This condition is becoming increasingly common these days and causes serious discomfort for around 14 million Germans. But what exactly is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? How can this condition be treated? And how exactly is it all connected to the gut flora? You'll find out all this in this blog post.
1. What is meant by irritable bowel syndrome?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disease of the digestive tract – more precisely, a functional disorder of the intestines. This is usually related to an imbalance in the gut flora of affected individuals. This leads to a range of symptoms, such as... Flatulence, Abdominal pain and diarrhea. Compared to healthy individuals, certain harmful or disruptive strains of bacteria are more prevalent in the intestines.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) occurs about twice as often in women as in men. According to current gastroenterological research, the reasons for this are not yet fully understood. In general, the exact causes of this condition are still relatively unclear. However, links between food intolerances, infections, and stress have been scientifically proven. Today, scientists increasingly assume that there is not just one, but several types of IBS. This is because researchers have now identified various subtypes that differ primarily in the symptoms or complaints they cause. Additionally, scientists believe that IBS can be triggered by interactions between the brain, the psyche, and the gastrointestinal tract. This occurs via the... Gut-brain axis. This is because the central and enteric nervous systems are in close communication via nerves, messenger substances and hormones.
Experts now suspect that the enteric nervous system – also known as the "gut brain" – is overactive in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This can cause digestive problems and may also affect mental health. Some studies have scientifically demonstrated that IBS is frequently associated with depression, chronic stress, psychological trauma, and anxiety disorders. However, IBS cannot generally be classified as a purely psychological condition.
2. What are typical symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome?
An estimated four to ten percent of all Germans suffer from recurring diarrhea, abdominal cramps, constipation, or bloating. Due to the still unclear causes of this condition, treatment is difficult and often unsatisfactory. The symptoms are incredibly varied and usually occur in combination. These include nausea, heartburn, bloating, lower abdominal pain, diarrhea, or constipation.
3. What causes this intestinal disease?
Now for the bad news: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can have a wide variety of causes and has only been researched for about 10 years, which is a very short time from a scientific perspective. Consequently, there is relatively little information available about this condition.
If symptoms such as frequent diarrhea, bloating, or abdominal pain occur, the affected person usually consults their family doctor first. If the doctor cannot determine the cause, they will refer the patient to a specialist in the field—an internist or gastroenterologist. These specialists typically then perform an endoscopy or an ultrasound examination.But even here, doctors often can't find an answer to all the problems, because irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) manifests itself very differently and can present in various ways. We've listed some important factors here that can influence the development of IBS:
- Nutrition: It is well known that diet can have a significant impact on our health. It also plays an important role in the development of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Patients with IBS often report a connection between certain foods and reduced well-being. These are usually specific carbohydrates, sugar alcohols, and sugars such as lactose or fructose. Furthermore, gluten, wheat proteins, and other substances found in wheat can cause problems.
- genetics: Studies show that people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) often have genetic alterations. This appears to be the reason why either the number or the structure of so-called receptor molecules is altered. These molecules are located in the cell wall of the intestine. This, in turn, impairs the transmission of stimuli in the gut and results in irritation of the digestive tract.
- Intestinal flora: Researchers have discovered that the composition of the gut microbiome and gut flora is altered in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) compared to healthy individuals. This manifests itself in the fact that, firstly, certain strains of bacteria more frequently. On the other hand, the number of existing bacterial species is usually reduced. The use of antibiotics, the influence of chronic stress, and gastrointestinal infections also have strong negative effects on the composition of the gut microbiota. intestinal microbiome and thus also gut health.
- Inflammation: Chronic, low-grade inflammation of the intestinal lining can be one of the causes of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This is most often the case in patients who suffer from frequent diarrhea.
- Bowel movements: Normally, in a healthy gut, the situation is as follows: the intestines move regularly and rhythmically. But the intestines don't make these movements without reason. No, they do this to move the intestinal contents, i.e., partially digested food, further along and thus transport it through the body. However, if the intestines are not healthy, this can lead to changes in intestinal motility, such as slowing down significantly or speeding up considerably. If the intestines move much more slowly, this can result in constipation. If the muscles move unusually fast, this has the opposite effect. As you can probably guess, the result is a very unpleasant symptom: diarrhea. In addition, cramps in the intestinal tract can lead to severe and unpleasant abdominal pain.
One thing is certain: many different factors influence the likelihood of developing the condition. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients need patience, as both accurately investigating the causes and treating IBS require careful observation and time.
Some doctors then advise not only changing the diet and finding out which foods trigger the respective symptoms.It is increasingly recommended to use good bacteria, so Probiotics, to take substances that are supposed to restore balance to the intestines.
4. Are gut flora and irritable bowel syndrome related?
The causes of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) mentioned above affect the gut flora to varying degrees. This suggests that IBS is directly linked to an altered gut flora. Conversely, a positive change in the gut flora can lead to a reduction in IBS symptoms. intestinal microbiome The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may disappear. However, this is not yet fully understood scientifically. Many gastroenterologists and doctors, however, observe significant symptom improvement in positive changes to the intestinal microbiome.
5. What can I do about it?
The most effective methods to date for rebuilding your gut flora are dietary changes and taking pro-& Prebiotics and avoiding excessive, chronic stress are key. Ideally, you should pay attention to all of these things and improve them where necessary to achieve long-term improvement. Nevertheless, everything starts small – and our little helpers in the gut would certainly agree.
Generally speaking: is the Intestinal flora When the body is out of balance, this has negative effects on human health. It's interesting to note that studies have shown that the stool of people with a healthy digestive system... intestinal microbiome clearly distinguishes it from the affected person. This in turn suggests a disorder of the Gut microbiome To restore balance and "repair" the intestinal barrier, taking probiotics can help. These contribute to strengthening the intestinal barrier and thus help ward off pathogens. They also inhibit the growth of harmful germs and prevent them from colonizing the intestinal lining. But that's not all: they can also strengthen the immune system and stimulate bowel movements!
6. DIY – Home remedies to strengthen your gut flora
We believe that stress is perhaps the most underestimated factor influencing gut flora. Both physical and psychological stress, through the release of stress hormones, directly impacts the diversity and number of bacterial strains in our gut.
To keep your gut healthy and balanced, we've compiled a small collection of tips that we fully believe in:
- Take a break from your phone and laptop and focus on the here and now.
- Prepare yourself a cup of your favorite tea or a hot chocolate. (Ideally, this should be without sugar or sweetened cocoa, as sugar is anything but helpful for stress.)
- Practice your favorite sport or replace it with some stretching exercises, which have a calming effect on our nervous system.
- Take a walk in the fresh air (without your mobile phone) or simply open the window and breathe deeply in and out.
- 15 minutes of yoga with appropriate breathing exercises (Pranayama) also significantly helps to minimize perceived stress.
- Sauna sessions and sunshine also have stress-reducing effects.(Just pick what appeals to you most)
If you've already incorporated all of this into your daily life and are craving more, you can also support your gut flora with our specially developed Pro-& Prebiotics provide support. Sounds good? Then take a look around here:
