IBS Symptoms?
Causes of IBS - find out the foods to avoid
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a gut disorder characterised by abdominal pain,
stomach distension and bowel dysfunction; loose bowels, constipation or a fluctuation
between the two.
- IBS is now one of the most common problems of the digestive system and about
one in six people have symptoms. The disease can develop at any age, but most
people have their first symptoms between the ages of 15 and 40.
- Most people's symptoms are so mild that they never see a doctor for treatment.
However, some people have really troublesome symptoms, especially abdominal cramps,
bloating, and urgent diarrheoa which seriously affect their quality of life. The
cause of irritable bowel syndrome is not well understood.
IBS could be due to food intolerance
- Treatment for IBS usually focuses on changes in diet and lifestyle, avoiding
foods that trigger symptoms, and managing stress.
- Individuals with IBS need to feel actively involved in their treatment; taking
control and feeling empowered are really vital as IBS can seem like such an unpredictable
condition. Some foods will nearly always cause symptoms while others don’t, and
it can be incredibly frustrating trying to pin down what you can and can’t eat
without suffering an attack.
- The problem with attempting any dietary modification is that first you need to
know what to change. Currently the best accepted method for confirming food sensitivities
is by elimination diet. This involves eating a restricted diet for several weeks.
If there is no improvement during this time, it is assumed that the food type
that has been restricted is not causing the symptoms, and the process is repeated
with another food type.
- This method is very time consuming, and because it is impossible to test all
the different combinations of food types that may be causing the problems, it
is a very ineffective process.
Testing For Food Intolerance
- The most scientific approach used to identify which food types are causing IBS
symptoms is a blood test that measures food-specific IgG antibodies, and there
is only one food-specific IgG test available, the YorkTest FoodScan 113 food intolerance
test. our data shows that, in those with IBS, over 3 out of 4 will show significant
benefit if they remove those foods that have shown a reaction in the FoodScan
113 food intolerance test.
- The FoodScan 113 food intolerance test was also used in the only IBS randomised
controlled trial of its kind, showing a significant reduction in stomach distension,
bowel dysfunction also a reduction in factors such as pain and fatigue and an
increase in general well-being. The fact that people see a return of symptoms
on reintroduction of the foods identified by the food-specific IgG test supports
the fact that this is an active and specific approach. The test only requires
a few drops of blood that can be collected in the comfort of your own home.
Do you think you may suffer from food intolerance?
Taking a First Step food intolerance test enables you to eliminate uncertainty
and confirm whether you have food intolerance through a ‘positive’ or ‘negative’
test result. This way you can check if you have a food intolerance before taking
the Second Step FoodScan 113 which is the comprehensive service that identifies
the specific foods you are intolerant to.
Need further information?
To buy or talk to our specialists call on 01 2022701who will be happy to provide
you with free, confidential expert advice and guidance on the First Step. Alternatively
Click here to buy the First Step test.
Case Study
Diane Allen - IBS For eight years IBS ran Diane Allen's life for her: "I had classic IBS - upset
stomach, diarrhoea,bloating, wind, you name it! Every day I suffered from bad
diarrhoea and it had got to the point where I couldn't leave the house, even to
go shopping, without planning my route via the local toilets. I was at a really
low ebb and I have three children and I knew I had to do something because I was
missing the best bits of their lives."

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