by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc | Feb 6, 2025 | IBS
Valentine’s Day is a time for celebrating love, connection, and of course, enjoying some of your favourite treats. But for those with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), this day can often be met with a mix of anticipation and concern.
by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc | Aug 4, 2024 | Mental Health
Foods affect both our physical and mental health. Find tips for improving your mood with food.
by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc | Apr 15, 2024 | IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome can impact your gut’s ability to absorb certain micronutrients. This can increase your risk of developing a micronutrient deficiency.
by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc | Feb 25, 2024 | Nutrition and Diet
Your gut plays an important role in supporting your overall health and well-being. It is responsible for breaking down and absorbing nutrients from the food you eat. It also supports your immune system, a healthy heart and brain.
by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc | Sep 27, 2023 | Micronutrient Monday, Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements
Minerals play many important roles throughout your body, from building your bones and transmitting nerve signals to balancing electrolytes and regulating your heartbeat.
A deficiency in any one of them can lead to serious health problems
by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc | Jul 28, 2023 | IBS
Gut health and sleep quality have a complex relationship. Not only does your gut health affect your sleep quality, but your sleep quality also affects your gut health.
by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc | Jul 21, 2023 | IBS
regular exercise plays an important role in managing your IBS. Exercises can help, improve bowel movements and digestion, boost the immune system, and enhance overall well-being.
by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc | Jul 5, 2023 | Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements
Minerals are essential nutrients that your body needs to function properly. They play important roles in many bodily functions, including building strong bones, and transmitting nerve signals.
by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc | May 29, 2023 | IBS
In addition to avoiding trigger foods in your IBS-friendly diet, it can also be beneficial to include prebiotics and probiotics for relief of GI symptom.
by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc | Apr 25, 2023 | Micronutrient Monday, Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements
Many people assume that plant-based diets don’t provide enough protein to meet daily requirements. However, many studies have debunked this popular myth.
by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc | Apr 18, 2023 | IBS
If you’re experiencing gastrointestinal issues, it can be difficult to determine whether you have IBS or another condition.
by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc | Mar 16, 2023 | IBS
Are you someone who loves spicy foods but suffers from IBS? If so, you may have heard that spicy foods can exacerbate IBS symptoms. This is because many spicy foods contain capsaicin, a compound that can stimulate the digestive system and cause discomfort for those with IBS.
by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc | Mar 7, 2023 | Micronutrient Monday, Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements
Many people assume that plant-based diets don’t provide enough protein to meet daily requirements. However, many studies have debunked this popular myth.
by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc | Feb 23, 2023 | Nutrition and Diet
Many people assume that plant-based diets don’t provide enough protein to meet daily requirements. However, many studies have debunked this popular myth.
by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc | Jan 23, 2023 | IBS
Fibre is an essential part of a health diet, but getting enough fibre in your IBS-friendly diet can be difficult. Despite the challenges of including fibre in a low-FODMAP diet, there are many ways to ensure you’re meeting your fibre requirements with an IBS-friendly diet.
by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc | Jan 17, 2023 | IBS, Mental Health
Your mental health can have a major impact on your gut health. Stress and anxiety can trigger an increase in gut inflammation, and disrupt the careful balance of beneficial bacteria in your gut.
by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc | Jan 13, 2023 | IBS
Understanding the diet and its underlying principles can help you more effectively follow the diet, support a healthy relationship with food, and manage your GI symptoms.
by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc | Jan 5, 2023 | IBS
Being aware of low-FODMAP alternatives to traditional ingredients, such as milk, can help you include more recipes in your diet while managing your IBS symptoms. When it comes to milk, there is an increasing number of low-FODMAP options that you can try.
by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc | Dec 17, 2022 | IBS
Although there is currently no research detailing the role of alcohol in triggering IBS symptoms, an observational study reports approximately 1 in 3 people with IBS report experiencing symptoms from consuming alcohol.
by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc | Nov 8, 2022 | IBS
You may have noticed that not everyone with IBS experiences the same triggers, or symptoms during flare-ups. In fact, most people with IBS have different triggers and “IBS-safe foods”. One of the reasons for this is that there are different types of IBS. Knowing and understanding your dominant type of IBS can help you identify ways to manage the symptoms.
by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc | Oct 15, 2022 | IBS
Snacking is often viewed as a bad habit that should be avoided and a barrier to weight loss. Despite what the diet culture may tell you, there is a purpose for snacking…[it] can be part of a healthy lifestyle.
by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc | Dec 1, 2021 | Nutrition and Diet
Antioxidants are substances that protect our bodies and cells from damage that is caused by free radicals. Some antioxidants are naturally occurring while other antioxidants are man-made.
by Kimberley Gittens, RD, MHSc and Michelle Effa | Oct 1, 2021 | Nutrition and Diet
Fibre is a carbohydrate that is resistant to digestion and helps to promote gut health.