Gut Health from a Registered Dietitian

Gut health is complex and drastic changes in the diet can disrupt your microbiome and potentially someone's relationship with food. As a Registered Dietitian who reports to a governing body, it is frustrating to see advice being given out about gut health that is incorrect and potentially damaging. How do I know? It happened to me and I have seen it happen to others. I was told I had to restrict certain foods for the rest of my life to feel good and that was not true👎🏻 We know a lot more about gut issues now than we did when I was dealing with my IBS symptoms over 10 years ago.

➡️A diet-based approach to fixing gut issues ie: eliminating gluten and dairy for a few weeks without doing anything else to address symptoms is problematic for several reasons.

1. A change in diet can't fix SIBO. A change in diet will not address a parasite (yes, although rare, I've had clients who have had a parasite infection). A change in diet can't treat an H. pylori infection.

2. A change in diet can reduce fiber intake which is not a good thing for long-term digestive health. I think of low-carb diets and keto. Many people report feeling better digestively, but the minute they stop eating that way their symptoms come back and sometimes they are worse. The diet didn't change the underlying issue of their digestive issues.

3. A person can feel better after eliminating certain foods and believe they can never have those foods again. This can also lead to disordered eating or feeling confused about what to eat.

This is not a personal attack on anyone, just a gentle reminder that there are limits to what personal trainers, health coaches and other non-Registered Dietitian professionals can say about nutrition. There are things you CAN share! Just be careful not to prescribe diets or supplements to treat symptoms of medical and clinical conditions. Offering specific food advice to treat or manage disease is outside the scope of practice for people who are not a licensed or Registered Dietitian.