All the gut health hacks you need to handle IBS
First it was the delicious, baked feta pasta. Then it was gorgeous, gorgeous girls drink soup. And now, TikTok has gifted us with hot girls with IBS.
The tag “Irritable Bowel Girl” now has 57.9 million posts on TikTok, bringing awareness to an issue that often gets flushed away from the public conversation.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, otherwise known as IBS, is a condition that affects the large intestine and can cause many unwanted symptoms, such as abdominal discomfort, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.
The New England Journal of Medicine noted that the condition affects both children and adults. However, about 2 in 3 IBS sufferers are female. The disease is especially frustrating to patients as there are very few effective treatments that available.
Many influencers have taken to TikTok to spread awareness about the condition. Others add humor to a disease that challenges modern conventions about modesty, cleanliness and femininity.
When Christine Olivo isn’t in the bathroom, she is using her TikTok to normalize the conversation surrounding toilet talk and bowel movements.
“I got 99 problems and my lifelong, never-ending stomach ache is definitely one of them,” wrote Olivo, in one post. Despite her suffering, the young women refuses to stick to a harsh diet and let her condition control her social life. “Eating healthier does not always mean better gut health,” she admitted.
As the somewhat mysterious illness begins making its way into more research studies, nutritionists and gut health specialists have offered suggestions on ways to alleviate some of the symptoms.
Chelsea McCallum, an IBS dietitian and popular TikToker, frequently shares her diet recommendations for those struggling with the condition.
The health-guru warns her followers, “you don’t need an expensive prescriptions, you don’t need expensive medication.” Instead she encourages IBS sufferers to try peppermint teas and oil, eat a rich plant-based diet, and consume more fermented foods.
Medical experts like Dr. Reza, have also used social media to bring probiotics into the conversation, clearing up some misunderstandings about the “good” and “bad” bugs living in our stomach.
Prebiotics supplements with supplant the healthy bacteria in your gut,” said Dr. Reza. “What you ultimately want to do is create the tilt to those healthy bugs that you need to coexist with, versus those harmful bugs that are looking to get a foothold and make you sick.”
While Dr. Reza warns that not all people can completely fix their digestive issues with probiotics, it’s worth trying them alongside other natural remedies.
If you’re among the “Hot Girls with IBS,” it might be time to set down those spicy foods and put the caffeine to the side. The New York Post has rounded up some of the best advice on products your tummies will love. For the best results, don’t forget to consult your Doctor.
Turmeric has roots in traditional Chinese medicine, and has recently been recognized in an alternative therapy for heartburn, inflammation, and stomach ulcers. According to Healthline, it also has shown to improve digestive health.
Magnesium helps increase the amount of water in the intestines, consequently supporting bowel movements. The mineral can typically be obtained from a plant-rich diet. Unfortunately, gasortisential disorders can result in lower magnesium levels, so it’s not a bad idea to supplant levels with a daily dose.
Besides the delightful smell, peppermint oil can likely can help with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, stomach cramping, and bloating. A little goes along way, so make sure to read the directions for proper dosage.
If the 100% pure peppermint oil is a bit overwhelming, this stomach-soothing tea alternative will still deliver the same effect. You know what they say. Two cups of peppermint tea a day will keep bloating at bay.
Dessert for breakfast? Count us in. This in not your ordinary brownie. BelliWelli snacks are low in fodmaps, which are sugars that aren’t fully digestible and can produce gas. These fudge brownies are packed with superfoods and probiotics, and loaded with healthy ingredients like oats, golden flax, teff, chia and ginger.
As seen on Shark Tank, these prebiotic sodas are made from apple cider vinegar, one of the best-kept digestive health secrets. These cans are almost too pretty to drink out, but once you take a sip, you won’t be able to put them down. Oh, and they’re only 20 calories or less per can, making it tempting to kill the whole 6-pack.
If all else fails and the pain proceeds, heating pads remain a simple and inexpensive way to relieve cramping and constipation. This ultra-soft belted version has six heating settings, and four timer modes from 30 to 120 minutes. Reviews rave about his simple device being “a game changer” for cramps.
Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna swear by it. Influencers can’t get enough of it. Your stomach needs it. Kombucha is a type of tea that has been through the fermentation process, giving it a potent and somewhat bitter flavor. Studies reveal that it is both rich in antioxidants and a good source of probiotics.
Add these fermented veggies to breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and you will be on the way to healing your body from the inside out. This starter-pack comes from a small family business, and features selections like green tomatoes, red radishes, and vegetable medley. One review notes, “Blew me away with how delicious all these were.”
Move over juice cleanses, broth baths are taking over. According to Healthline, bone broth is made from gelatin which not only is easy to digest, but aids in the digestion of others foods. Consuming bone broth is especially beneficial for those with leaky guts and IBS.
Check out New York Post Shopping for more content.
Eating seafood may expose you to PFAS: study
‘Designer Xanax’ behind rising overdose deaths: CDC report
I’m a doctor — this is why you should never pierce a baby’s ears
About The Author
