GO WITH YOUR GUT

April is IBS Awareness month, so we look at what causes the bowel condition and some of the ways to overcome it

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that affects the digestive system. According to Bupa, around one in five adults in the UK are thought to suffer from the condition, while Guts Charity UK estimates it's closer to one in three. Some of the most common symptoms include constipation, diarrhoea, severe bloating and wind, while others can experience cramping, foul-smelling stools and sometimes blood or mucus in their poo.

Symptoms vary from person to person and can be mild or can severely impact your daily life. They can become worse during stressful periods or after eating certain foods. Other symptoms include feeling lethargic or sick, headaches, backache and bladder issues, such as needing to pee more often.

Kelly Mulhall, a nutritional therapist specialising in gut health and founder of The Natural Balance (thenaturalbalance.net), says IBS Awareness Month is a great time to pay attention to your body.

“When left untreated, IBS can have a huge impact on someone's social and work life, as they have to avoid situations that include food and drink and always need to know where the nearest bathroom is,” she explains.

“It can feel embarrassing due to accidents or total distraction due to that sense of urgency, and this truly can impact relationships.

“The thing I hear most often is, ‘I just want a normal life where I can go out with my friends, eat with my family and not be embarrassed.’”

So why do people suffer from IBS? Kelly says, “Sometimes IBS is unexplained, and who suffers from it versus who doesn't isn't always clear. We put our gut through a lot in today's modern world. We eat very differently, drink, take medicines and live in environments that limit our exposure to nature.