Root Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Most people don’t know this, but IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) doesn’t have just one root cause. It’s a variety of diagnosable health issues, which is why your provider should be looking more deeply for a solution once you’ve received a diagnosis. Moreover, the root cause is individual to each person, so each case will vary. 

Have you ever heard a young child ask “Why” repeatedly ad nauseum? Well, your provider should be following the same process so they can begin to find the root cause of your IBS symptoms. Without a root cause, it’s extremely difficult to develop a solution that will fit your unique lifestyle. 

Here are some common causes: 

• SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) 

Bacteria that typically lives in the large intestine is there to help ferment carbohydrates and aide in the digestion process. When those bacteria are found in the small intestine, it could result in SIBO. Common symptoms include diarrhea and constipation among others that overlap with IBS. 

• Dysbiosis of the Gut Microbiome 

The gut is a home to trillions of microorganisms that play a role in your human physiology (metabolism, nutrition, etc). When the gut microbiome is disrupted, it could result in or exacerbate existing IBS symptoms.

• Intestinal Hyperpermeability (Leaky Gut) 

When someone has Leaky Gut, it essentially means that macromolecules of food, toxins and pathogens are flowing into the bloodstream. This typically results in an inflammatory immune response which could then result in… you guessed it - IBS symptoms. 

• Gut Infections

Any combination of parasites, bacteria, fungi or yeast could result in gut infections anywhere from the stomach to the small intestine and the colon. Traveling internationally, food poisoning, kisses from your pets or even your local water supply could all result in contracting a gut infection. If you have a gut infection, you may also be suffering from any of the following symptoms: constipation, gas + bloating or reflux/heartburn/indigestion. 

• Food sensitivities 

People that have food sensitivities often experience the same or similar symptoms to those that have IBS. Common food triggers include gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts, etc. Food triggers can absolutely worsen or increase symptoms, but shouldn’t be considered the be all-end all. 

So what comes next? 

Set-up a 30 minute free call with our team to help you figure out if one or a combination of these symptoms could be the root cause of your IBS. Healing your gut and managing your IBS symptoms are a journey - don’t get discouraged if the answer isn’t immediately apparent. We’ll find it together.