08Dec 2017 by Larina Robinson
What is SIBO? (and how do you know if you have it?)

What is SIBO? (and how do you know if you have it?)

GI Disorders
Do you suffer with chronic diarrhoea or constipation? Experiencing regular bloating and abdominal pain? Or perhaps you’ve eliminated certain foods from your diet but haven’t seen much improvement in your symptoms…. You might have Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, or SIBO for short. What is SIBO? SIBO is defined as excessive bacteria in the small intestine. Naturally, our digestive tract is full of bacteria but the bulk of them are found in our large intestine, not our small intestine. (1) In comparison to our large intestine, the small intestine has relatively low levels of bacteria. This is the space in our digestive system where food mixes with digestive juices and nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. When bacteria from the large intestine overflow into the small intestine and take over, they…
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03Nov 2017 by Larina Robinson
The Low FODMAP Diet

The Low FODMAP Diet

GI Disorders
Do you suffer from chronic bloating, abdominal pain and altered bowel habits? If yes, then it’s likely you’ll benefit from the Low FODMAP diet. Discover what exactly FODMAPs are, how to follow the Low FODMAP diet, and the importance of methodically reintroducing FODMAP foods into your diet below. What Are FODMAPs? FODMAPs are a group of food compounds that are eliminated on the Low FODMAP diet. The Low FODMAP diet created by Sue Shepherd and her team in Melbourne, Australia, is a temporary elimination diet that aims to reduce symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The acronym FODMAP stands for: ● Fermentable – these types of compounds are broken down (fermented) by bacteria in the large intestine ● Oligosaccharides – “oligo” means “few” and “saccharide” means sugar. These molecules are…
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25Apr 2017 by Aidan Muir
Joe Leech Q & A

Joe Leech Q & A

Other
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? I am a dietitian from Sydney, but currently living in Stockholm. I have a website, DietvsDisease.org that provides science-based resources for those living with diet-related diseases and conditions. As you can imagine this is a huge area, so I am building the database slowly with a few topics at a time. I also collaborate with AuthorityNutrition.com to produce all their videos which you can find on youtube and on my Diet vs Disease Facebook page. What is one piece of nutrition advice that you give which surprises people? Very few foods are absolutely healthy or unhealthy - it’s the quantities you eat and your relationship with that food that makes it healthy or unhealthy. Do you have a nutrition philosophy? What…
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17Mar 2017 by Chloe McLeod
What is IBS, and how do we manage it?

What is IBS, and how do we manage it?

GI Disorders
It seems everywhere you go, someone new is trying out a gluten free diet, and complaining of feeling bloated, uncomfortable, or suffering from diarrhoea or constipation. Does this mean they have IBS? But wait. What is IBS, and how do we manage it? What is IBS? Approximately 20% of Australians suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, commonly known as IBS. IBS is a chronic condition, meaning long term management is required. Symptoms include stomach cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, wind, constipation and diarrhea. It is also common for there to be periods in your life where symptoms are worse, or are better. How do we manage it? IBS, for most people is triggered by consumption of high FODMAP foods, whilst stress, anxiety, lack of sleep and physical activity all play a role…
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28Feb 2017 by Amanda Moon
The low-down on the Low FODMAPs diet to improve gut symptoms

The low-down on the Low FODMAPs diet to improve gut symptoms

GI Disorders
Most people experiencing excessive gas, bloating, abdominal pain and altered bowel movements (diarrhoea and/or constipation) would have heard of the Low FODMAPs diet by now. Many GPs and health practitioners are regarding it to be one of the best investigative diets for identifying problematic foods. Research shows that people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) can significantly improve symptoms by managing the amount of FODMAPs in their diet. What are FODMAPS? FODMAPs is an acronym for Fermentable Oligo-saccharides, Di-saccharides, Mono-saccharides and Polyols. Essentially, FODMAPs are short-chain carbohydrates (sugars, starches and fibres), which can be poorly digested and absorbed in the small intestine, resulting in movement through to the large intestine. Here, they can be fermented / digested by the millions of bacteria that reside there, producing…
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27Jan 2017 by Amanda Moon
Considerations for the Management and Treatment of IBS

Considerations for the Management and Treatment of IBS

GI Disorders
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a disorder that affects the nerves and muscles of the bowel. It’s the least understood, but most common gastrointestinal disorder - affecting one in five Australians. IBS isn’t a disease itself, but a label given to symptoms that are not related to other conditions like coeliac disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease etc. Therefore it’s very important to speak with your GP about your symptoms as soon as possible to rule out more serious gut conditions. Symptoms can vary in severity and come and go, lasting for hours, days, weeks or months. For most people, it’s a chronic condition, while for others it can improve and even disappear completely. Some of the most common IBS symptoms include: • Abdominal pain or cramping – often relieved by passing…
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