Welcome to April, also known as IBS Awareness Month. If your stomach’s idea of fun is turning every meal into Russian roulette, congrats—you might be part of the IBS Club (we meet in bathrooms).
But fear not, fellow gut warriors. Here are 5 natural ways to tame the belly beast without selling your soul to pharmaceutical ads featuring people twirling in fields.
1. Drink Water (Yes, Actual Water)
Put down that fifth coffee. Your gut doesn’t want a double shot of espresso; it wants the elixir of life. Water helps keep things moving smoothly, if you know what I mean...So sip like your bowels depend on it. (Because they do.) It'll be the best drinking problem to have.
2. Sleep Like You’re Getting Paid For It
You know what’s not gut-friendly? Binge-watching true crime until 3am. Your digestive system needs sleep to function properly, and no, dreaming about salad doesn’t count. Get your 7-9 hours and let your intestines rest from their daily trauma.
3. Trust Your Gut (And Write Stuff Down)
Listen, your gut knows. That innocent slice of garlic bread might seem harmless, but if your stomach turns a bit off within 20 minutes — you’ve got a suspect. Keep a food journal and track your symptoms.
4. Eat Your Greens
Green vegetables are your gut’s BFF—loaded with fibre, nutrients, and that smug healthy glow. Steam ‘em, roast ‘em, hide ‘em in smoothies. Just get ‘em in there and let them work their leafy magic.
5. Fibre: Your Bowels' Personal Trainer
Fibre keeps everything moving like a well-oiled machine (or at least a slightly less chaotic one). Beans, lentils, oats, chia seeds—these are your new gut hype crew. But be sure to introduce them slowly.
IBS is real. It’s annoying. It’s unpredictable. But you don’t have to suffer in silence (or exclusively in bathrooms). Hydrate, rest, eat smart, and remember: your gut may be sensitive, but with a little TLC, it can still be fabulous.
Happy IBS Awareness Month—now go hug a hot water bottle and eat a salad. 💚