Living with IBS – irritable bowel syndrome – can be challenging.
IBS interferes with work, school, social outings, meals, sleep… virtually every aspect of your life.
It can be embarrassing, uncomfortable, and unpredictable.
Flare-ups strike without warning… even if you watch what you eat, manage your stress, and do everything else right. Symptoms can last a few days or even for months before they settle down.
That can lead to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness…
But it doesn't mean you’re stuck letting IBS control your life forever. In fact, there may be a simple way to help get your symptoms under control:
IBS – Tough to Diagnose and Treat
Despite being the most common functional gastrointestinal (GI) condition worldwide, IBS remains difficult to diagnose correctly and to treat long-term. Up to 15% of people across the globe have IBS, with most having moderate to severe symptoms.
IBS is a functional disorder, meaning that there’s nothing broken in the GI structure and no biochemical imbalance. Instead, the GI tract doesn’t function properly for “unknown” reasons. That makes IBS harder to diagnose.
In fact, IBS prompts among the most doctor visits – about 3.5 million every year in the U.S. – and costs more than $21 billion annually in healthcare expenses and lost work time.
Unfortunately, no specific test exists for IBS, making it a “what’s left” type of diagnosis. And that’s for only about 25% of the people with the condition who actually go to the doctor about their GI symptoms.
Once IBS gets properly diagnosed, doctors commonly recommend lifestyle changes as the first line of action. That advice usually includes some big changes to diet – like going gluten free or avoiding a group of foods called FODMAPs – along with stress management techniques. That’s because there’s no recognized cure for IBS right now, though there are some treatments doctors can prescribe such as:
- Rifaximin, an antibiotic
- Loperamide, an anti-diarrhea medication
- Laxatives, for constipation
- Antidepressants, for abdominal pain
All of those medications come with potential side effects, and none would work as long-term solutions. That’s why some doctors recommend probiotics…but which probiotic matters.
IBS by the Numbers
IBS affects 10-15% of the world population
60% of IBS sufferers have moderate to severe symptoms
IBS causes up to 3.5 million doctor visits in the U.S. annually
65% of IBS patients are women
IBS costs society more than $21 billion annually
See full list of IBS stats HERE
The Gut Bacteria – IBS Connection
Your gut microbiome contains trillions of bacteria, beneficial (probiotic) and bad (pathogenic). Those bacteria influence virtually everything in your body, from digestion to immune function to mental health.
When your gut microbiome is in healthy balance, beneficial bacteria vastly outnumber pathogens. Then, they’re able to keep you and your GI tract in great shape by producing life-sustaining compounds, including:
- B vitamins
- Vitamin K
- Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs)
- Antioxidants
A healthy gut microbiome also keeps your immune system on the right path, so it doesn't over or under react to threats. It helps your body maintain a healthy inflammatory response. And, most important, a healthy gut microbiome helps keep the critical gut barrier intact and strong, so toxins can’t escape into the bloodstream.
But when bad bacteria outnumber good bacteria – a condition called dysbiosis – everything goes haywire. Bad bacteria steal essential nutrients… cause inflammation… breach the gut barrier…
And all of that contributes to IBS symptoms. In fact, many studies have found direct links between gut dysbiosis and IBS, leading researchers to believe restoring a healthy gut microbiome could be the key to avoiding IBS.
A Study on Spore Probiotics
A new groundbreaking clinical trial found that a special blend of spore probiotics offered participants the profound ability to sidestep IBS.
The study included 90 patients with IBS-D (where diarrhea is the primary symptom), who were divided into three treatment groups:
- Group 1 received 10 days of rifaximin followed by nutritional supplement containing probiotics, prebiotics, and vitamins for 24 days
- Group 2 received 10 days of rifaximin followed by a special diet for 24 days
- Group 3 received a mixture of spore probiotics – including Bacillus subtilis HU58, Bacillus indicus HU36, Bacillus coagulans, and Bacillus clausii – for 34 days
All three groups reported a significant difference by the end of the trial period, including substantial improvements in quality of life measures, such as mood, vitality, and social functioning.
Interestingly, of the three groups studied, the subset with the highest ranking scores was Group 3 (the spore probiotic group.)
You can read all about the study by visiting the PubMed page HERE.
Balance Your Gut Microbiome
Just Thrive Probiotic is powered by proven spore probiotics that quickly rebalance the gut microbiome. Four powerful spore probiotics work together to support the growth of beneficial bacteria – and that means a happier GI tract for you.
Just Thrive Probiotic contains four clinically studied strains of spore probiotics including:
- Bacillus subtilis HU58™
- Bacillus indicus HU36™
- Bacillus clausii
- Bacillus coagulans
Let Just Thrive Probiotic start changing your life today! Go here to save up to 25% off.
