Case Study: When Eating ‘Healthy’ Isn’t Enough: How we got to the root of 10 years of IBS

(Shared anonymously with permission)

When my 31-year-old client came to see me, she had already spent more than a decade trying various diets to fix her IBS. She’d followed a low-FODMAP diet, cut out gluten and was cooking healthy meals from scratch every single day and yet, she was still dealing with chronic diarrhoea, stomach pains, debilitating nausea, and very low energy. Despite doing everything “right”, her gut symptoms weren’t improving.

This is something I see often. When symptoms like IBS, bloating, or diarrhoea don’t respond to diet changes alone, it’s usually a sign that there’s a deeper root cause.

One area I suspected early on was reduced bile flow.

Bile is produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. It plays a key role in breaking down fats and supporting overall digestion. When bile becomes thick or sluggish, it can contribute to symptoms such as:

• Nausea

• Discomfort under the ribs

• Loose, green or pale stools

• Difficulty digesting fatty foods

  
  

Modern lifestyle factors such as chronic stress, irregular eating patterns, dieting, poor hydration, and low fibre intake can all affect bile flow. Certain medications, including the oral contraceptive pill and HRT may also play a role.

With her demanding job and unpredictable routine, this felt like an important piece of the puzzle.

Why We Chose Functional Testing for IBS

Because her symptoms had been going on for so long, I recommended a comprehensive stool test so that we could understand exactly what was happening in her gut.

Functional stool testing can help identify root causes of digestive symptoms by looking at:

• Gut microbiome balance and diversity

• How well food is being digested and absorbed

• Markers of gut lining health (gut barrier function)

• Levels of inflammation in the gut

• The presence of parasites or harmful bacteria

  
  

Her results showed that her gut lining was inflamed and likely reacting to certain foods. There was also imbalances in her gut bacteria, along with a mild parasitic infection contributing to her ongoing digestive issues.

This gave us a clear direction and allowed us to move away from guesswork.

How we improved her IBS symptoms

We focused on a few key areas to support her digestion, energy, and overall gut health:

• Balancing blood sugar Her job involved changing shifts, so regular meals weren’t always possible. We built meals that were high in protein, fibre, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats to keep her full and energised for 4–5 hours. This helped stabilise her blood sugar levels and significantly reduced the nausea she experienced when her energy dipped.

• Supporting bile flow and fat digestion We increased fibre and cruciferous vegetables to support liver function, alongside targeted supplements to improve bile flow. This helped her digest fats more comfortably and reduced symptoms like nausea, stomach churning, and diarrhoea.

• Repairing the gut lining We kept gluten out temporarily while using targeted nutrients to repair and calm the gut lining.  Supporting gut barrier health is key in many IBS cases, particularly when there is inflammation or food sensitivity.

• Improving gut microbiome diversity Rather than restricting, we focused on gradually increasing the variety of plant foods in her diet to feed beneficial gut bacteria, building a healthier, more resilient microbiome to support long-term digestive health,

• Supporting digestion with mindful eating Simple changes make a big difference here. Slowing down, chewing food thoroughly, eating in a more relaxed state, and staying hydrated all helped stimulate digestive juices and improve how well she digested meals

• Addressing the gut-brain connection We used gut-directed hypnotherapy to support the gut-brain axis. Stress can directly impact digestion, and digestive symptoms can increase anxiety. Supporting both together helped break that cycle.

  
  

My client continued to cook beautiful meals throughout the process. Nothing felt extreme or restrictive. It was about building on what she was already doing and making it better, rather than taking more away.

The Results : IBS symptom improvement

By the end of her package her transformation was incredible. Her nausea had completely resolved, her energy had returned and her digestion felt more predictable and stable.

Most importantly, at the end of our 3 month package, she was able to reintroduce gluten, enjoy her favourite foods, and go on holiday without worrying about her symptoms. After 10 years of IBS, she finally felt in control of her gut again.

Her Words

“After suffering with IBS for over 10 years, Clare has been amazing at helping me recover and feel so much better. The weekly appointments were really helpful and she was always so reassuring, kind and never judgemental with what I was eating. Her recommendations and diet plans were really easy to follow and I am so grateful for her help and support. She is a very knowledgeable nutritionist and I highly recommend her!”

A Final Thought

If you’re eating well, doing all the “right” things, and still struggling with symptoms like diarrhoea, bloating, or nausea, it often means there’s an underlying issue that hasn’t been addressed. IBS is not just about food, it’s about how your gut is functioning.

My approach focuses on identifying the root cause of your symptoms and supporting your body in a way that actually works. If this is you, book a free 20 minute call where you can tell me about your symptoms and I can explain how I might support you.

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