The Root Causes of IBS- Why Food Isn’t the Villain

If you’re feeling bloated or gassy after an indulgent Christmas, you’re definitely not alone. With routine out the window and rich foods all around, it’s easy to start thinking about restrictive diets, especially if you already struggle with IBS symptoms.

Before you jump into a low FODMAP diet or start thinking about restrictive diets, let's unpack IBS. We’ll look at some of the root cases and explain why removing food groups rarely solves the problem long-term.IBS

What is IBS?

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is an umbrella term used to describe symptoms like bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain. But here’s the thing: IBS isn’t a diagnosis on its own - it’s a collection of symptoms that need to be addressed for true, lasting relief.

Why food isn’t the Problem

Whilst it’s tempting to blame our gut symptoms on what we eat, it’s important to understand that these foods themselves are not the culprit; they only cause issues in the context of an unhealthy gut or imbalanced gut bacteria. Many of us start avoiding certain foods, cutting out whole food groups, including healthy high-fibre plant foods, hoping it will fix their bloating or discomfort. Yet often, symptoms remain, along we a host of anxieties and stress around eating. Over time, restricting these foods can harm your gut microbiome, lead to nutrient deficiencies, and impact your systemic health .

Common Underlying Causes of IBS Include:

• Dysbiosis (imbalanced gut bacteria) –small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is linked to around 80% of IBS cases

• Poor digestion – low stomach acid, poor bile flow or enzyme deficiencies can prevent proper food breakdown

• Slow gut motility – When stool moves slowly through the colon, this can lead to excess fermentation, bloating and discomfort

• Stress and gut–brain axis dysfunction - Stress reduces the release of digestive juices, slowing digestive function and it also impacts the gut microbiome negatively

• Parasites – such as Giardia live off their host (us!) and can create ongoing inflammation in the digestive tract

Paradoxically, food sensitivities and intolerances often develop as a result of IBS. When the gut isn’t functioning properly, it reacts to foods that would normally be tolerated, leading to bloating, gas, or discomfort.

Conventional Testing in IBS
In conventional medicine, testing usually focuses on ruling out conditions like coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or infections. These tests aren’t designed to detect the subtle functional imbalances that often drive IBS symptoms. So when results come back “normal,” many people are told there’s nothing wrong—yet the symptoms persist. I see this scenario in clinic all the time.

My Approach as a Nutritional Therapist

As a Nutritional Therapist, my aim is to get to the root cause of what’s driving your IBS symptoms, and address these through dietary and life-style interventions. This begins with comprehensive blood testing to identify nutrient deficiencies, inflammation, or other imbalances that could be contributing to your gut issues.

I also use the Genova Diagnostics Comprehensive Stool Test and SIBO breath testing. Functional testing looks at immune function, microbial imbalances, inflammation, gut barrier integrity and digestive capacity. This gives us a much better understanding of what is causing your digestive issues and  be more targeted in our approach.

From there, I work with you to create tailored dietary and lifestyle strategies. We focus on supporting healthy gut motility, re-balancing your microbiome, improving digestive capacity and addressing lifestyle factors such as stress, sleep, and daily routines that impact gut health. I also use supplements if appropriate.

The goal is not just to reduce symptoms, but to support long-term gut health, restore tolerance to foods, and optimise your overall wellbeing.

Start your journey to feeling better today

If you’re sick of digestive distress dictating your day and would like to address the root causes of your IBS symptoms, click here to book a free 30-minute chat with me.