Meg Marie O'Rourke is a Registered Dietitian/ Functional Nutritionist with over 20 years experience. She is the founder of Harmony with Food™ and producer of the Harmony With Food™ radio based out of iHeart Providence. Meg's show has been syndicated to 6 other stations throughout the United States.
If you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome or are unsure if you have it, there may be good news for you. Currently, nearly 15% of people living in the US have irritable bowel syndrome – a disorder that can affect the entire intestine, both small and large, causing symptoms such as cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, loose stools, or constipation.
This staggering statistic equates to approximately 46.2 million people who suffer from these symptoms daily.
And I was one of them.
My name is Meg Marie O’Rourke, and I am a registered dietitian/functional nutritionist with over 20 years of experience helping people eliminate their IBS through nutritional testing.
The good news for people with IBS
When I first discovered that my constipation, gas, and bloating were caused by IBS, I felt both anxious and hopeful. It’s true that IBS was affecting my life. I was calling out of work almost every week and my relationships with my friends and family were suffering, but as someone who has always been drawn to nutrition as the primary source of health and wellness, I knew that there had to be a way to not only ease my symptoms but get my life back.
Unfortunately, though, most patient concerns regarding the symptoms of IBS are dismissed by conventional doctors due to a lack of knowledge regarding the gut’s connection to nutrition, food sensitivities, and the microbiome.
When I realized that traditional medicine wasn’t going to address the root cause of my symptoms, I finally decided to employ the principles of functional nutrition to address my IBS for good.
What is functional nutrition?
A common misconception around functional nutrition and IBS is that it’s a pseudoscience that simply encourages people to take health supplements and/or eat healthy foods. This could not be further from the truth.
Broadly, functional nutrition is a personalized approach to nutrition that helps people identify their unique food sensitivities and micronutrient deficiencies to address their underlying health conditions.
It also helps individuals identify the root causes of their symptoms (rather than simply suppressing them) by analyzing their nutritional profile through various forms of testing such as professional-grade food sensitivities testing, microbiome testing, and micronutrient testing. (Note: Depending on the testing that’s needed, a stool, blood, and/or urine analysis may be required.)
This was the path that eventually led me to the answers I was looking for. Finally, I could breathe easily knowing that eliminating my IBS symptoms was within reach. But I needed to first identify which ingredients were causing my IBS along with the foods, drinks, and supplements my body needed to be healthier and respond accordingly.
Test, don’t guess
Millions of people employ elimination and FODMAP diets in an attempt to identify the culprit(s) of their IBS. However, eliminating foods from your diet without the proper knowledge or medical training can not only take an emotional toll on your health, but it can have a physical impact as well.
Your body needs an array of fats, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals in order to be healthy. But by experimentally removing foods from your diet, you could actually be depriving yourself of the nutrients your body needs. Additionally, the tracking and data analysis needed to do this effectively is daunting and could start to consume your life.
Secondly, while treating IBS symptoms is doable, people often assume that adding certain foods or spices to their diets like ginger, garlic, honey, or apples is good way to treat all people with IBS. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, right? Not so fast.
Based on an individual’s nutritional profile, adding (or removing) one or more ingredients to a person’s diet without understanding their individual bodily needs could be detrimental to their health.
Remember, IBS is a highly individual disorder and does not always arise directly after a meal. Any number of foods, drinks, or substances that has been consumed up to 72 hours prior to experiencing IBS symptoms could be the cause, making it virtually impossible to identify the culprit. So, what’s the solution?
Identify the root cause of your symptoms
With approximately 15% of Americans having IBS and around 40% experiencing digestive issues like acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), it’s time to get some real answers.
By consulting with a registered dietitian/functional nutritionist and taking the proper tests (i.e., food sensitivity, microbiome, micronutrient tests) you can at a minimum determine what’s happening in your body and start to get your GI tract back on track within a few weeks to months. (Note: Individual results may vary.)
The functional nutrition approach
Taking an interest in functional nutrition is the first step towards getting your life and health back. However, it’s not for everyone. Working with a functional nutritionist is a comprehensive and long-term approach that can include significant changes to your overall health, diet, and lifestyle. The process to working with a functional nutritionist involves numerous steps, including an:
Initial consultation: The functional nutritionist will send you paperwork to fill out prior to your first appointment, which will include questions regarding your past medical history, prescription medications, supplements, food allergies, and, of course, a HIPPA policy.
Assessment: Your medical history, lab work, and medication will then be reviewed on the initial consultation along with any specific symptoms or conditions that need to be addressed.
Analysis: The results of your tests will be reviewed, and any patterns or potential issues will be identified on your initial consultation.
Coaching and Implementation: Follow-up meetings will occur on a regular basis to discuss your progress and address any challenges or symptoms you may be having.
Monitoring: Your Registered Dietitian will monitor your health through follow-up appointment and recommend supplements and diet changes on an as needed basis.
As you do your research, remember that not all nutritionists are the same and qualifications often vary by region. Registered dietitians/functional nutritionists, on the other hand, follow a specific method, have an additional experience in functional nutrition, and provide tailored and personalized therapeutic diets to each patient. They do not make generalized determinations for your health. (Note: There is no cure for IBS, so any product that advertises itself as one should be met with the highest degree of skepticism, and any and all questions should be directed to a medical professional.)
Lastly, even though no two results are the same, IBS can be managed with well-informed guidance, treatment, and support.
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Meg Marie ORourke, Registered Dietitian/ Functional Nutritionist
Meg Marie O'Rourke, Registered Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist, is the founder of Harmony With Food™, a health and wellness practice dedicated to empowering individuals to achieve their health goals through personalized nutrition.
The Bio-Unique Boutique™ Program, where Meg says "test, don't guess," is just one of her programs offered. With a passion for helping others navigate their unique health challenges, Meg specializes in medical nutrition therapy and functional nutrition, focusing on the root causes of issues such as weight loss resistance, gastrointestinal problems, and chronic fatigue.
