Have you heard of Leaky Gut? The world of nutrition and wellness is ever-evolving and there are certain terms that seem to pop up with increasing frequency. One such term that has gained A LOT of attention recently is “leaky gut.” If you’ve found your way to this post, you’re likely curious about what leaky gut is (just like many of my clients!) As a registered dietitian, my mission is to help you understand the science behind leaky gut, explore its potential causes and consequences, and dispel some common myths. But ultimately, the science can be confusing. My main priority is to simplify the ..read more

As gut health dietitians, we hear a lot of chatter about supplements for gut health like collagen or apple cider vinegar. In particular, we’re seeing an increasing interest in L-glutamine supplements for gut health. More specifically, there are some pretty big claims about its effectiveness in “healing the gut.”  What’s the scoop on L-glutamine? Does it actually help with your gut health? Should we all be taking it?  What is L-glutamine? Let’s start from the beginning. L-glutamine is an amino acid, which are building blocks for proteins. The human body uses 20 different amino acids t ..read more

Are you a cheese enthusiast with IBS? It can be so confusing to know which dairy products contribute to digestive discomfort. As a gut health dietitian, clients tell me all the time that milk or ice cream increases their symptoms, but cheese is “hit and miss”. It may feel baffling, but there’s actually a very logical explanation for this! In this post, we’ll be diving into the world of cheese (sign me up) and specifically reviewing whether cheese is permitted during the elimination phase of the low FODMAP diet. IBS and Dairy There’s a common misconception that dairy is a no-no for those with I ..read more

Navigating dietary restrictions can be a challenging journey. For those following the Low FODMAP diet, the question of whether alcohol is allowed often comes up. As a digestive health dietitian, I get asked about alcohol all the time! Especially since having a drink is often part of socializing with others.   While the low FODMAP diet primarily focuses on avoiding specific fermentable carbohydrates to alleviate symptoms of IBS, the stance on alcohol consumption is somewhat nuanced. There are several types of low FODMAP alcohol, however, alcohol in general is considered a gut irritant ..read more

While the early unknowns of the COVID-19 pandemic are behind us, we still have a lot to learn about the long-term effects and pathophysiology of the COVID-19 virus. In particular, we are only beginning to research and understand a phenomenon called ‘Long COVID’ – also known as post-COVID-19 syndrome.  Recently, there have been connections made between long COVID and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), as they share similar symptoms. This has led to an interest in using the low histamine diet to improve long COVID symptoms. As a whole, we need many more studies on the link between these ..read more

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard about digestive enzymes. In the past few years in particular, enzymes have been a hot topic amongst influencers and health practitioners alike. So are digestive enzymes worth it? And what are the best digestive enzymes for IBS and managing the symptoms of IBS? Come along with this digestive health dietitian as I take a deep dive into what we know about enzymes for gut health.  Table of Contents What are Digestive Enzymes? Types of Digestive Enzymes on the Market The Problem with Digestive Enzymes Do Digestive Enzymes Help IBS ..read more

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) symptoms can present themselves at the best and worst of times – it can be SO inconvenient. Symptoms of IBS can be unpredictable and extremely frustrating to experience. Even with good management of IBS, it’s normal to have fluctuations in symptom control. As a digestive health dietitian, I often get asked about ways to get quick IBS relief. While not every solution will work the same for each person with IBS, I have a few common suggestions for those looking for quick relief. Here are 5 quick solutions you can try when symptoms flare up. 1. Peppermint ..read more

Following a low FODMAP diet should not mean that you can’t enjoy delicious goodies! While it’s true that many savory snacks and sweet desserts do contain high FODMAP ingredients, there are still a lot of low FODMAP snacks and treats you can enjoy! Below is a list of 15+ delicious goodies you can buy, while following a low FODMAP diet. Registered Dietitian approved! How to Pick Low FODMAP Snacks It is important to look at the ingredients when choosing snacks. Although our beginner’s guide to the low FODMAP diet does a great job highlighting ingredients to avoid, some ingredients can be known by ..read more

There are many therapies that exist for the management of IBS including diet, supplements, medications, and more. One option gaining more attention in the IBS community is an antibiotic medication called rifaximin. But does rifaximin treat IBS? As a dietitian specializing in irritable bowel syndrome, I always encourage patients to learn about the ‘why’ behind the therapies they choose and this medication is no different. Let’s review how rifaximin helps to manage IBS by understanding what it does, who would benefit most, potential side effects, and more. Table of Contents What is rifaximin? W ..read more

Our gut health dietitians at Ignite Nutrition often get asked about the connection between irritable bowel syndrome and weight – in particular, whether IBS can lead to weight gain. The short answer is yes, IBS and weight gain can be interconnected for some people. However, this topic is much more complex than that! Let’s discuss the connection between weight (both weight gain and weight loss) and IBS.  A Note on Weight Neutral Nutrition Counseling At Ignite Nutrition, we take a weight neutral approach. This means that we focus on ways to improve and optimize health without focusing on the ..read more