How to Treat IBS & Improve Gut Health

How to Treat IBS & Increase Gut Health

Treating IBS & Improving Gut Health

Gut health is everything, if your gut is in bad shape, then so is your immune system It is important to get it

sorted.

You’re recovery from training will also be terrible if your gut is in a mess thanks to all the inflammation that will be kicking around in your body generally.

Leaky Gut Syndrome

Clinical medicine and nutrition doesn’t officially recognise this syndrome as of yet but if Dr Axe is writing articles about its importance, then I’m a believer!

Whether the condition exists or not, the standard treatment of drinking 5g of glutamine first thing in the morning with a probiotic tablet is hardly going to do you any harm, so it’s worth a go.

Gelatine has gained lots of headlines recently too, for it’s ability to heal injured ligaments, tendons and potentially help those with arthritis.

It’s also said to health the mucosal lining in the stomach.

So try bone broth, gelatine powder or hydrolysed collagen. I personally use gelatine powder in my morning smoothies.

For Leaky Gut Syndrome

- Consume 5g Glutamine Powder on an empty stomach

- Take a probiotic supplement and/or fermented drink

- Supplement with gelatine

Healthy Gut Flora

Now you need to look at your gut flora.

This can go to shite if you eat too much sugar, deep fried food and especially after taking anti-biotics.

Fermented foods or drinks such as kefir, kombuccha and/or sauerkraut are a good idea ñ just start off slowly.

There are loads of probiotic supplements on Amazon but VSL3is touted by Dr Rhonda Patrick.

Buy it direct from the website though, as this why it comes in an ice-pack the following day.

As I’m writing this one of my friends has just messaged me on FB to say that VSL3 has literally changed his life and sorted his IBS

https://www.vsl3.co.uk/

Note that when you first try probiotic foods or supplements, you might feel worse for the first few days but once your stomach starts adjusting, you should feel cushdy.

To help digestion, try diluted apple cider vinegar before meals too

Some people swear by apple cider vinegar, whilst others say it does nothing. I’m still using it though!

Cut out sugar

Consume a probiotic like VSL3

Try a fermented drink like Kefir or food like sauerkraut

FODMAP Diet

Ah the FODMAP diet. This has been my saviour but also it’s what turns people off when I try and advice them in regards to IBS.

As you can see, the list is pretty extensive but for me cutting out wheat and dairy was life changing.

Cannabis?

There are mountains of evidence now starting to pile up for CBD oil and medical cannabis as a direct way of treating a range of inflammatory bowel disorders.

Here are some of the abstracts from just a few studies:

STUDY - Clinical endocannabinoiddeficiency (CECD): can this concept explain therapeutic benefits of cannabis in migraine, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and other treatment-resistant conditions?

CONCLUSION:

Migraine, fibromyalgia, IBS and related conditions display common clinical, biochemical and pathophysiological patterns that suggest an underlying clinical endocannabinoid deficiency that may be suitably treated with cannabinoid medicines.

Academic Paper -Cannabidiol in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Brief Overview

CBD is a very promising compound since it shares the typical cannabinoid beneficial effects on gut lacking any psychotropic effects. For years, its activity has been enigmatic for gastroenterologists and pharmacologists, but now it is evident that this compound may interact at extra-cannabinoid system receptor sites, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma. This strategic interaction makes CBD as a potential candidate for the development of a new class of anti-IBD drugs.

Another study looking at cbd and gut health - remember that gut inflammation and permeability has been linked to systemic inflammation and depression.

Cannabinoids mediate opposing effects on inflammation-induced intestinal permeability

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These findings suggest that locally produced endocannabinoids, acting via CB1 receptors play a role in mediating changes in permeability with inflammation, and that phytocannabinoids have therapeutic potential for reversing the disordered intestinal permeability associated with inflammation.

The final thing that I would recommend, is to consume lots of anti-inflammatory foods. Ginger, tart cherry juice (make sure you tolerate it okay, cherries are on the FODMAP exclusion list), kale and oily fish.

Summary

Add gelatine and/or glutamine to your diet for your gut lining

Sort your gut flora with a probiotic supplement

Cut out sugar and deep fried foods for gut health & reduced inflammation

Try the FODMAP diet - especially reducing dairy - try for 3 days

Look into CBD oil

Intermittent Fasting is also worth a try.

If you’re in a world of trouble and looking for a quick-fix, order some VSL 3 and cut out dairy for 3 days and monitor for any improvement.