IBS & Gut Health
Understanding IBS — and finding what actually helps
Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the most common reasons people see a dietitian — and one of the most misunderstood. This is a clear, evidence-based path from your first assessment through to a plan built around your own triggers, not a generic list of foods to avoid.
What IBS Is
A functional gut disorder — real, common and manageable
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder: the structure of the gut is normal, but the way it moves, senses and processes food is more reactive than it should be. It’s thought to affect around one in ten adults, more often women, and can appear at any age.
IBS is not "in your head", and it isn’t something you’ve caused. It’s a genuine, diagnosable condition with a well-established evidence base — and while there’s no single cure, the right combination of assessment, dietary strategy and lifestyle adjustment brings most people substantial, lasting relief.
Common Symptoms
What IBS can feel like
Symptoms vary from person to person and often come and go — most people recognise several of the following.
01
Bloating
A visible or uncomfortable swelling of the abdomen, often building as the day goes on.
02
Abdominal pain & cramping
Pain that is frequently — though not always — eased, at least partly, by a bowel movement.
03
Altered bowel habits
Diarrhoea, constipation, or an unpredictable alternation between the two.
04
Urgency
A sudden, pressing need to reach a toilet, sometimes with little warning.
05
Excess gas
Increased wind and a sense of pressure that isn’t fully explained by what you’ve eaten.
06
Fatigue after eating
A heavy, drained feeling following meals, distinct from ordinary tiredness.
How I Work
A personalised approach — not a one-size-fits-all diet sheet
IBS looks different in every gut. Before anything is restricted, we build a proper picture of yours.
01
Full history
A detailed anamnesis covering your symptom pattern, medical history, stress, sleep and current eating habits — the context a generic IBS diet sheet never asks for.
02
BIA & clinical measurement
Bioimpedance assessment and objective measurement give a real baseline, so changes over the programme are tracked, not guessed at.
03
Food-first, not fear-first
Wherever possible we work with real meals and your usual foods, resolving symptoms through structure and pattern — not by stripping out entire food groups indefinitely.
Phase One · Elimination
The low FODMAP elimination phase
FODMAPs are a group of fermentable carbohydrates — found in foods from onions and wheat to certain fruits and dairy — that can trigger symptoms in sensitive guts. The low FODMAP diet, developed at Monash University, is currently the dietary approach with the strongest evidence base for IBS.
The elimination phase is structured and temporary — typically two to six weeks, never longer than it needs to be — and it’s supervised throughout, so it stays nutritionally adequate and doesn’t turn into indefinite, unsupervised restriction.
01
Baseline & food diary. Your current symptoms and eating pattern are recorded before anything changes.
02
Structured elimination. High-FODMAP foods are removed for two to six weeks, under guidance, not guesswork.
03
Symptom review. We check what’s actually improved before moving to reintroduction.
Phase Two · Reintroduction
Reintroduction — finding your personal thresholds
Elimination alone isn’t the goal — it’s a diagnostic tool. Once symptoms have settled, each FODMAP group is reintroduced one at a time, in controlled amounts, so we can see exactly which ones your gut tolerates and which trigger symptoms, and at what quantity.
Fructans
Wheat, garlic, onion
Lactose
Milk, soft cheese, yoghurt
Excess fructose
Apples, honey, mango
GOS
Legumes, lentils, chickpeas
Polyols
Stone fruits, mushrooms, sweeteners
This is the step most self-led low FODMAP attempts skip — and it’s the one that turns a restrictive diet into a short, well-understood list of personal triggers.
Your Journey
From first assessment to a plan you can keep
Four stages, each building on the last — with clinical support throughout, not just at the start.
01
Assessment
Full history, symptom review and a BIA baseline, in the studio or online.
02
Elimination
A structured low FODMAP phase, typically two to six weeks.
03
Reintroduction
FODMAP groups tested one at a time to map your personal triggers.
04
Personalised plan
The widest, least restrictive diet your gut comfortably tolerates, built into everyday life.
Ready to get to the root of your symptoms?
Book a consultation to begin your assessment — in the studio at Nocera Inferiore, or online wherever you’re based.
Prefer to talk first? Call +39 331 78 35 485