always advisable to go on a food plan for at least a month to see the effects.

Keep a symptom diary to see where you are now and where you will be.


To find out more about functional testing, interested in a consultation or just what to find out more, check out the web site on http://www.sunflowernutrition.com/

First Blog Ever - My Story into Nutrition

Hi there, I'm Karen and I have recently taken the plunge from my Film Buyer's job of eight years into Nutritional Therapy. Why you ask? Well I have to say that the film industry was a difficult one to leave, having been spoilt for so long seeing films way in advance before anyone else and in exclusive screening rooms in Soho, all velvet seats and devoid of any popcorn eaters. And being spoilt with getting the occasional invite to glamorous film premieres. The red carpet will definitely be missed.



It's actually been a journey of about six years, beginning with my days of being a cinema manager, working shifts, living on MacDonalds and partying the night away on those terrible alcopops. I seemed to get every cough, colds, flu going and continuously suffered from tonsilitus. My energy levels were definitely less than they were and over the next few years, started to decline big time and by the time I was working in London doing the commute thing, I really started to struggle. I couldn't understand how everyone else managed to get up every day as just that seemed like the hardest thing ever. Getting the train home was a nightmare too, if I didn't get a seat I knew I wouldn't be able to stand so had to wait for the next one. Work was a struggle too, always felt foggy headed, unable to cope, really anxious all the time and exhausted no matter what I did. I began eating as healthly as I could and bought a steamer to have fresh vegetables. Although I still didn't feel any better and now I was getting a cold for about three weeks, getting rid of it for about three days before catching another one. I got to the point that I'd stopped going out socially, stopped going to the gym and apart from going to work stayed at home.



Thinking the worst and that perhaps I had some terrible immune disease I became depressed. Then a friend told me about allergy testing and decided to have it done. I was basically allergic to everything I was eating. I completely changed my diet overnight, but when I went back a month later I was allergic to all the new foods. I got very down again and wasn't sure which way to turn.



In the January, having read Patrick Holford's Nutrition Bible, I went on his web site and found a nutritional therapist in my area. After sitting with her for about half hour, she told me I had a candida overgrowth in my gut, leaky gut syndrome, food intolerances and was chronically fatigued. Further tests showed I also had parasites in my gut, incredibly low good bacteria, intolerances to gluten, dairy and potatoes. I then went on a strict anti-candida diet which avoids sugar and yeast and allows plenty of vegetables, fish and chicken. It is one of the hardest diets particularly if you have intolerances as well. You can also suffer from die-off symptoms, which I did. As the candida is being killed off it releases more toxins that have the after-effects of drinking alcohol and a hang over - feeling exhausted and heavy, fuzzy headed, can't think straight, disorientated and just plain rubbish.



The food intolerances are from leaky gut whereby the candida has protruded through the gut wall allowing undigested food particles through. The body then attacks the foods thinking it to be alien and creates anti-bodies againist it. It then becomes a daily battle of the body fighting the food you are eating! It is not surprising when a cold bug comes along, the immune system has no way to fight it off.



I kept to this new food regime, took my supplements and slowly started to feel better and regained my energy levels and my life. It was a long uphill struggle with other complications on the way, which I will divulge throughout this blog. But I can honestly say that I have more energy now than I ever have had. It might be a strange thing to say, but I feel that my brain works now too. And having gone through this battle with my health, I have renewed passion for life and making the most out of it.



I signed onto the Institue of Optimum Nutrition Diploma course about six months after my diagnosis as although still battling I was compelled to learn more. After three years I qualified with a Diploma in Nutritional Therapy and having worked part time since, I am now launching a practice in Belgravia, London. It has been a quite a journey of discovery and I now want to share my knowledge and help to improve other people's lives through the incredible power of food, supplements and nutrition.



If you are interested in finding out more please click http://www.sunflowernutrition.com/