People are becoming more open about their gut issues, which is great because they affect a substantial portion of the population.
Two of the most commonly known digestive conditions are Coeliac disease and IBS. The symptoms are quite similar, however the underlying cause and management are very different.
Here’s a quick overview on these two conditions and why it’s important to distinguish between them.
Coeliac Disease: What Is It, And How Common Is It?
Coeliac disease is an immune based condition, triggered by gluten. Basically, the body’s immune system reacts to gluten by attacking itself, resulting in inflammation that can lead to many different symptoms.
Quick facts:
- 1 in 70 Aussies have coeliac disease
- Only 1 in 5 actually know they have it!
- As a genetic disease, you must be born with certain genes (HLA type) to be able to get coeliac disease. Not everyone with the HLA genes will develop it.
- Symptoms vary slightly between people but the cause is always gluten.
- The only treatment for Coeliac disease is by following a strict gluten free diet
- Consuming gluten causes long term damage.
IBS: What Is It, And How Common Is It?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the lower digestive tract.
Quick Facts
- 1 in 5 Aussies suffer from IBS
- Women are twice as likely as men to ride this digestive roller coaster
- About 5 million Australians are currently living with IBS
- Eating trigger foods won’t cause long term damage
- Symptoms and causes vary substantially between people
Symptoms Include:
- Tummy aches
- Bloating
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
What Causes IBS?
The exact cause of IBS is unknown but common triggers include:
- Food intolerances (eg. high FODMAP foods)
- Food additives (eg. fillers, artificial sweeteners)
- Spicy foods, coffee, alcohol, high fat foods
- Stress
- Hormonal shifts
Treating (Managing IBS):
Just as the exact cause of IBS is unknown, there is no real “cure”. There are, however, ways of managing IBS symptoms – many people are able to live completely symptom free with simple lifestyle and diet changes.
- The FODMAP diet: FODMAPs are a group of carbohydrates found in a LOT of foods. The FODMAP diet was developed at Monash university and involves identifying which FODMAPs you’re intolerant to (it’s rarely all of them) and eliminating/reducing those from your diet. It’s the primary recommended way to manage IBS globally and helps 75% of sufferers!
- Eating a more natural, less processed diet
- Eliminating trigger foods: simply steering clear of things that irritate your gut
- Managing stress, prioritising sleep
- Increasing fibre
As you can see, it’s easy to confuse the symptoms of coeliac disease with IBS, however their causes and treatment are very different so it’s important to understand what’s happening.
The good news is that whichever you’re suffering with (or if you’re not suffering from either) Fodbods are the perfect snack – 100% natural, gluten free and low FODMAP!
