IBS New Year’s Resolutions: How to Fix Your Gut Health

In 2022, we are saying goodbye to bad gut health and hello to a well-balanced, IBS friendly diet.

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to be more intune with your stomach, then we’ve got you covered. In this article, we will be covering how you can look at improving your gut health this year, how you can naturally help your stomach and where to begin when it comes to looking at what foods to eat and which ones to avoid!

Improve Your Gut Health in 2022

With a new year, comes a wealth of new goals and aspirations. If on your list this year is to get your IBS under control then we can help. We understand that for the many of us that suffer with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, getting our stomachs to a healthy and more importantly, happier place can be a difficult task. That’s why, here at Slightly Different Foods, we focus on making cooking sauces, salad dressings, condiments and general table sauces, which will be kind to your gut and have it feeling happier than ever. All of our products are excellent for IBS sufferers, people who may have more sensitive stomachs or if you are trying out a Low FODMAP diet. 

Can You Improve Your Gut Health Naturally?

Whilst there is no medical cure for this illness and some lifestyle changes are not one-size-fits-all, there are some natural ways you can improve gut health in 2022. For example, being more active and getting your body moving more often.  If staying fit and healthy is also on your list of New Year’s resolutions, then this could knock two goals off your list at once. Going on regular walks and making some time for some light exercise are perfect ways to improve your overall stomach health. If you suffer from IBS-C, then you may find that bowel movements are few and far between. Regular exercise will help you not only relieve stress, but can also prevent constipation. However, we recommend checking with your doctor before beginning any exercise program.

There are also a number of supplements you can take that stop common IBS symptoms such as diarrhoea. For example, some people swear by activated charcoal, which can act as a powerful detoxifying remedy. Activated charcoal can be very absorbent and can as a binding agent, to eliminate toxins from the body. 

Finally, there is of course the matter of your diet. It can be difficult when you have IBS to know what is good for your stomach and what will cause a reaction. However, diet can be one of the most important factors that can improve your gut health this year! Once being officially diagnosed with IBS by your doctor, it’s vital that you start putting a plan together of food that you feel will need to be eliminated from your regular meals. By taking our certain food groups, you will have a better chance of understanding what your stomach can handle and what it can’t. 

Best Food For Gut Health

Knowing what you can and can’t eat can be one of the trickiest parts of being diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The best person to discuss this with is your doctor before taking any drastic steps to prevent symptoms. One of the most common suggestions is to follow an elimination diet, usually referred to as a Low FODMAP Diet. 

A Low FODMAP Diet typically works to swap out food which are considered high on the FODMAP scale. Foods such as milk, yoghurt, beans, lentils, onions, garlic, apples, cherries, ice cream and some breads, should be avoided at all costs as they can play havoc on your gut. Your doctor will most likely recommend by beginning to take these types of foods from your diet and see if that improves your symptoms. The next step would be to slowly reintroduce these products back in, so you can eliminate the ones that your gut doesn’t like. 

Whilst also swapping out food, you will also be recommended some nicer, more gentle food types like eggs and certain meats can be fine, as well as almond milk, rice, oats, potatoes, cheddar, grapes, oranges and even some berries, like strawberries and blueberries, which can be beneficial for your gut.