What Is IBS?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common functional digestive disorder. This means
routine blood tests and scans often come back normal, yet symptoms such as bloating,
abdominal pain and altered bowel habits persist.
That can feel incredibly frustrating.
However, “normal tests” does not mean there is no explanation. IBS reflects changes in how
the gut functions — how it moves, how it communicates with the nervous system, how food
is digested, and how the immune system responds within the digestive tract.
NOTE: Many clients attending our physiotherapy for chronic pain, joint stiffness or
inflammatory conditions are surprised to discover that unresolved gut dysfunction
can be a contributing factor.
Common IBS symptoms include:
• Bloating and abdominal distension
• Abdominal discomfort or cramping
• Constipation, diarrhoea, or alternating between both (IBS-C, IBS-D or IBS-M)
• Excess wind
• Reflux, heartburn or upper digestive discomfort
• A feeling of incomplete emptying
For many people, bloating is the most distressing IBS symptom. The abdomen can feel tight,
swollen or uncomfortable — sometimes within minutes of eating — and may worsen as the
day goes on.
What Causes IBS Symptoms?
IBS is not caused by one single factor. The root cause of IBS symptoms can differ
significantly between individuals. It is a broad diagnosis that describes a pattern of
digestive symptoms — but the underlying causes of IBS can vary considerably from person
to person.
In some cases, Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) may be involved. Research
suggests SIBO may be present in a significant proportion of IBS cases, contributing to
bloating, excess gas and food sensitivities. However, this is just one possible contributor
among several.
Other potential root causes of IBS symptoms can include:
- Yeast overgrowth (such as Candida) in the small or large intestine
- Poor digestive function — we need adequate stomach acid, bile and digestive enzymes to
break down food efficiently. When any of these are low or imbalanced, food can sit in the
digestive tract for too long, where it ferments and produces gas, leading to bloating and
abdominal discomfort - Slow bowel motility — the rate at which food moves through the digestive tract can be
affected by stress, surgery, vagus nerve function, nerve damage from food poisoning,
hormonal changes, nutrient deficiencies and nervous system dysregulation - Food intolerances — reactions to specific foods or food groups such as histamines,
salicylates, oxalates, sulphur-containing foods, nightshades or lectins - Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, which can disrupt upper digestive function
- Dysbiosis — an imbalance of beneficial and harmful bacteria in the gut
- Pathogenic bacteria or parasites, which can alter gut health and increase inflammation
As you can see, IBS symptoms such as bloating, digestive discomfort and food intolerances
can arise from many different underlying mechanisms.
This is why identifying the root cause of IBS is essential. IBS is a label — but the reason
behind it is individual.
Are Food Intolerances Causing Your IBS?
Food intolerances are common in people with IBS, particularly when bloating and digestive
discomfort are ongoing.
If you think about it logically, your gut is essentially a long tube running from your mouth to
your anus. The lining of that tube acts as a selective barrier between your digestive tract
and your bloodstream. Its job is to allow nutrients into the bloodstream while preventing
larger food particles, toxins and bacteria from triggering unnecessary immune reactions.
When the gut lining is healthy, this system works efficiently.
However, any of the root causes mentioned above — such as SIBO, dysbiosis, candida
overgrowth, infection, stress or poor digestive function — can increase intestinal
permeability (sometimes referred to as “leaky gut”). When this happens, partially digested
food particles and bacterial by-products may interact more directly with the immune
system.
This increased reactivity can contribute to:
- Food intolerances
- Bloating after eating
- Excess gas
- Abdominal discomfort
- Unpredictable bowel habits
Food Intolerance vs Food Allergy
Food intolerances are different from food allergies.
A true food allergy produces an immediate reaction and can be severe.
A food intolerance, however, may take hours or even up to three days to manifest. Reactions
can also be cumulative, meaning symptoms build gradually rather than appearing instantly.
This delayed nature makes food intolerances much harder to identify without structured
investigation.
At Atherton Physiotherapy, food intolerance testing can help identify potential trigger foods
contributing to IBS symptoms. However, testing is only part of the picture. The underlying
gut environment must also be addressed to achieve lasting improvement.
Why Simply Removing Foods Isn’t Always the Solution
It is very common for people with IBS to begin eliminating foods in an attempt to reduce
bloating and digestive discomfort.
Sometimes this provides short-term relief. But long-term restriction without addressing
underlying digestive health can:
- Reduce dietary diversity
- Negatively impact beneficial gut bacteria
- Increase anxiety around food
- Lead to nutritional gaps
The aim is not lifelong avoidance.
The aim is restoring digestive resilience and improving tolerance.
As we have seen, food intolerances are often the result of deeper imbalances in gut health. A
thorough nutritional approach does not simply remove foods. It investigates why those
intolerances developed in the first place and, wherever possible, addresses the root cause
so that food choices can gradually widen again.
Your digestive system is designed to process a wide variety of foods. Stomach acid, digestive
enzymes, beneficial bacteria and a healthy gut lining all work together to break food down
and absorb nutrients safely.
The issue is often not simply the food itself — it’s the internal digestive environment.
Living with IBS Doesn’t Have to Mean Lifelong Restriction
If you’re living with IBS, bloating and food intolerances, it can feel as though your world is
shrinking — more foods removed, more uncertainty and ongoing frustration.
But IBS is not random.
There is always a reason the gut has become reactive.
Whether the driver is SIBO, dysbiosis, impaired digestion, stress-related dysfunction or
specific food sensitivities, identifying the underlying cause allows us to move beyond
symptom management and towards restoring digestive resilience.
When the gut environment is properly supported, many people find their IBS symptoms
settle, their energy improves and their tolerance widens again.
Addressing IBS at a root-cause level often improves not only digestive symptoms, but also
energy, clarity and overall inflammatory load.
If you feel stuck with bloating, digestive discomfort or ongoing IBS symptoms and are tired
of guessing which foods to remove next, a personalised, root-cause approach may be the
missing piece.
To find out more about how Bee works alongside the physiotherapy team to support gut
health and reduce inflammation, you can book a free 30 minute gut health clarity call
with Bee via Healthy Be.
Frequently Asked Questions About IBS and Food Intolerances
Q. Can IBS cause food intolerances?
IBS itself does not directly cause food intolerances, but underlying imbalances such as
dysbiosis, SIBO or increased gut permeability can reduce food tolerance and trigger IBS
symptoms like bloating and discomfort.
Q. Why am I bloated after every meal?
Persistent bloating after eating may be linked to poor digestive function, bacterial
overgrowth, food intolerances or altered gut motility.
Q. Is IBS caused by stress?
Stress does not directly cause IBS, but it significantly affects gut motility, nervous system
regulation and digestive function, all of which are drivers of IBS symptoms.
Q. Should I cut out gluten or dairy for IBS?
Not automatically. Removing foods without identifying the root cause may provide
temporary relief but does not address underlying digestive imbalance.
If you are struggling with persistent bloating, IBS symptoms or suspected food
intolerances, Bee works collaboratively with the team to provide integrated gut
health support.
About Bee:
- Bee is a Clinical Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist with over a decade of experience
supporting a wide range of health concerns, including IBS, hormonal conditions,
migraine, musculoskeletal pain, skin conditions, cardiovascular risk and weight
management. - Bee has undertaken extensive additional training in digestive disorders such as IBS,
SIBO, IBD, reflux, H. pylori, gastritis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, with a
particular focus on complex gut health presentations. - Bee’s functional, whole-body approach combines personalised nutrition, targeted
supplementation and lifestyle support, alongside functional testing where
appropriate — including food sensitivity assessments, SIBO testing and gut
microbiome testing to explore imbalances in digestive capacity and gut bacteria.