IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

What IBS Actually Is

IBS is one of the most common digestive conditions and one of the most misunderstood.

It isn’t a single diagnosis or a single fault in the body. IBS describes a pattern of digestive symptoms shaped by how digestion, gut sensitivity, motility, the microbiome, hormones, and the nervous system interact over time.

Because IBS is diagnosed by symptoms rather than a single cause, it can feel vague or confusing. But that doesn’t mean it’s random. IBS always has a reason, it just looks different for each person.

A Common IBS Experience (and Why Symptoms Fluctuate)

Many people with IBS notice that their symptoms change from day to day. A food that feels fine one day may trigger symptoms the next. Digestion might feel settled one week and unpredictable the next.

This happens because digestion responds to many moving parts, including:

• changes in stress or emotional load

• shifts in hormones or sleep

• variations in nervous system state

• posture, breathing, and tension in the body

When this is understood, IBS starts to make more sense, and food stops being the only thing blamed.

The Nervous System and IBS

IBS is closely linked to the gut–brain connection.

Digestion changes depending on how safe the body feels. When the nervous system is under pressure, from stress, overwhelm, emotional strain, or long-standing tension, digestion can speed up, slow down, or become more sensitive.

This is why IBS often worsens during:

• periods of stress or overwhelm

• emotional triggers or conflict

• rushing, multitasking, or eating on the go

• times when rest feels limited or unsafe

IBS isn’t “in your head.” It’s a physiological response to what your body is navigating.

What’s Often Missed

Many people with IBS are offered diet changes, supplements, or symptom-based strategies. These can help, but they don’t always address the deeper drivers of ongoing symptoms.

Things that are often overlooked include:

• digestive capacity and gut motility

• microbial balance or past infections

• hormone-related patterns

• long-standing nervous system activation

When these layers aren’t explored, symptoms can persist despite doing “all the right things.”

A More Supportive Way Forward

Lasting improvement with IBS usually comes from working across multiple layers, gently and thoughtfully, rather than all at once.

Support may include:

• improving digestion and nutrient absorption

• understanding and supporting the microbiome

• working with the nervous system to reduce reactivity

• rebuilding confidence around food rather than increasing restriction

Testing can be helpful for some people, but only when it’s used to inform care, not overwhelm it.

Once your individual pattern is understood, the path forward becomes clearer and more sustainable.

This Page in One Sentence

IBS isn’t a single problem to fix, it’s a dynamic gut–brain–body pattern that improves most when digestion, microbial balance, and nervous system support are explored together.

SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth)

What SIBO Actually Is

SIBO occurs when bacteria build up in the small intestine, an area of the gut that normally contains relatively low levels of bacteria.

When this balance is disrupted, digestion can become inefficient. Food may ferment too early, leading to symptoms such as bloating, discomfort, altered bowel habits, and shifting food sensitivities.

SIBO isn’t a disease in itself. It’s a pattern, a sign that something has changed in how digestion is functioning upstream.

A Common SIBO Experience

People with SIBO often describe symptoms that feel inconsistent or unpredictable. Bloating may worsen as the day goes on. Foods that were once tolerated may suddenly cause discomfort. Symptoms can flare during stressful periods or after illness, travel, or antibiotics.

This fluctuation happens because SIBO is influenced by several moving parts, including:

• how effectively food is broken down

• how well the gut moves food and bacteria along

• shifts in stress, sleep, or hormonal rhythms

Understanding this variability helps explain why SIBO rarely responds to a single dietary change alone.

The Nervous System and SIBO

The small intestine is particularly sensitive to stress.

When the nervous system is under pressure, whether from emotional strain, long-term stress, or feeling constantly “on”, digestion can slow significantly. This slowing affects gut motility, including the migrating motor complex (MMC), which helps clear bacteria from the small intestine between meals.

When this process is disrupted, SIBO symptoms can worsen or become harder to resolve. For many people, supporting nervous system regulation becomes just as important as addressing bacteria directly.

What’s Often Missed

SIBO is sometimes treated as a purely bacterial problem. While antimicrobial approaches can be helpful, they don’t always address why SIBO developed in the first place.

Common underlying factors include:

• low stomach acid or enzyme output

• slowed gut motility

• post-infectious changes

• medication or antibiotic history

• hormonal influences (particularly in women)

• long-standing stress patterns affecting digestion

When these drivers aren’t explored, SIBO can recur or persist despite multiple protocols.

A More Supportive Way Forward

Long-term improvement with SIBO is rarely about one protocol or quick fix.

Support often involves working across several layers, gently and in the right order. This may include improving digestive capacity, supporting motility, addressing microbial balance, and reducing inflammation, alongside nervous system support for stress-related flares.

Testing, such as breath testing or functional stool analysis, can be useful when it helps guide care, not overwhelm it.

When the wider context is understood, treatment becomes more targeted, sustainable, and easier for the body to respond to.

This Page in One Sentence

SIBO isn’t just about bacteria, it’s a digestive pattern shaped by motility, digestion, microbial balance, and nervous system regulation, and it improves most when these layers are addressed together.

Bloating

What Bloating Actually Is

Bloating is one of the most common digestive symptoms, and one of the most multi-layered.

It’s often described as fullness, pressure, distension, or a sense that the abdomen feels tight or swollen. While food can play a role, bloating is rarely just about what you eat. More often, it reflects how digestion is functioning, how gas is being moved through the gut, and how the body is responding more broadly.

Bloating is a signal, not a diagnosis, and it always has a reason.

A Common Bloating Experience

Many people notice that bloating follows a pattern. It may be worse at certain times of day, after meals, or around hormonal shifts. Some days feel manageable, others uncomfortable or unpredictable.

This happens because bloating is influenced by several factors that change day to day, including:

• how quickly food is moving through the gut

• how well digestion is breaking food down

• shifts in stress, sleep, or nervous system state

• hormonal changes across the cycle

• tension in the abdomen, diaphragm, or pelvic area

When these patterns are understood, bloating starts to feel less random, and more informative.

The Nervous System and Bloating

Bloating is closely linked to the gut–brain connection.

When the nervous system is under pressure, whether from stress, emotional load, or long-standing tension, digestion often slows. Gas moves less efficiently, sensitivity increases, and the abdomen can feel tight or distended.

This is why bloating often worsens during stressful or emotionally charged periods, even when diet hasn’t changed. It’s not imagined, it’s a physiological response to how safe or settled the body feels.

What’s Often Missed

Bloating is frequently treated as a food intolerance or something to “cut out.” While food sensitivities can play a role, they’re often not the full picture.

Common contributors that are often overlooked include:

• slowed gut motility

• low stomach acid or digestive enzymes

• microbial imbalance or SIBO

• inflammation

• hormone-related changes

• chronic tension in the diaphragm or core

• long-standing stress patterns affecting digestion

When these layers aren’t explored, bloating can persist despite restrictive diets or supplements.

A More Supportive Way Forward

Sustainable relief from bloating usually comes from understanding why it’s happening, rather than trying to suppress it.

Support often involves working across multiple layers, gently and in the right order. This may include improving digestion, supporting motility, addressing microbial balance, reducing inflammation, and working with the nervous system to reduce reactivity and tension.

The goal isn’t to eliminate foods indefinitely, but to rebuild confidence in digestion and help the gut function more comfortably over time.

This Page in One Sentence

Bloating isn’t just about food, it’s a digestive pattern shaped by motility, digestion, microbial balance, and nervous system regulation, and it improves most when these layers are supported together.

Reflux & Indigestion

What Reflux Actually Is

Reflux, heartburn, and indigestion are often grouped together, but they’re not simply about excess acid or “acid coming up.”

Reflux happens when digestion in the upper gut isn’t flowing as it should. This can allow stomach contents to move upward and irritate the oesophagus, leading to burning, discomfort, nausea, or a feeling of pressure in the chest or throat.

Contrary to common belief, reflux is often linked to low stomach acid, impaired digestive flow, or pressure from below, rather than too much acid alone.

A Common Reflux Experience

Many people notice that reflux isn’t consistent. Symptoms may worsen at night, after meals, during stressful periods, or seemingly without a clear food trigger. Some days feel manageable, while others feel uncomfortable despite eating the same foods.

This fluctuation happens because reflux is influenced by several factors that change day to day, including:

• how efficiently the stomach empties

• pressure from bloating or slowed motility lower down

• posture, breathing patterns, and diaphragm tension

• stress levels and nervous system state

• hormonal shifts

When these patterns are understood, reflux starts to feel less random, and less frustrating.

The Nervous System and the Diaphragm

Reflux is closely connected to the nervous system and the diaphragm.

Stress can increase tension through the upper abdomen and chest, altering pressure around the oesophagus and reducing digestive efficiency. Many people with reflux hold a chronic “bracing” pattern in the diaphragm, often without realising it.

When the body is in a heightened stress state, digestion becomes less coordinated. Gentle somatic awareness and nervous system support can make a meaningful difference here, particularly when reflux flares during emotional or stressful periods.

What’s Often Missed

Reflux is frequently treated as a surface-level acid problem. While medication can reduce irritation in the short term, it doesn’t always address why reflux developed in the first place.

Underlying contributors that are often overlooked include:

• low stomach acid or enzyme output

• slowed gastric emptying

• microbial imbalance or SIBO

• long-term medication use

• hormone-related changes

• chronic stress or tension patterns

When these layers aren’t explored, symptoms may improve temporarily but continue to return.

A More Supportive Way Forward

Lasting improvement with reflux usually comes from restoring upper digestive function rather than suppressing symptoms alone.

Support may involve improving stomach acid and digestive capacity, supporting motility and flow, addressing microbial balance, reducing inflammation, and working with the nervous system to reduce tension and reactivity.

The aim isn’t to “manage reflux forever,” but to help digestion function more comfortably and consistently over time.

This Page in One Sentence

Reflux isn’t just an acid issue, it’s a pattern shaped by digestion, pressure, motility, and nervous system regulation, and it improves most when these layers are supported together.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

IBD includes Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis, both chronic inflammatory conditions affecting the digestive tract.
Unlike IBS or SIBO, IBD involves true inflammation, which can be seen on medical tests and imaging.

Understanding IBD

IBD is not caused by diet — but symptoms are deeply influenced by:

• microbiome imbalance

• immune activation

• stress + the gut–brain axis

• motility changes

• medication effects

• nutritional deficiencies

• food sensitivities linked to inflammation

IBD often goes through periods of flare and remission, each requiring a different nutritional approach.

Common Symptoms of IBD

• Abdominal pain or cramping

• Urgency or loose stools

• Blood or mucus in the stool

• Fatigue or weakness

• Weight loss or nutrient deficiencies

• Loss of appetite

• Joint pain or skin symptoms (extra-intestinal signs)

Symptoms don’t always reflect the level of inflammation — which is why personalised support can be so important.

IBD, the Microbiome & the Immune System

Research shows that people with IBD often have:

• reduced microbial diversity

• lower beneficial bacteria (e.g., Bifidobacteria, Akkermansia)

• overgrowth of inflammatory species

• weakened gut lining integrity

• altered immune signalling

Supporting these areas gently can help reduce symptom severity between flares.

Nutrition & Lifestyle Support for IBD

While nutrition cannot replace medical care, it can help:

• reduce triggers during flares

• support remission

• improve microbiome balance

• calm inflammation

• improve energy and nutrient status

• stabilise bowel movements

• reduce symptom unpredictability

A personalised approach is essential because every IBD case is different.

IBD & Stress

The gut–brain axis plays a significant role in IBD symptom flares, even when inflammation markers are stable. Stress isn’t the cause — but it can amplify sensitivity and trigger gut dysregulation.

Gentle mind–body work often helps the system settle, supporting easier digestion and more predictable symptoms.

This Page in One Sentence

IBD is a complex inflammatory condition influenced by immunity, the microbiome, stress and digestion — and understanding these layers helps create steadier remission and more predictable symptom patterns.

Constipation

Constipation isn’t just “not pooing regularly.”
It’s a sign that the gut, microbiome, hormones or nervous system needs support.

Common Causes

Constipation is often driven by a combination of:

• slow motility / MMC dysfunction

• low fibre diversity

• low stomach acid

• dehydration or low electrolytes

• gut dysbiosis

• methane-dominant SIBO

• overactive stress response

• hypothyroidism or hormone shifts

• pelvic floor tension

• medications (e.g., antidepressants, pain medications)

Constipation is a mechanical issue, a microbial issue and a nervous-system issue — rarely one thing.

Constipation Patterns

Understanding the pattern is essential:

• Straining → pelvic floor or tension patterns

• Pebble-like stools → dehydration, slow transit, dysbiosis

• Going every 2–3 days → motility disruption

• Feeling “not empty” → inflammation, microbial imbalance

• Worse before period → hormone-related constipation

• Alternating constipation + diarrhoea → IBS-M or SIBO

Constipation & the Microbiome

Studies show that people with chronic constipation often have:

• methane-producing microbes (e.g., M. smithii)

• low short-chain fatty acid producers

• reduced Bifidobacteria

• overgrowths that slow motility

Supporting microbial balance is often key.

The Nervous System’s Role

The colon only empties properly when the body feels safe.
Stress → tightens muscles, slows motility, reduces urge signals.

Many people with constipation unknowingly hold chronic tension in:

• the diaphragm

• lower abdomen

• pelvic floor

Addressing this can change symptoms dramatically.

Support Approaches

Long-term improvement may include:

• increasing motility

• enzyme + stomach acid support

• targeted prebiotics or fibres

• microbial balancing

• hormonal support

• gentle mind–body work to reduce tension patterns

Constipation is not “normal” — and doesn’t need to be your baseline.

Diarrhoea & Loose Stools

Loose stools can feel unpredictable and disruptive — especially when they affect daily routines, energy or confidence around food and social situations.

Common Reasons for Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea isn’t random. Common causes include:

• post-infectious IBS

• SIBO (hydrogen-dominant)

• food sensitivities

• gluten intolerance (non-coeliac or coeliac)

• bile acid malabsorption

• dysbiosis

• inflammation

• anxiety or stress spikes

• hormone changes (e.g., PMS)

• overuse of laxatives or magnesium

Diarrhoea is often the gut’s attempt to expel or protect — not simply a reaction to food.

Patterns That Matter

• Morning urgency → nervous-system activation

• After eating → enzyme insufficiency or motility issues

• Random flare-ups → stress, inflammation, or triggers

• Loose stools with bloating → SIBO

• Loose stools with mucus → inflammation

Patterns tell the story.

Stress & Loose Stools

The colon speeds up dramatically during stress.
This isn’t “in your head” — it’s neurobiology.

Fight-or-flight increases:

• gut speed

• sensitivity

• urgency signals

If symptoms worsen during overwhelm or emotional intensity, this connection may be part of the picture.

Supporting Diarrhoea Long-Term

Sustainable support may include:

• calming inflammation

• balancing the microbiome

• supporting bile acid regulation

• stabilising motility

• identifying true triggers without restriction

• improving digestive enzyme activity

• bringing the gut–brain axis into balance

The goal is not just fewer flare-ups — it’s predictable, confident digestion.

Dysbiosis refers to an imbalance in the gut microbiome — too much of certain microbes, not enough of others, or reduced diversity overall. This imbalance can disrupt digestion, immune function, hormone metabolism and the gut–brain axis.

Dysbiosis is not one problem — it’s a pattern. And understanding that pattern helps explain many complex symptoms.

Why Dysbiosis Happens

Dysbiosis often develops due to a combination of factors, including:

• antibiotics or long-term medication use

• stress and nervous-system dysregulation

• low fibre diversity

• chronic constipation or slowed motility

• SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth)

• food poisoning or post-infectious changes

• restrictive diets that reduce microbial diversity

• inflammation or gut barrier irritation

• hormonal fluctuations

A healthy gut microbiome requires both balance and diversity — dysbiosis affects both.

Common Symptoms

Digestive symptoms may include:

• bloating or distention

• constipation or diarrhoea

• irregular bowel movements

• excessive gas

• abdominal discomfort after meals

• food reactions or sensitivities

Whole-body symptoms can include:

• fatigue

• brain fog

• skin issues (acne, eczema, rashes)

• low mood or anxiety

• frequent infections

• histamine symptoms

Dysbiosis often amplifies other gut conditions — which is why symptoms can feel unpredictable.

How Dysbiosis Affects Other Gut Patterns

Dysbiosis commonly contributes to:

• SIBO

• leaky gut / intestinal permeability

• low stomach acid

• food sensitivities

• histamine intolerance

• constipation or diarrhoea

• yeast overgrowth

• immune activation

It rarely exists in isolation — it’s usually part of a wider picture.

Stress & the Nervous System

The microbiome responds directly to nervous-system state.
Stress can:

• slow motility

• reduce microbial diversity

• increase inflammation

• heighten gut sensitivity

This is why dysbiosis symptoms often worsen during stressful periods.

Testing That May Help

A comprehensive stool test can reveal:

• levels of beneficial bacteria

• overgrowths

• inflammation

• enzyme function

• yeast or fungal markers

• short-chain fatty acids

• secretory IgA

Not everyone needs testing — but for long-standing symptoms, it provides clarity.

Supporting Dysbiosis Long-Term

Restoring balance usually includes:

• increasing microbial diversity

• personalised prebiotic and probiotic strategies

• supporting motility

• improving stomach acid and enzyme output

• lowering inflammation

• gentle mind–body regulation

• rebuilding confidence around food

Dysbiosis is highly responsive when the root drivers are addressed.

This Page in One Sentence

Dysbiosis reflects an imbalance in the microbiome — and improves most when digestion, motility, stress physiology and microbial diversity are supported together.

A complete deep-dive page

Yeast overgrowth (often referred to as “Candida”) occurs when fungal species grow beyond healthy levels in the gut.
It often appears alongside dysbiosis, SIBO, or post-antibiotic changes.

Why Yeast Overgrowth Occurs

Common contributors include:

• antibiotics

• high sugar intake during stressful periods

• dysbiosis

• low stomach acid

• SIBO

• chronic stress

• long-term PPI use

• impaired immune function

• post-infectious changes

Yeast overgrowth is rarely the root cause — it’s usually a downstream effect.

Common Symptoms

Digestive symptoms:

• bloating

• gas

• nausea

• food sensitivities

• constipation or diarrhoea

Whole-body symptoms:

• fatigue

• brain fog

• recurrent thrush

• skin issues

• sugar cravings

• histamine symptoms

• worsened PMS

Symptoms fluctuate — often worse after sugar, alcohol, or stress.

Connections With Other Gut Conditions

Yeast overgrowth commonly coexists with:

• SIBO

• dysbiosis

• leaky gut

• low stomach acid

• post-antibiotic shifts

• histamine intolerance

Supporting the underlying terrain is key.

Stress & Yeast

Stress alters gut immunity and microbiome balance, making fungal overgrowth more likely.

This is why flare-ups often occur during emotionally demanding periods.

Testing Options

A stool test can identify:

• candida species

• fungal overgrowth

• inflammation

• digestive enzyme function

• short-chain fatty acids

Breath tests do not detect yeast — only bacteria.

Supporting Yeast Overgrowth Long-Term

True support includes:

• balancing the microbiome

• supporting stomach acid and enzymes

• restoring gut immunity

• reducing inflammation

• supporting nervous-system regulation

• addressing coexisting patterns like SIBO or dysbiosis

• nutritional strategies that stabilise blood sugar

Antifungals alone rarely solve the underlying issue — environment matters.

This Page in One Sentence

Yeast overgrowth improves most when the gut environment is strengthened — not just when symptoms are treated

Leaky gut, or intestinal permeability, occurs when the gut lining becomes irritated and the barrier between the gut and bloodstream becomes less selective.
This can contribute to immune activation, sensitivities, bloating and inflammation.

It is not a diagnosis — it’s a functional shift in the gut lining that can be rebuilt.

Why Intestinal Permeability Develops

Key contributors include:

• chronic stress

• dysbiosis

• SIBO

• yeast overgrowth

• inflammatory foods or irritants

• NSAIDs or long-term medication use

• post-infectious changes

• low stomach acid

• hormone fluctuations

• nutrient deficiencies (zinc, glutamine, omega-3s)

Permeability is almost always a response to something deeper.

Common Symptoms

Digestive symptoms:

• bloating

• gas

• cramping

• loose stools or diarrhoea

• constipation

• reflux

Whole-body symptoms:

• headaches

• joint pain

• fatigue

• skin issues

• food sensitivities

• histamine reactions

Symptoms often improve when the gut lining is soothed and the triggers are identified.

Links to Other Gut Patterns

Leaky gut commonly overlaps with:

• dysbiosis

• SIBO

• histamine intolerance

• food sensitivities

• IBD (during flares)

• chronic stress

Supporting the gut lining often reduces reactivity and improves tolerance.

Stress & the Gut Barrier

The gut lining is highly sensitive to stress hormones.
Fight-or-flight states can:

• weaken the mucosal barrier

• reduce blood flow to the gut

• increase permeability

• heighten sensitivity

This is often why symptoms fluctuate based on emotional load.

Testing Options

A stool test can reveal:

• inflammation

• zonulin (barrier marker)

• secretory IgA

• enzyme function

• microbial patterns linked to permeability

Not everyone needs testing — many cases can be identified through symptoms.

Supporting Leaky Gut Long-Term

Effective support includes:

• reducing irritation and inflammation

• rebuilding mucosal integrity

• balancing the microbiome

• supporting digestive secretions

• calming the gut–brain stress reflex

• reintroducing foods safely

• using targeted nutrition where helpful

The goal is stronger resilience, not endless restriction.

This Page in One Sentence

Leaky gut is a sign that the gut lining needs soothing and support — and it improves when inflammation, digestion, the microbiome and stress physiology are addressed together

Low stomach acid is surprisingly common and can significantly impact digestion, nutrient absorption and microbial balance.

Contrary to popular belief, many symptoms of reflux and bloating come from too little stomach acid, not too much.

Why Low Stomach Acid Happens

Contributors include:

• stress

• ageing

• long-term PPI use

• H. pylori

• nutrient deficiencies

• chronic illness

• overeating or rushing meals

• SIBO

• low digestive enzyme output

Stomach acid is the body’s first line of digestive defence.

Common Symptoms

Digestive symptoms:

• reflux or heartburn

• bloating after meals

• heaviness or slow digestion

• burping

• nausea

• undigested food in stool

Systemic symptoms:

• fatigue

• low B12

• low iron or ferritin

• protein cravings

• post-meal fatigue

Low stomach acid often affects digestion from top to bottom.

Connections With Other Gut Patterns

Low stomach acid often contributes to:

• SIBO

• dysbiosis

• yeast overgrowth

• reflux

• constipation

• food sensitivities

• histamine intolerance

Supporting acid levels can create significant shifts.

Stress & Stomach Acid

Stress directly reduces acid production by shifting blood flow away from digestion.

This is why symptoms often worsen during periods of overwhelm.

Testing Options

Possible assessments include:

• comprehensive stool test (enzyme markers)

• nutrient markers (B12, iron)

• symptom-based evaluation

• functional assessments (not medical tests)

Supporting Low Stomach Acid Long-Term

Support may include:

• eating practices that stimulate acid

• targeted supplementation (where appropriate)

• improving enzyme production

• supporting motility

• reducing chronic stress patterns

• balancing the microbiome

When stomach acid improves, many downstream symptoms settle.

This Page in One Sentence

Low stomach acid is a top-to-bottom digestion issue — and supporting it can create foundational changes across the whole gut.

Low digestive enzymes can make food difficult to break down, leading to bloating, discomfort, nutrient issues and unpredictable reactions.

This often develops alongside other gut patterns — it is rarely the root cause.

Why Enzyme Insufficiency Happens

Common reasons include:

• stress

• low stomach acid

• dysbiosis

• inflammation

• SIBO

• ageing

• post-infectious changes

• pancreatic insufficiency (rare but important)

Enzymes depend on the whole digestive tract functioning well.

Common Symptoms

Digestive symptoms:

• bloating after meals

• heaviness or fullness

• undigested food in stool

• floating stools

• discomfort after fats or proteins

• nausea

Systemic symptoms:

• low energy

• nutrient deficiencies

• fluctuating blood sugar

• brain fog after meals

Symptoms often improve quickly when enzyme function is restored.

Connections With Other Conditions

Enzyme insufficiency frequently overlaps with:

• SIBO

• leaky gut

• dysbiosis

• low stomach acid

• reflux

• constipation or diarrhoea

Supporting these areas helps improve enzyme function naturally.

Stress & Enzyme Output

Fight-or-flight states drastically reduce enzyme release, slowing digestion and increasing reactivity.

This is a major reason why symptoms can vary day to day.

Testing Options

A stool test can show:

• elastase (pancreatic function)

• fat malabsorption

• enzyme breakdown markers

• inflammation

Supporting Enzyme Function Long-Term

Support may include:

• improving stomach acid

• targeted enzyme support (when needed)

• microbial balancing

• reducing inflammation

• regulating the nervous system

• building predictable eating rhythms

Once upstream digestion is supported, enzymes often normalise.

This Page in One Sentence

Low digestive enzymes often reflect deeper digestive imbalance — and improve when stomach acid, microbiome balance, inflammation and nervous-system patterns are supported together.

Food Sensitivities & Intolerances

Food reactions can feel confusing, unpredictable, and overwhelming — especially when the same food is tolerated one day and causes symptoms the next.
Contrary to what many people are told, food reactions are rarely “just about the food”.

They are usually a reflection of:

• digestive capacity (enzymes, stomach acid)

• gut motility

• microbiome balance

• intestinal permeability (leaky gut)

• nervous-system state

• hormonal shifts

• inflammation

• the body’s stress load

Understanding why your body reacts — not just what you reacted to — is where long-term clarity comes from.

Why Food Sensitivities Develop

Food sensitivities are often triggered by underlying factors such as:

• SIBO or dysbiosis
  Fermentation and gas can cause bloating, pain, or distention after certain foods.

• Leaky gut / permeability changes
  When the gut lining is irritated, the immune system may react to foods it previously tolerated.

• Low stomach acid or enzymes
  Poor breakdown leads to bloating, heaviness, and unpredictable reactions.

• Stress & the gut–brain axis
  Stress can reduce digestive secretions and make the gut more reactive.

• Hormonal fluctuations
  Many people experience symptoms that appear “food-related” but actually follow their monthly cycle.

• Post-infectious changes
  After food poisoning, antibiotics, or a virus, digestion can become hypersensitive.

Sensitivities are symptoms — not the root cause.

Common Symptoms of Food Intolerance

• bloating

• nausea

• stomach cramps

• loose stools or urgency

• constipation

• fatigue after meals

• brain fog

• skin reactions

• fluctuating tolerances (a key sign)

Patterns often matter more than the foods themselves.

Why Eliminating Foods Isn’t a Long-Term Solution

Elimination diets can reduce symptoms short-term, but without addressing the underlying reason:

• tolerances keep shrinking

• more foods become “trigger foods”

• anxiety around eating grows

• microbiome diversity decreases

• the system becomes more reactive

The goal is expansion, not restriction.

Long-Term Support for Food Sensitivities

Sustainable improvement often involves:

• strengthening digestive function

• improving enzyme and stomach acid levels

• balancing the microbiome

• repairing gut barrier integrity

• calming inflammation

• regulating the nervous system

• reducing chronic stress patterns

• reintroducing foods safely and gradually

Food freedom comes from supporting the body — not restricting the diet.

This Page in One Sentence

Food sensitivities are rarely about the food itself — they’re a signal that your digestion, microbiome or nervous system needs deeper support.

Histamine Intolerance

Histamine intolerance is a condition where the body struggles to break down histamine efficiently, leading to a wide range of symptoms — many of them digestive.
Importantly, histamine intolerance is not an allergy but an imbalance between:

• histamine intake

• histamine release

• histamine breakdown

Understanding this helps avoid unnecessary fear around food.

Why Histamine Becomes a Problem

Histamine intolerance is rarely caused by food alone.
It often reflects deeper changes in:

• gut microbiome balance

• enzyme activity (especially DAO)

• intestinal permeability

• immune activation

• stress and nervous-system regulation

• hormone fluctuations

• SIBO or dysbiosis

• chronic inflammation

Histamine is produced naturally in the body — the goal isn’t to eliminate it but to restore balance.

Common Symptoms

Digestive symptoms may include:

• bloating

• diarrhoea or urgency

• abdominal pain

• nausea after meals

• reflux or burning discomfort

Whole-body symptoms can include:

• flushing or warmth

• headaches or migraines

• hives or skin sensitivity

• congestion

• anxiety or restlessness

• heart palpitations

• menstrual pain or worsened PMS

Histamine intolerance often fluctuates — you may tolerate a food one week and react strongly the next.
This variability is a key sign.

Gut Conditions Linked to Histamine Intolerance

Many people with histamine intolerance have underlying digestive patterns such as:

• SIBO (especially hydrogen or hydrogen sulphide types)

• Dysbiosis

• Leaky gut / intestinal permeability

• Low DAO production due to mucosal irritation

• Post-antibiotic microbial changes

Supporting the gut lining and restoring balance often improves histamine tolerance dramatically.

Stress & the Nervous System

Stress increases histamine release — particularly when the body is in fight-or-flight.
This is why:

• symptoms worsen during overwhelm

• anxiety increases during reactions

• sensitivities fluctuate based on emotional load

Regulating the nervous system is a crucial part of rebuilding tolerance.

Nutrition & Lifestyle Support

Long-term improvement often involves:

• reducing inflammation in the gut lining

• supporting the microbiome (especially Bifido species)

• improving digestive secretions

• stabilising motility

• supporting hormone balance

• restoring DAO activity

• temporarily reducing histamine load only when needed

• gently reintroducing foods

The aim is not lifelong restriction — but restoring flexibility and resilience.

This Page in One Sentence

Histamine intolerance is a whole-body, gut–brain–immune pattern — not simply a food list — and it improves most when the root drivers are supported.