IBS is a complex set of symptoms and triggers, so any treatment protocol needs to be tailored to the individual. We all have different health conditions and medications we take, as well as unique symptoms, gut microbiomes, genetics, history, eating habits, responsibilities, and work patterns.
I receive many, many enquiries from people looking for ‘IBS freedom’ from their painful, unpredictable gut symptoms, but there is no ‘one size fits all’ answer as so many factors are at play – stress, the effects of antibiotics, poor diet are just three elements that can upset the balance in your gut. What works well for one person won’t always work for everyone. This is why I need to spend time to learn more about a person’s IBS journey, including symptoms, lifestyle, health and dietary history, as well as medications being taken. This information helps me to deliver a more targeted strategy.
While IBS requires a very individualised approach, there tends to be one common denominator – a gut imbalance. This is why I will, 9 times out of 10, recommended our Live Bacteria capsules because, more often than not, people who suffer with IBS, constipation and bloating also suffer with gut dysbiosis, an imbalance in gut bacteria where the dominant species in the gut are the pathogenic, disease-causing bacteria, yeasts and fungi. It is, therefore, important to replenish the levels of friendly gut bacteria to ‘crowd out’ these pathogenic strains and restore balance in the gut. Our probiotic capsules help to gently restore this balance back to normal, resulting in a less troubled gut, less abdominal pain and bloating, and a better functioning bowel.
Read how this worked for Louise:
It’s very encouraging to read that Louise plans to continue taking her Live Bacteria capsules, as I’ve found time and time again that people who stop taking their probiotics, soon find that their original IBS symptoms, including bloating and constipation begin to creep back. Probiotics can help reduce IBS symptoms, but only when consumed. This could have something to do with the fact that in certain cases, ancestral strains of friendly bacteria passed down through the female side of a family have been destroyed, possibly through taking multiple courses of antibiotics. These ancestral strains are very important for preventing IBS symptoms and gut dysbiosis.
Although no one knows for sure what causes IBS, the theory that symptoms are caused by an overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the intestinal tract is a convincing one. Therefore, it stands to reason that anyone with IBS symptoms will benefit from increasing the number of good bacteria in the gut, and one of the simplest ways to do this is by supplementing with a daily probiotic capsule.
Probiotics work in many possible ways, including:
- lining the surface of the gastrointestinal tract and stopping harmful organisms from reaching it (aka ‘competitive exclusion’)
- strengthening the tissue of the bowel wall
- acting as antibiotics against other bacteria
- regulating the responses of the immune system, both at the level of the bowel wall and the body as a whole
Our Live Bacteria probiotic capsules give a huge boost to the number of friendly bacteria in the gut, leaving less space for ‘bad’ microbes that may cause IBS symptoms. These beneficial bacteria help break down foods that may be triggering symptoms including abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, uncomfortable trapped wind, among others.
Still not convinced?
There are more studies than you can shake a stick at to support the effectiveness of probiotics in reducing IBS symptoms, including this abstract which proves certain strains of probiotic bacteria (found in both our Live Bacteria capsules and For Women capsules) do increase transit time in the bowels, reducing the risk of constipation. Read more here about how probiotic therapy can reduce functional constipation and increase both the number of weekly bowel movements and quality of stools.
If you would like to know more about a tailored supplement protocol for a digestive and gut health issue, please get in touch.
