Once I thought it was dairy but dairy only gave me a problem because pasteurized dairy is vitamin enriched and most vitamins and medicines start from GMO corn and soy. Not to mention the hefty dose of dry milk powder which is high in free glutamic acid and a source of oxidized cholesterol that is also included. I also thought it was wheat at one time because all our grains (even some whole grains) are enriched with synthetic vitamins. Actually, my main problems were corn, free glutamic acids, and soy.

Anyone that has unexplained digestive issues should try the test diet at Battling the MSG Myth. It will help narrow down the problem by removing all the questionable ingredients that sneak into our food. In my case I started feeling better in a matter of days since free glutamic acid is one of my sensitivities and it just so happens that most is made from GMO corn or soy. That was not the end of my journey but it put me on the right road. Since I went undiagnosed for so long, I developed many other food sensitivities so I am starting the GAPS diet. Right now at least I have the information that I need to avoid symptoms but I want to go even further and try to heal myself and GAPS is designed to do that. Wish me luck!

One other note, the diet that most people at msgmyth.com follow is the typical low fat, high grain diet. I don’t agree with that and try to educate and convert whenever I can but the information on how to avoid free glutamic acids is priceless. Many people there have cured migraines, seizures, IBS, reflux, arrhythmia just by avoiding these harmful additives.

Lisa,
You bring up a good point about how stress affects IBS. Another great thing about the GAPS diet is how it helps with depression and other mental issues – not that stress is the same as a depression, but this diet can heal the problems in the immune system, which can affect how we handle stress AND how we digest our food, instead of just treating the symptoms, as you talked about. If you ever decide to do the GAPS diet, I’d love to hear about your experience.

As someone who has IBS since a child, a very important part of my symptom management is stress. One of the most recommended treatments for IBS by physicians in anti-depressants…. yup. IBS (more so than others) is closely tied to emotion and stress. Expecting to manage the symptoms without managing the cause won’t prove as beneficial. Also- IBS symptoms are extremely variable and can change from person to person- making a cookie-cutter program ineffective.
I have found that there are definitely certain foods that are catastrophic- milk, yogurt, ice cream, smoothies of ANY sort (even good ones!) and raw vegetables. However, if I am stressed it really doesn’t matter what I eat, everything is going to be processed inefficiently and painfully (due to the intestinal peristaltic movements being sporadic and spastic).

So- THE best method of managing my symptoms hasn’t been radical changes to diet… but stress management. I do yoga, I meditate, and I say NO, decreasing amount of personal and professional expectations.

Thank you for opening such an important dialogue

Lisa’s last blog post..Let Them Eat Fake