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IBS & IBD Support
An IBS diagnosis often marks the start of questions rather than the end of them, since the label alone does not explain why symptoms flare or which foods matter. We work with women who have IBS, and alongside gastroenterology care for IBD, to identify your individual triggers, ease symptoms, and make daily life more predictable.
IBS symptoms: does your gut rule more of your life than it should?
Irritable bowel syndrome affects the way the gut and brain communicate, producing abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits ranging from diarrhea to constipation or an unpredictable mix of both. Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, involves true intestinal inflammation and requires medical management, though nutrition and supportive care still play a meaningful role.
The two conditions are different, but they share a daily reality: symptoms that shape what you eat, where you go and how much you can plan. Careful assessment helps distinguish patterns, identify triggers and clarify where additional testing would genuinely change your care.
You may benefit from an assessment if you experience:
- Abdominal pain or cramping relieved by a bowel movement
- Alternating diarrhea and constipation
- Urgency that limits your plans or travel
- Bloating that builds through the day
- Symptoms that flare with stress or your menstrual cycle
- A shrinking list of foods that feel safe
- An IBS diagnosis without a clear management plan
- An IBD diagnosis and a desire for nutritional support alongside your specialist
18%
2x
What causes IBS and IBD?
The Gut-Brain Axis
The gut and nervous system are in constant communication. Stress doesn’t create symptoms “in your head”, it can genuinely affect gut motility, sensitivity, and digestion. This is why IBS symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain, and bowel changes often flare during demanding or stressful periods.
Bacterial Overgrowth
Changes in the gut microbiome and conditions like small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) may contribute to IBS-like symptoms in some people. When appropriate, breath testing can help assess whether bacterial overgrowth may be part of the picture, alongside other potential contributors.
Food Triggers
A sensitive gut may respond differently to certain foods, including fermentable carbohydrates (FODMAPs), caffeine, alcohol, or higher-fat meals. Structured approaches, such as a guided low FODMAP process with reintroduction, can help identify triggers without creating unnecessary long-term restriction.
Hormonal Fluctuations
Many women notice digestive symptoms shift throughout their menstrual cycle. Estrogen and progesterone influence gut motility and sensitivity, which may contribute to changes in bloating, constipation, or bowel patterns at different points in the cycle.
Post-Infectious Changes
IBS sometimes begins after a bout of food poisoning or gastroenteritis. These events can affect gut bacteria, immune signalling, and nerve communication in the digestive tract, sometimes leading to ongoing symptoms.
How are IBS and IBD tested?
We start by mapping your symptom history in detail: bowel patterns, abdominal pain, bloating, food triggers, stress, sleep, cycle timing, medications, and previous investigations. For IBS, assessment focuses on identifying contributing factors and ruling out conditions that may mimic symptoms. For IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), we work alongside your gastroenterologist to support nutrition and overall health while medical management remains the foundation.
Where appropriate, testing may include SIBO breath testing, stool analysis, iron and nutrient markers, inflammatory markers, or thyroid testing.
How are IBS and IBD treated?
For IBS, treatment is personalized based on your symptoms and triggers. This may include a structured nutrition approach, support for gut motility and sensitivity, nervous system strategies, and addressing contributors such as SIBO when identified.
For IBD, we collaborate with your gastroenterology team, focusing on nutrition during and between flares, addressing common deficiencies such as iron and B12, and supporting overall nourishment and resilience. Your specialist’s medical treatment remains the foundation of care
How Somewhere Health helps
Care starts with the bigger picture rather than a single test. If you've already been diagnosed, we build on what you know. If you suspect something deeper but have never had a full workup, we can order the testing that gets you clear answers.
Your first visit is 75 minutes with a licensed naturopathic doctor who has reviewed your full intake. Together you'll create a plan that may include nutrition and lifestyle changes, targeted supplementation, and functional testing where appropriate. Bloodwork happens at any LifeLabs or Dynacare, and specialty panels like the DUTCH test ship to your door.
Appointments are completely virtual, so you can access care from anywhere in Ontario, and visits are covered by most extended health benefits plans.
Our Approach
- Nutrition and dietary guidance
- Lifestyle recommendations
- Stress and sleep support
- Targeted supplementation
- Functional or laboratory testing when appropriate
- Ongoing monitoring and treatment adjustments
- Collaborative care with your broader healthcare team when needed
How it Works
Dr. Courtney Ranieri is a licensed naturopathic doctor with Therapeutic Prescribing authorization, in practice since 2018. She holds a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and an Honours BSc from Western University, and her clinical focus is women's health: hormones, fertility, digestion, pelvic floor and metabolic care. She sees patients across Ontario virtually.
