Poop. It’s the topic many shy away from, even run away from. You might think to yourself, “So what? My poop isn’t so great, but I can live with it.”
However, knowing if your poop is normal or not can provide great insight into the state of your health and how to address any major issues, according to Northport Wellness Center Alliance Member and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Dietitian, Marina Bedrossian.
Pooping is one of the MAJOR ways our body detoxifies on a daily basis. If your poop is sub-par, you’re holding onto excess hormones and toxins—yuk! How often should you poop? On average, you should poop 1-3 times per day. A healthy poop is complete and solid but not hard—the consistency of a peeled banana.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a diagnosis often used when other conditions are ruled out. It typically involves a group of symptoms that occur together, including repeated pain in your abdomen and changes in your bowel movements.
Symptoms of IBS include:
- Frequent or loose bowel movements: Pooping 5 times/day is not normal!
- Constipation: Incomplete, hard bowel movements.
- Bloating: It’s not normal to feel bloated on a daily basis. You shouldn’t have to rely on sweatpants to cover your bloated belly.
- Unpleasant gas: When you feel like yours is the loud or smelly one, it can be a sign of trouble in your gut.
- Reflux: Often times, reflux is a sign that there’s trouble brewing in your lower gut. It can also be a sign of food sensitivities or a hiatal hernia —both of which will improve with proper IBS care.
Treatment options include:
- Professional Support: Chat with an IBS dietitian who will help you to achieve healthy poops. Whether you just have reflux or a little bloating, or if your full-blown IBS restricts you from going on vacations, an expert dietician and IBS specialist can guide you toward good health. With a free initial consult and insurance options, you’ll get the perfect plan to help you feel great.
- Medication & Supplements Often people who suffer from IBS and try medication as an attempt relieve symptoms, are not satisfied with the results. In addition, most IBS medications have side effects and are not very effective.
Taking supplements are willy-nilly for IBS and will likely leave you frustrated. There are some indications where probiotics, digestive enzymes, or gut-healing formulas can help, but brands differ tremendously, and all who suffer from IBS are unique with different needs. - Low FODMAP Diet Removing certain carbohydrates from your diet can reduce bloating, however it will not fix the actual problem. The ideal treatment is a long-term solution to a temporary FODMAP restriction. Read this before starting a low FODMAP diet: https://ibsdietitians.com/read-this-before-starting-a-low-fodmap-diet/
- Food Sensitivity Testing These tests can be wonderful or a complete waste of time and money. The type of test matters big time— you must work with a professional dietitian to properly use the results for the best healing. The best food sensitivity test for IBS exists: Click here to learn more.
Recovery from IBS IS possible. The key to healing and recovery is to stay motivated throughout your transformation and enlist the support of an IBS expert.
Northport Wellness Center Alliance Member Marina Bedrossian is an Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Dietitian who assists individuals in relieving chronic digestive symptoms in as little as 7-14 days. Your entire being will have a renewed sense of freedom once your bathroom trips are predictable and the bloating and cramping are gone for good!
Marina helps her clients discover quick and lasting relief from stubborn bloating, cramping, reflux, diarrhea, and/or constipation. With a strong background in traditional and alternative nutrition therapies, Marina thrives off of changing lives through the healing abilities of food.
Marina can help you to connect the dots in your medical history in order to understand stubborn symptoms often related to diet which may be affecting your whole body. With understanding, there is the ability to improve.
Marina uses the most advanced technology in identifying inflammatory foods which promotes quick and lasting relief. She helps her clients improve their digestion and reduce overall inflammation, which greatly improves their quality of life.
To schedule an appointment with Marina, call (631) 623-0112 or email Marina@ibsdietitians.com. To learn more, visit www.ibsdietitians.com.
