Read articles from Belly Balance
Read articles about IBS and take part in the latest research in IBS, gut health and FODMAPs.
Table of contents
What is IBS?
Bloated, constipated, or having a gassy stomach? IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a functional gastrointestinal disorder, meaning no physical issues can be found in the stomach or intesti…
6 min
About FODMAP
By learning which foods upset your stomach, you can make conscious choices and get quick symptom relief. With the low FODMAP diet, you receive structured assistance in understanding which foods your body tolerates better than others. No more guessing and pondering – you get the answer straight awa…
6 min
IBS And Food
Navigating the world of food when it comes to IBS can be challenging. How should one eat when dealing with IBS? Everyone has their own dietary advice for IBS, and there are many myths and misconceptions. You might have received advice such as eating more or less fibre or eliminating glu…
5 min
IBS Symptoms
The symptoms of IBS vary from person to person, read more about common and uncommon symptoms:
If you experience any or several of these symptoms, you should see a doctor for an investigation. Afterwards, you can try the FODMAP diet treatment.
What is IBS?
Stress stomach, bloated stomach, milk stomach – IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a functional gastrointestinal disorder, which means that no faults can be found in the stomach or intestines; they just don’t function quite as they should. Approximately 15-20% of the world’s population has IBS, and the majority seeking treatment for it are women aged 20-65. Among men, the number is likely underestimated, partly due to the fact that a smaller percentage of men seek medical attention. In children and young people, the number diagnosed with IBS is increasing. It has long been known that psychological factors play a role in IBS and that anxiety and stress can worsen the condition.
Research on IBS is ongoing, both regarding its causes and treatment. Previously, specific dietary advice has been lacking in healthcare, resulting in general recommendations such as adjusting fibre intake, eliminating lactose, or, in the worst case, providing no advice at all.
Causes of IBS
The causes of IBS are still not entirely known. The hereditary factor is approximately 20-50%. In addition, several theories involve disturbances in intestinal motility, defective gas transport, sparse filtering in the nervous system between the stomach and the brain, changes in the gut flora (prebiotics are food for gut bacteria), and low-grade inflammation in the intestinal mucosa.
Most individuals report having had stomach problems for as long as they can remember, receiving a diagnosis around the age of 20, after a stomach illness/infection, or following a period of prolonged stress or trauma. Many experience that stress and anxiety worsen the symptoms, leading to a belief that the disease is purely psychosomatic. What we know is that several factors interact, and diet and stress are of direct importance for IBS symptoms.
Increasing attention is being given to the role of gut bacteria in the onset of IBS, and there is currently much research on probiotic supplements and their potential to reduce IBS symptoms.
IBS Symptoms
The symptoms of IBS vary from person to person, read more about common and uncommon symptoms:
If you experience any or several of these symptoms, you should see a doctor for an investigation. Afterwards, you can try the FODMAP diet treatment
Read more about
Reintroduction
Trying the low FODMAP diet is a significant step that requires a change in diet. Initially, many foods are removed to “reset” the stomach. However, many people miss the point that the treatment involves reintroducing FODMAPs to identify what specifically triggers reactio…
3 min
Treatment
Download the app and become part of our community. We assist you in achieving a calm and happy stomach through treatment and tools available directly in the app.
1 min
Diagnosis
The symptoms of IBS are entirely harmless but very uncomfortable to live with as they often impact daily life. Life with IBS can also vary depending on the symptoms one experiences. Some may have mild gas issues, while others may find it challenging to leave their homes. The average time for an IBS diagnosis is seven years.
1 min
Bloating
Does your stomach swell up like a balloon after lunch? Or perhaps after all meals? Have you tried figuring out what triggers a bloated stomach without really grasping what causes the gas that can create discomfort in the form of both pain and bad odour? It could be that you, just like more than 13 million Brits, have IBS.
1 min
Abdominal Pain
Stomach pain is a symptom that many people experience, but for those with IBS, the pain can be recurring and sometimes challenging to manage. Pain is a component considered to always be present in the diagnosis of IBS. However, not everyone with IBS experiences stomach pain; many instead feel a kind of discomfort in the stomach.
1 min
Stomach Gas
Balloon stomach, stress stomach, milk stomach, or irritable bowel. IBS has many names, and they all signal a stomach imbalance. Gas in the stomach gives you a tense, swollen, and bloated stomach and is a very common symptom of IBS. Why does the stomach become bloated like a balloon?
1 min
Stool – Helps you understand your stomach
Do you find it awkward to talk about poop? Completely understandable! However, by looking into the toilet, you can learn more about how what you eat affects your stomach and thereby gain a better understanding of which diet works best for you.
1 min
Constipation
Being constipated or having a hard stomach and not being able to go to the bathroom regularly affects one’s entire life. Thoughts start swirling, “When will it happen, how will it go, and where will I be then?”. The stomach’s inability to work at the right pace not only affects the fact that bathroom visits become infrequent; constipation itself can make one feel uncomfortable, while gas, bloating, and pain become more challenging to manage.
1 min
Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea is defined as having more than three thin and watery bowel movements per day. There can be several reasons for experiencing diarrhoea. One reason might be an overly active bowel, which can sometimes affect individuals with IBS.
1 min
Lactose
Being constipated or having a hard stomach and not being able to go to the bathroom regularly affects one’s entire life. Thoughts start swirling, “When will it happen, how will it go, and where will I be then?”. The stomach’s inability to work at the right pace not only affects the fact that bathroom visits become infrequent; constipation itself can make one feel uncomfortable, while gas, bloating, and pain become more challenging to manage.
1 min
Gluten
In recent years, several articles have emerged discussing whether we should consume gluten or not and whether it is gluten or FODMAPs that is the culprit for digestive issues. Some experts caution against eliminating gluten from the diet, while others argue that gluten itself can lead to a variety of symptoms and diseases, with digestive problems being just one of them.
1 min
Food To Avoid
In recent years, several articles have emerged discussing whether we should consume gluten or not and whether it is gluten or FODMAPs that is the culprit for digestive issues. Some experts caution against eliminating gluten from the diet, while others argue that gluten itself can lead to a variety of symptoms and diseases, with digestive problems being just one of them.
1 min
Good Food
Knowing what is good food for IBS is not always easy, as it is not possible to tell just by looking at a food item whether it is good for the stomach or not. Diet is a crucial factor in IBS, but what type of food is classified as “good food for IBS”? Let’s explore this further.
1 min
Dietary Supplements
1 min
IBS during pregnancy
What happens to a gut suffering from IBS during pregnancy, and are there foods that are better to eat during this time when you have IBS? As pregnancy places high demands on the body and increases the requirements for several nutrients, it is important to understand the body’s needs and ensure adequate intake through a balanced diet.
1 min
How the app works
Download the app and become part of our community. We assist you in achieving a calm and happy stomach through treatment and tools available directly in the app.
About FODMAP
By learning which foods upset your stomach, you can make conscious choices and get quick symptom relief. With the low FODMAP diet, you receive structured assistance in understanding which foods your body tolerates better than others. No more guessing and pondering – you get the answer straight away!
Bloating
Does your stomach swell up like a balloon after lunch? Or perhaps after all meals? Have you tried figuring out what triggers a bloated stomach without really grasping what causes the gas that can create discomfort in the form of both pain and bad odour? It could be that you, just like more than 13 million Brits, have IBS.
Abdominal Pain
Stomach pain is a symptom that many people experience, but for those with IBS, the pain can be recurring and sometimes challenging to manage. Pain is a component considered to always be present in the diagnosis of IBS. However, not everyone with IBS experiences stomach pain; many instead feel a kind of discomfort in the stomach.
Diagnosis
The symptoms of IBS are entirely harmless but very uncomfortable to live with as they often impact daily life. Life with IBS can also vary depending on the symptoms one experiences. Some may have mild gas issues, while others may find it challenging to leave their homes. The average time for an IBS diagnosis is seven years.
Symptoms
So what are our most common symptoms of IBS really? IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome) affects 15-20% of the world’s population. About 70% of those affected are women, but the disease also affects men and children.
Stomach Gas
Balloon stomach, stress stomach, milk stomach, or irritable bowel. IBS has many names, and they all signal a stomach imbalance. Gas in the stomach gives you a tense, swollen, and bloated stomach and is a very common symptom of IBS. Why does the stomach become bloated like a balloon?
Stool
Do you find it awkward to talk about poop? Completely understandable! However, by looking into the toilet, you can learn more about how what you eat affects your stomach and thereby gain a better understanding of which diet works best for you.
Constipation
Being constipated or having a hard stomach and not being able to go to the bathroom regularly affects one’s entire life. Thoughts start swirling, “When will it happen, how will it go, and where will I be then?”. The stomach’s inability to work at the right pace not only affects the fact that bathroom visits become infrequent; constipation itself can make one feel uncomfortable, while gas, bloating, and pain become more challenging to manage.
Lactose
Lactose intolerance is almost a normal condition for some of the world’s population, and milk products are not used as much in large parts of the world. In lactose intolerance, there is insufficient enzyme activity of the enzyme lactase in the intestine to break down the lactose you eat into smaller components.
Gluten
In recent years, several articles have emerged discussing whether we should consume gluten or not and whether it is gluten or FODMAPs that is the culprit for digestive issues. Some experts caution against eliminating gluten from the diet, while others argue that gluten itself can lead to a variety of symptoms and diseases, with digestive problems being just one of them.
IBS And Food
Navigating the world of food when it comes to IBS can be challenging. How should one eat when dealing with IBS? Everyone has their own dietary advice for IBS, and there are many myths and misconceptions. You might have received advice such as eating more or less fibre or eliminating gluten.
Food To Avoid
In recent years, several articles have emerged discussing whether we should consume gluten or not and whether it is gluten or FODMAPs that is the culprit for digestive issues. Some experts caution against eliminating gluten from the diet, while others argue that gluten itself can lead to a variety of symptoms and diseases, with digestive problems being just one of them.
Reintroducing
Trying the low FODMAP diet is a significant step that requires a change in diet. Initially, many foods are removed to “reset” the stomach. However, many people miss the point that the treatment involves reintroducing FODMAPs to identify what specifically triggers reaction
IBS during pregnancy
What happens to a gut suffering from IBS during pregnancy, and are there foods that are better to eat during this time when you have IBS? As pregnancy places high demands on the body and increases the requirements for several nutrients, it is important to understand the body’s needs and ensure adequate intake through a balanced diet.
