5 Common Root Causes of IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, is a serious women’s health issue—affecting more women than men and even leading to increased procedures like hysterectomy or ovarian surgery.

Do you think you should settle for a diagnosis of IBS and just deal with it?

🤦‍♀️ I don’t think so.

An IBS diagnosis only tells you that you have digestive issues that haven’t been explained yet.

📋 With testing and assessments that most conventionally trained doctors aren’t using, we can dig deep to uncover issues that may be contributing to the symptoms of IBS.

5 Common Root Causes of IBS

1️⃣ Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

Statistics are all over the map on this one, but the most recent data showed that about 35% of people diagnosed with IBS test positive for SIBO. That’s more than 1 in 3. I diagnose SIBO in my patients using an at-home breath test.

2️⃣ Gut Infections

Parasites, bacteria, or yeast infections can all disrupt gut health. A Mayo Clinic review found that 1 in 9 people who experience food poisoning go on to develop IBS. Functional Stool Testing, like the GI MAP test, gives a comprehensive overview of gut infection, imbalance, inflammation, and more.

3️⃣ Leaky Gut

Increased intestinal permeability, or ‘leaky gut,’ means there’s a breakdown in the barrier of the intestinal lining. It’s linked with inflammation and gut issues. Supplements like probiotics, fish oil, and l-glutamine can all help to fortify the intestinal barrier.

4️⃣ Food Sensitivities

The most common foods to aggravate IBS are those high in fermentable carbohydrates (FODMAPs), but other foods can trigger problems in specific individuals. What you need to know about food sensitivities, however, is that they are often associated with an overgrowth of bacteria and/or yeast in the gut. Once the gut is healed and balanced, the symptoms of food sensitivities often go away.

5️⃣ Stress

The gut is undeniably linked to the brain (ever heard of the gut-brain axis?). IBS is commonly linked with anxiety, depression, and high stress.

Could more than one of these issues be going on simultaneously?

Absolutely ✅

Do we have natural, Functional Medicine approaches to address each of these underlying causes specifically and uniquely?

Yes ✅

Are you ready for a fresh perspective on your health? As a board-certified Integrative & Functional Medicine physician, I can help you “think outside of the Are you ready for a fresh perspective on your health? As a board-certified Integrative & Functional Medicine physician, I can help you “think outside of the box” and dig deeper with a variety of laboratory testing to help uncover the underlying root causes of your symptoms and create a plan personalized for you that goes beyond the prescription pad to incorporate diet/lifestyle change, nutritional supplements, holistic therapies, health coaching and more! Contact us to schedule an appointment or learn more.