Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Part 2
What are the Common Root Causes of IBS?
Stress
Did you know that you have another “brain” in your gut? It is called the enteric nervous system (ENS) which is connected to our primary nervous system. Proper digestion requires our nervous system to be in the parasympathetic state also known as “rest and digest” rather than the sympathetic state also known as “fight or flight”. When we are stressed and busy we are in our fight or flight mode and therefore our body is focused on getting blood to our muscles instead of our digestive tract.
Therefore, it is important to eat in a calm environment, be mindful when eating and not distracted, and ensure you chew properly. This allows the digestive tract to product acid and enzymes so that we digest our food properly.
Having IBS is stressful and impacts quality of life and one’s social life so therefore this can therefore be a viscous cycle. You need to break this cycle by addressing the root cause of your symptoms!
Anxiety
Do you suffer from anxiety? Do you worry most of the time? Do you feel on edge or anxious at work or at home? Do you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep because of racing thoughts?
People will often say they feel it in their gut when they are nervous which comes back to the gut-brain connection again. Addressing the underlying cause of your anxiety or using natural therapies to treat your anxiety can potentially alleviate your IBS symptoms.
Poor Digestive Function
Is your digestive system weak? Have you been using an acid suppressant medication or constantly popping antacids? Do you require regular use of laxatives or other digestive medications? If you don’t have sufficient stomach acid, digestive enzymes, or healthy gut bacteria your digestion won’t be optimal.
Ensuring you take a break to eat and chew your food properly will help strengthen this system. It is also important to avoid grazing all day and focus on having balanced meals instead. This allows the contractions in your gut to complete their cycle before you eat again. If you eat too early then the whole process stops and starts over again from the beginning.
Food Sensitivities
These are NOT the same as food allergies which are a quick response and can be fatal without quick treatment. Food sensitivities can cause the symptoms of IBS but also many other symptoms seemingly unrelated to digestion such as migraines, skin conditions, low energy, and joint pain. Symptoms can occur long after consuming a food making it harder to determine which food is the culprit. If your gut is inflamed, it can cause something called leaky gut syndrome which allows more food reactions to occur.
Once you identify the food(s) that are causing your symptoms it is important to heal the gut. You may not have to avoid your food sensitivities long-term once the gut is healed or you can have smaller amounts less frequently without triggering your original symptoms. There are a couple ways to determine if you have a food sensitivity. The first is doing the Elimination Diet for at least a month then bringing the foods back in a controlled way. The second is testing for them using an IgG Food Sensitivity test which measures your reactivity to a long list of foods. This testing can help narrow down the list of food you need to eliminate.
Thyroid Dysfunction
Poor thyroid function, hypothyroidism, can cause a variety of symptoms including constipation. Other symptoms of thyroid dysfunction include weight gain, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and joint pain. Often thyroid concerns are left undiagnosed for years so I recommend having your thyroid tested regularly as stress and digestive issues can impact its function.
Blood tests are used to assess thyroid function which include TSH, free T4, free T3, TPO, anti-TG, and reverse T3. Most commonly only TSH is testing as it is a screening hormone test and if that value is within range no further testing is typically done. I prefer to run the full panel of tests so I can see the full picture and ensure optimal function of the gland.
Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth (SIBO)
This condition has been in the spotlight in recent years as it is now considered the root cause of at least 75% of IBS cases. It is an extremely common condition, in which bacterial fermentation of fibers and specific sugars found within food, create excessive gas production within the small intestines. This leads to abdominal bloating and pains, burping, flatulence, heartburn, diarrhea, and constipation. These symptoms are typically everyday and can cause a lot of distress.
The main reason people end up with SIBO is because of a dysfunctional migrating motor complex (MMC). This complex creates high intensity and high frequency smooth muscle contractions of the intestines to push waste from the small intestines into the large intestine. The primary cause of a dysfunctional MMC is an autoimmune cross-reaction that occurs after a case of food poisoning or traveler’s diarrhea. SIBO is linked to many other conditions such as acne, leaky gut syndrome, anemia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and hypothyroidism.
SIBO is diagnosed using a breath test that you do at home. If you test positive, then herbs and nutrients are used to kill off the bacteria overgrowth and restore the MMC function so it doesn’t happen again.
What Can I Do For You?
Give you my undivided attention so I fully understand your whole health picture and you as an individual.
Be your health detective and advocate.
Discuss testing options with you if they would help determine the cause of your IBS.
Empower you and provide education so you understand your health better.
Find a diet that is specific for you that allows you to be symptom-free and feel your best.
Create a plan tailored to your specific health goals, which may include supplements and/or herbs.
Yours in health,
Dr. Tiffany Eberhard, ND