Are restrictive diets the answer to preventing and managing food intolerances?

[ling]

With Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, ZOE’s U.S. Medical Director, board-certified gastroenterologist, and New York Times best-selling author.

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[xjrs]

I haven't listened to the podcast, but looking at the title, in the long run restrictive diets are not healthy. They may help get symptoms under control in the short term, but may have consequences for long term health, in terms of potential reduction in nutritional value and particularly since a healthy microbiome helps to keep the body healthy and the microbiome becomes more healthy with the wider range of foods that we eat. From an IBS perspective, the best thing is to tackle what is causing the IBS for instance a gut bacterial imbalance, excessive stress etc. Perhaps even using medications on a short term basis to tackle pain, reduce over excitability of gut nerves plus there's gut directed hypnotherapy. Once the gut is in a calmer state, it may be possible to tolerate a wider range of foods. This in turn makes the gut microbiome more diverse, which helps to keep bad bugs at bay, improving your overall health including helping to reduce IBS symptoms.

[Maureen1958]

Thanks very much for this, I was particularly interested in the histamine intolerance.

[Luisa22]

It's all very interesting, and I can't help somehow agreeing on principle ...in a way.

But I have found I have fibre intolerance. I never used to have it but it came with the IBS-D, So I have to stay more or less low-fibre with my food choices. There are times when I can eat more, and I take advantage of those times, and oddly have no symptoms.

But when my gut feels disturbed, I can't. At all. If I dare, I will have yet another flare up. I have to wait out the flare, then carefully try to introduce VERY small amounts of fibre day by day and see how it goes. Many times I've had to back off trying that for a while, and be a bit more restrictive with my diet. And believe me, I don't want to be!! I love all the fruit and veggies, brown rice etc!

[ling in reply to Luisa22]

Hi Luisa,

Can totally totally empathise!

Have you had a colonoscope to rule out any other causes?

Do u take probiotics?

[Luisa22 in reply to ling]

No, my doctor didn't see the need for a colonoscopy after running 3 stool tests. One for any minute traces of blood, and the other two for any inflammation. He said the tests were very sensitive, then told me all the issues it couldn't be owing to the test results. These were repeated twice and no change. It was then he said I have IBS.

[ling in reply to Luisa22]

Do u take probiotics?

[ling in reply to Luisa22]

Luisa, re probiotics. I started with yogurt for probiotic consumption. Recently i finally switched to probiotic capsules. Whilst expensive, they have made a significant difference to my condition. Overall the condition is better managed and things feel more stable.

[711debbie in reply to Luisa22]

Maybe you can try ground flaxseed if you have constipation from your low fibre diet. It's the best for IBS sufferers, not psyillium.

[Luisa22]

No, the low fibre diet doesn't give me constipation 99% of the time. It just helps me manage my ibs-d. When my stool is firmer, or when I have periods with no symptoms I can then afford to introduce a little more fibre, and that's enough to keep the balance much of the time. It's like a tightrope act.