What Causes IBS? Part 2
Finding the right treatment option for your IBS starts with finding the cause.
If you read our previous blog series about the common myths about IBS, then you already know that not every IBS treatment works for every IBS sufferer. Part of the reason for this is that many different things can cause IBS, and the only way to truly find relief is to treat the cause of your IBS, not just the symptoms. That’s why, in Part 1 of this series, we went over a few of the most common causes of IBS. Here are a few more.
#4. Leaky Gut Syndrome
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract’s main job is to extract the nutrients your body needs from the food you eat and move the residue through your body, where it can be passed. However, your GI has another major responsibility: to prevent undigested food particles, pathogens and other substances from entering your body. This permeability of the GI tract is called leaky gut, and it has been associated with IBS.
#5. Dysbiosis
The human gut is an incredibly complex system made up of trillions of microorganisms that influence everything from immune function and metabolism to nutrition. Dysbiosis, or disrupted gut microbiota, means that there is an microbial imbalance in the body. One study, published in the journal, Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Obesity , found that 73 percent of IBS patients also had intestinal dysbiosis.
#6. Probiotics
If you’ve ever stepped foot in a natural health food store, then there’s a good chance that you’ve seen probiotic supplements before. These supplements are thought to bring balance to the bacteria in your body, aiding in digestion and keeping your gut healthy. But it’s important to know that your digestive tract is already loaded with good bacteria — the vast majority of which are not probiotics. While taking probiotics at the right time could be potentially beneficial for gut health, it can also cause digestive symptoms if not taken properly. Unfortunately, many people turn to probiotics to treat their IBS, but they only end up making it worse.
#7. Fiber
Fiber, like probiotics, is often used to treat IBS, but for some people, taking the wrong kind of fiber, or too much fiber, can make symptoms worse. When it comes to fiber for IBS sufferers, there are more questions out there than answers. For example, what kind of fiber should you take: insoluble or soluble? How much fiber should you take? There is such a thing as getting too much fiber, and if you abuse your fiber intake, you could end up making your IBS symptoms more severe, since many fiber products contain additional ingredients that cause digestive upset.
