Digestive Health (Gastrointestinal health)
Do you live with any of the following symptoms?
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Cramping
- Bloating
- Gas or wind
- Acid reflux
- Leaky gut (Intestinal permeability)
- Food intolerance
Or struggle with any of the following conditions:
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Coeliac disease
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Crohn’s Disease
- Diverticulitis
- SIBO (small intestinal bacterial Overgrowth)
If so, then you are not alone. One of the most common reasons for visiting a GP is for digestive or gastrointestinal symptoms. A digestive wellness consultation might help you get back on your path to digestive wellness.
Why is this?
Our diet has changed dramatically in the last 50 years and in conjunction with certain medications, foreign travel, stress and even the way we were born, our gut microbiome may not be as robust as it should be. I try to tackle the root cause of your digestive problems rather than simply dealing with the symptoms.
Identifying triggers such as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), parasitic infections, food intolerance or allergy, inflammation, poor bacterial diversity or yeast overgrowth may help to reduce symptoms and restore normal bowel function. Nutritional Therapy aims to restore the balance in the microbiome to build strength from the inside out. My approach looks at your symptoms as well as your current diet and lifestyle. I also work with the Monash FODMAP diet, which can be beneficial as a first line approach for IBS. I am also trained in functional testing, should your health issues be more complex. I can offer food allergy and intolerance testing, comprehensive stool tests as well as SIBO testing (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). I am also able to offer test for Gluten and Wheat Sensitivity Testing with Cyrex Laboratories if required. You would be offered nutritional handouts about your condition and possibly a personalised supplement programme to match your symptoms. In addition, I would give you a 7 day food plan to follow. I give recipes wherever possible to help support you at the start of your programme. What is FODMAP? The FODMAP diet is an acronym for Fermentable – Oligosaccharides –Disaccharides- Monosaccharides and Polyols. These are specific carbohydrates that occur naturally in foods that may lead to fermentation in the intestines. This can lead to gas, wind, pain as well as constipation or diarrhoea. The FODMAP diet was developed at the Monash University in Melbourne and has helped many people suffering with IBS to identify their food triggers. This protocol involves an elimination diet followed by reintroduction. To work successfully, the diet is best used alongside measures to rebalance the gut microbiome and help repair any damage the gut wall.
