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Are you still trying to manage your IBS alone? Getting hit with flares left right and centre? Let’s see if you’re making any of these common IBS mistakes that, unfortunately, I see all too often:
❌ Cutting out random foods because you think you’re intolerant of them.
Taking a scattergun approach to your IBS diet is bound to lead to misery and is one sure-fire way to ruin your relationship with food.
Instead, consider the low FODMAP diet process to identify which foods you can tolerate and those you can’t.
For long-term gut health, a varied diet is essential.
❌ Assuming what worked for someone else will work for you too.
Repeat after me: “no two IBS sufferers are the same”.
You need to find your personal triggers – food and non-food. It’s a process of elimination, but this is the gold-standard.
❌ Not eating enough fibre or drinking enough water.
Fibre comes in different forms – soluble and non-soluble. Often, IBS sufferers think they can’t tolerate fibre, when they’re actually just loading up on the wrong type.
Equally, staying hydrated is important with both IBS-D and IBS-C – to replace lost fluids if you have diarrhoea, and to keep your poops soft and easy to pass if you have constipation.
❌ Following the low FODMAP diet using outdated food lists you found online and no guidance from a trained professional.
The internet is a wonderful place, but testing of foods for FODMAPs is an ongoing process and new items are being added to ‘official’ sources regularly. I recommend the Monash FODMAP app from Monash University to my clients so they have the most up-to-date food lists.
However, the diet can be confusing and complicated to follow and success is greatly improved when you work with a trained nutritionist. This is how the process was designed to work, rather than DIY.
❌ Following the low FODMAP diet long-term.
Another risk of doing the low FODMAP diet without guidance from a trained nutritionist is that often, once people start to see a reduction in their symptoms, they decide not to complete the process and reintroduce foods.
Find out here why this is a huge mistake!
❌ Wasting your money on supplements, detoxes and cleanses – some which are making your symptoms worse!
Another IBS mistake is thinking that supplements are a quick fix, or that you need to ‘detox’ or ‘cleanse’ your gut.
Some supplements – including multivitamins(!) – can exacerbate your IBS symptoms, so unless your doctor has confirmed a nutrient deficiency and prescribed a supplement to resolve it, you most likely don’t need to be taking any supplements. They aren’t a substitute for a balanced diet.
Detoxes and cleanses are just nonsense ‘therapies’ with no evidence behind them and are perpetuated by people who just want to part you with your hard-earned cash.
❌ Ignoring the power of the gut-brain axis and not addressing stress management in your care plan.
Managing IBS is about so much more than just your diet!
Of course, diet adaptations do help a lot of people manage their symptoms, but you need to take a look at your holistic health (the bigger picture) and incorporate stress management techniques for the best results.
❌ Not paying attention to the key nutrients you need as a plant-based eater during the low FODMAP diet.
Eating a plant-based diet when you have IBS can be complicated, particularly during the low FODMAP diet. There are a few key nutrients that you need to pay special attention to, like protein and iron.
Working with a nutritionist who can help you plan your meals properly is priceless!
Don’t make these same common IBS mistakes by following general advice or incorrect information on the web or social media!
Save time (and tears) by seeking expert guidance from a nutritionist specialising in IBS and plant-based diets (hey there! 🙋♀️).
IBS is a complex condition that needs a holistic approach to management and this is exactly what I help my clients understand and implement in my program, Plant Nourish, Gut Flourish.
During the time we work together, I will hold your hand and support you through any questions you have, challenges you encounter, and provide a clear A-Z guide on effectively managing your IBS.
To find out more about how I can help you, just book a complimentary discovery call and let’s get you started!
