How I Got Over the IBS Bloat

Having constant bloat is a nuisance, and I feel like it comes with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. IBS is a gift that keeps giving, and continuous bloat seems to be number one on the list.

At first, I thought the bloat was inevitable and something I had to learn to deal with until I started to educate myself on how the gut works. I am not a medical professional, but from what I learned, it is imperative that the microbiome be balanced and healthy to rid bloat.

Healing my microbiome

So instead of this, I began to focus on healing my microbiome and nourishing it. To do this, I started with a high-quality probiotic. I use the brand Garden of Life. Probiotics don’t work overnight. You must be consistent. You also need to find the one that works for your microbiome.

All brands of probiotics carry different strains of bacteria, and some of those strains may not work for you. I have tried some probiotics that increase the bloat and make me feel worse, and it’s because those strains it carries don’t go well with my microbiome. So keep trying until you find one that works for you.

I then began eating more fermented foods like sauerkraut, apple cider vinegar, kimchi, and pickled. Fermented foods encourage good bacteria to grow in the gut. You want more good bacteria than harmful bacteria. When this balance gets out of whack, the bloat ensues.

My IBS diet

Overall, in terms of my diet, I tried to eat as minimally processed foods as possible. Organic protein always, lots of veggies cooked either steamed or stir-fried with healthy cooking oil like avocado oil. I also try to eat the rainbow—meaning adding color to my dishes. So a protein with a lovely green veggie, purple onions, red bell peppers, potatoes. A dietitian told me the importance of eating colors, so it stuck with me.

Supplements for IBS

Lastly, I continued to support my gut with supplements. I found a brand called Ancestral Supplements that have worked wonders for me. I take the following from their brand: beef liver, beef intestines, and colostrum. I feel amazing when I take these supplements and have seen excellent results in my digestion. In addition, I take L-Glutamine, which is excellent for repairing the gut lining. So if you think you have a leaky gut or just find you are bloating no matter what you eat, this may be a great tool to add to your toolbox to combat bloat.

After incorporating all of these factors, I have found that I almost never bloat unless I cheat and eat something highly processed. My digestion has been the best it has ever been, and I feel energized.

Throughout this process, I have found that consistency is key and diet is everything. Once you control your diet and eat proper foods, supplementation is easy, and you will see results quickly.

How about you? Do you suffer from bloat? What have you done to alleviate bloating? Share below.