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Let's talk about IBS

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Let's talk about IBS

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Well... toilet talk never really makes for polite conversation, but considering April is IBS Awareness Month we’ll make an exception!

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is one the most common gut disorders, impacting around 15% of the global population. It is a group of intestinal symptoms such as bloating, gas, diarrhoea, cramping and abdominal pain, that vary in severity and duration from person to person.

In Australia, IBS is actually the second most common cause of work absenteeism, and makes up a whopping 10% of all visits to the GP.

So if you suffer from diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, and are often bent over and in pain, then chances are you may have IBS.

Is it curable?

Unfortunately there is no cure for IBS, however it is manageable.

We know what you’re thinking - ‘no cure, well that’s a bit sh*tty’. Never fear, there are ways to relieve your symptoms!

Talk to your doctor about treatment options
Monitor your diet for trigger foods
Talk to a dietitian about trialling a low FODMAP diet (for up to 8 weeks)
Try lactose free options if dairy is a trigger
Eat smaller portions more frequently
Work with a dietitian to increase fibre amount and variety
Try yoga or stretching
For short term relief - apply heat using a heat pack or hot water bottle
Enjoy a soothing tea i.e. peppermint, ginger

I think I have IBS, what should I do now?

If you suspect you have IBS, have a chat to your doctor or dietitian about ways you can relieve your symptoms, and get tested for any other possible conditions i.e. coeliac disease.

In the meantime, keep an eye on your symptoms to see if you notice any patterns or trigger foods.

You can also Find an APD who specialises in IBS to help you achieve gut health and symptom relief, using personally tailored, evidence based advice.

Your Personal Healthy Eating Quiz

What you eat or don’t eat affects how you look, feel and perform. Take our short quiz to find out what foods you could introduce to help you be your best.

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What is healthy eating?

Eating healthy is making sure you enjoy a wide variety of foods from each of the five major food groups daily, in the amounts recommended. The five major food groups as recommended by the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating are:

vegetables and legumes/bean
fruit
lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds, legumes/beans
grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and/or high cereal fibre varieties
milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or alternatives, mostly reduced fat.

Foods are grouped together because they provide similar amounts of key nutrients and eating a variety of foods from the list above helps to promote good health and reduce the risk of disease.

How do I improve my diet?

If you want to improve your diet you have come to the right place. By completing the Healthy Eating Quiz you’ll receive instant personalised feedback and a report on your diet quality to highlight any areas where you can improve your overall eating habits. Your score is based on the frequency and variety of the foods consumed from the five major food groups mentioned above. No Money No Time can help you improve your score by providing tips, goals and suggestions. On top of this we will provide quick, cheap and healthy recipes as well as credible answers to diet hacks, myths and FAQ’s.

Is my diet healthy?

Dietary habits are different between people. Some people choose to follow a particular diet (i.e., Keto diet or vegan diet) while some have to make changes due to certain food restrictions or health conditions. If you want to know if what you usually eat is healthy, then do the Healthy Eating Quiz today to give you the answers in less than 10 minutes.

Why is healthy eating important?

Your HEQ score and personalised feedback report is based on the frequency and variety of healthy core foods you usually eat. This is important because no single food contains all the nutrients we need to stay healthy. Some foods are higher in nutrients than others and people who have a lot of variety in the foods they eat are more likely to be healthy and to stay healthy. In other words, if you can eat a large variety of vegetables as opposed to only 2-3 types of vegetables, the benefits are much greater. This type of diet also helps you to feel better, think better and perform better during your usual daily activities.

Take the Healthy Eating Quiz

The University of Newcastle Australia