Calmer digestion, without cutting out more than you need.
Work with a Registered Dietitian to find what eases your IBS symptoms, from everyday habits to a guided low-FODMAP diet. In person in Ottawa and Gatineau, or online anywhere in Ontario and Quebec.
Start with understanding
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of how the gut and brain work together. It causes repeated belly pain linked to bowel movements, with diarrhea, constipation or both, and often bloating. It doesn’t damage the bowel, but it can affect work, sleep, meals out and travel. It is one of the most common digestive conditions in Canada.
Most people with IBS notice that some meals make symptoms worse. Food doesn’t cause IBS, but changing what, when and how you eat is one of the most effective ways to manage it. Guidelines recommend starting with simple changes, then moving to a low-FODMAP diet with a dietitian if symptoms continue.
We work with adults whose IBS has been diagnosed by a doctor, whatever their main symptoms. If you haven’t been assessed yet, start with your doctor: other conditions, such as celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease, can look like IBS.
Your path forward
Many people improve with the first step alone. We only add restrictions when they are likely to help.
Step 1 · first-line changes
Regular meals, the right type of fibre for your symptoms, and a look at common irritants such as caffeine, alcohol, very fatty or spicy meals, and sugar-free products.
Step 2 · if symptoms continue
A short elimination of FODMAPs, then a structured reintroduction to find which groups and amounts trigger your symptoms.
Step 3 · long term
Keep only the limits you need, bring variety back, and work on the other factors that affect your gut, such as stress, sleep and activity.
Every gut is different
Your doctor may describe your IBS by its main bowel pattern. The starting point for nutrition depends on it.
Your doctor diagnoses IBS and its type using the Rome IV criteria. Many people move between types over time, so the plan changes with you.
Support for your everyday
We use clinical software that turns what you eat and how you feel into patterns we can act on together.
You log meals and symptoms in our patient portal. Your dietitian looks for links between them, with checks that avoid reading too much into a few bad days.
When you avoid specific foods or follow a low-FODMAP diet, the recipes we suggest are checked against your list at the portion you’ll actually eat.
If you start a low-FODMAP trial, each FODMAP group is tracked through elimination and reintroduction, and your recipes follow your results.
With your consent, we share our notes with your family doctor or gastroenterologist, so nutrition fits with the rest of your care.
Putting it into practice
Three meals and, if you need them, small snacks at similar times each day. Skipping meals and then eating a large one is a common trigger.
Soluble fibre, such as psyllium or oats, tends to help IBS more than wheat bran, which can make bloating and pain worse. Increase it gradually.
Both can speed up the gut. Many people do better with up to about two cups of coffee a day and alcohol only occasionally.
Sweeteners such as sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol in gum, candy and some drinks can cause bloating and diarrhea.
Eating quickly, on the go or while stressed can add to bloating and discomfort. Sitting down and chewing well helps.
Regular physical activity, enough sleep and stress management all calm the gut-brain connection that drives IBS symptoms.
WORKING WITH YOUR DIETITIAN
We review your symptoms, IBS type, medical history, medications and a typical week of eating, and look at what you have already tried.
We start with the simplest changes likely to help you, and decide together whether and when a low-FODMAP trial makes sense.
We build a plan you can live with, including what to do during flare-ups, travel and meals out, and check in as things change.
No. IBS comes from changes in how the gut and brain work together, such as a more sensitive gut and changes in bowel movement. Food doesn’t cause it, but certain foods and eating habits can trigger symptoms, which is why diet is part of treatment.
Not necessarily. Guidelines recommend trying simpler changes first, such as meal routine and fibre. If symptoms continue, a low-FODMAP diet with a dietitian is the next step.
There is no cure, but most people can reduce their symptoms a lot. Symptoms often come and go, and a good plan includes what to do when they flare.
The evidence is mixed and depends on the strain. Some people try one product for about four weeks and stop if nothing changes. We can review a product with you, but we start with food.
It often does. The gut and brain are closely connected, so stress, anxiety and poor sleep can increase symptoms. Gut-directed psychological therapies can help, and we can talk about options with you and your doctor.
Many private insurance plans cover services from a Registered Dietitian. We provide receipts for you to submit. Check your plan for coverage details.
Yes. Online appointments by secure video are available anywhere in Ontario and Quebec. You log your meals and symptoms in our patient portal, and we go over them together at each visit.
This page is general information, not individual advice. Your needs depend on your diagnosis, your health and your goals.
We see you in person at our Ottawa and Gatineau clinics or by secure video anywhere in Ontario and Quebec, in English or French. With your consent, we share your plan with your family doctor or gastroenterologist.
Let’s take the next step
Start with a free initial consultation, in person in Ottawa or Gatineau, or online anywhere in Ontario and Quebec.
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