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Naturopath for Bloating and IBS: Add Support, Don't Cut More
If you feel bloated all the time, here's what's actually going on and what I look at.
Bloating and IBS are real, common and very supportable, and the answer usually isn't cutting out more food. A naturopathic doctor looks at your whole picture, including your cycle, bowel habits, stress and eating patterns, rules out other causes with the right tests, and adds gut support so you can eat with less worry.
I get bloated too, mostly before my period. So when someone tells me their jeans fit differently by dinner, I don't need convincing.
What I notice most when people first come to see me about their gut is that they want to know what to remove. Which food is the problem, what should I cut next. Very few come in asking what they could add, like fibre or a probiotic, to support their gut. That's usually where I want to start.
I'm Dr. Lauren Russell, ND, a naturopathic doctor at Summit Sports & Health in Riversdale, Saskatoon, with virtual visits across Saskatchewan. Here's what's actually going on with bloating and IBS, and what I look at when you come to me about it.
Why am I so bloated all the time?
Bloating usually comes from a gut that is extra sensitive, moving slower or faster than it should, or reacting to a specific trigger. It isn't a sign you've been eating "wrong". The feeling of pressure and fullness is bloating, and the visible belly change is called distention.
The American Gastroenterological Association's 2023 clinical practice update lists the usual suspects worth checking: lactose or fructose intolerance, celiac disease, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and gut motility problems. It also describes bloating, in many cases, as a disorder of gut-brain interaction.
That doesn't mean it's in your head. It means your gut has its own nervous system, and stress, sleep and anxiety change how it moves and how loudly it talks to you.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is also very common here. The Canadian Digestive Health Foundation puts Canada's IBS rate at about 18%, among the highest in the world, compared with roughly 11% globally. Common is not the same as something you just have to put up with.
Is it IBS or something else?
IBS is diagnosed from your symptoms, mainly recurring belly pain linked to changes in your bowel movements, but a good assessment also rules out conditions that look similar. Celiac disease is one of the big ones.
The Canadian Association of Gastroenterology's IBS guideline (Moayyedi et al., 2019) recommends diagnosing IBS from symptoms, suggests a blood test for celiac disease, and does not recommend routine food allergy testing for IBS.
Diagnostic criteria have also tightened over time. In a global study of 73,076 adults across 33 countries (Sperber et al., 2021), 4.1% of online respondents met the newer Rome IV criteria for IBS, compared with 10.1% under the older Rome III criteria. Gut-brain disorders overall were more common in women. If you've been told "it's probably IBS" without many questions asked, a closer look is fair.
Some symptoms need your family doctor first, such as blood in your stool, unintentional weight loss, symptoms that wake you at night, anemia, or a family history of colon cancer, celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease.
Why does my bloating get worse before my period?
Your gut responds to your hormones. In the luteal phase, the second half of your cycle after ovulation, estrogen and progesterone are both higher than earlier in the cycle, and that shift can indirectly lead to more bloating, water retention and slower digestion.
A review in Gastroenterology Report (Bharadwaj et al., 2015) found that bowel transit tends to be slower in the luteal phase, and that people with IBS often notice more pain, bloating and diarrhea once their period starts. One year-long study found self-reported water retention peaks on the first day of flow (White et al., 2011).
Your hunger shifts too. A 2024 meta-analysis found people eat more in the luteal phase than the follicular phase, and most studies in a 2026 systematic review found resting energy use rises a little in that phase. Research has also linked the premenstrual phase to a greater likelihood of binge eating. Your body is asking for more fuel, so feeding it regularly matters more in that week, not less.
Yes, my patients notice their gut flares with their cycle, and I see it in my own body. It's one of the reasons I always ask about your cycle when you come in about your gut. Painful periods with gut symptoms that flare at the same time also deserve a look for endometriosis. You can read more about my hormone care here.
Do I have to go low FODMAP to fix my bloating?
No. Low FODMAP can be incredibly effective for a short time, about 2 to 6 weeks, but it's a structured experiment with a reintroduction phase, never a forever way of eating.
What I like about it is the information it gives us. If you take out these foods and your gut symptoms improve, we know it's likely specific carbohydrates in those foods that are bugging you, and we can reintroduce from there.
Elimination diets are never my first choice, and they are never long term. The CAG guideline does suggest a low FODMAP trial for IBS, and it recommends against a gluten-free diet for IBS when celiac disease isn't present. The AGA also advises screening for disordered eating before starting the elimination phase, because restrictive diets can feed food fears and rigidity. As someone certified in Intuitive Eating, that matters a lot to me.
Elimination diets are never my first choice, and they are never long term.
You can read more about my weight-neutral care here.
What this looks like in my practice
When you come to see me about bloating or IBS, the first thing I want to know is whether anything you've done has helped. That tells me a lot. From there, we talk about when it started, what makes it better or worse, how it changes across your cycle, your sleep, your stress and your relationship with food.
Testing, when it fits. Depending on your history, I may check:
- Celiac antibodies, a blood test
- Fecal calprotectin, a stool test that checks for inflammation in the gut
- SIBO testing, if your symptoms point that way
- A comprehensive stool test, to see what the bacteria in your gut are up to or if there's concern about candida, parasites, or bacterial overgrowth
Adding support first. The things that help me personally are pretty unglamorous. I support regular bowel movements by eating regularly, focusing on fibre and moving my body regularly. I also take magnesium citrate, but that's just for me, and it isn't a recommendation for you. I add extra support when I need to, and I keep dairy lower because I notice it makes me bloated.
For patients, guideline-supported options include soluble fibre such as psyllium, peppermint oil, probiotics, and gut-directed therapies like CBT and hypnotherapy. Whether any of these fits you depends on your labs, your history and what your symptoms actually look like. When a structured diet trial makes sense, I'm happy to bring in a dietitian so you're not doing it alone.
You can read more about my approach to care, my digestive health support, or what to expect at your first naturopathic appointment.
How is a naturopathic approach to IBS different?
| Elimination-first approach | How I approach it | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | A list of foods to cut | What's already helped, plus your full story |
| Ruling out other causes | Sometimes skipped | Celiac screening, inflammation and red flags checked |
| Diet | Long-term restriction, often self-guided | Short, structured trials (about 2 to 6 weeks) with reintroduction |
| First move | Remove | Add support, like fibre, regular meals and movement |
| Food relationship | Rarely asked about | Screened for and protected |
| Hormones | Rarely connected | Cycle patterns tracked alongside gut symptoms |
| Weight | Often brought up | Not part of the goal |
When should I see a naturopath for bloating and IBS?
- Bloating or bowel changes are affecting your days
- You were told "it's just IBS" without much explanation
- Your gut flares with your cycle
- Your list of "safe foods" keeps getting shorter
If you have red flag symptoms like blood in your stool or unintentional weight loss, see your family doctor first, and we can work alongside them. You'll find more on how I work with other providers in my FAQ, and more about me here.
What is the next step?
If your gut has been running your schedule, let's figure out what's actually going on. Book a free 15-minute meet & greet and we'll see whether working together makes sense.
Your gut doesn't need a shorter grocery list. It needs a closer look.
Frequently asked questions
Can a naturopath help with IBS?
Yes. A naturopathic doctor can assess your symptoms, order or coordinate tests like celiac antibodies and fecal calprotectin, and build a plan with evidence-based support such as fibre, peppermint oil, probiotics and gut-brain therapies. I work alongside your family doctor when needed.
Do I need a referral to see a naturopath in Saskatchewan?
No, you don't need a referral to see a naturopathic doctor in Saskatchewan. You can book directly, in person in Saskatoon or virtually from anywhere in the province. Many extended health plans cover naturopathic visits, so check your benefits.
Will you put me on a restrictive diet for my bloating?
No. Elimination diets are never my first choice, and they are never long term. If a short low FODMAP trial of about 2 to 6 weeks makes sense, we use it to gather information and then reintroduce foods.
Why is my bloating worse before my period?
In the luteal phase, after ovulation, estrogen and progesterone are both higher, which can slow digestion and add to bloating and water retention. Many people with IBS also notice more pain, bloating and diarrhea once their period starts.
What tests do you use for bloating and IBS?
Depending on your history, I may check celiac antibodies, fecal calprotectin for gut inflammation, SIBO testing if your symptoms point that way, or a comprehensive stool test. Testing is chosen based on your symptoms, not done by default.
Can I see you virtually for gut issues?
Yes. I offer virtual visits for anyone living in Saskatchewan, and most gut assessments work well virtually. If testing is needed, we arrange it close to where you live.
Ready to talk about your gut health?
Or call (306) 979-8753