How the Low-FODMAP Diet Helped Alyce Crawford Soothe Her IBS Pain and Bloating

“Because I was living in America at the time, I thought the cause may have been the food I was eating,” Crawford says. “I woke up one morning and my stomach didn’t feel right. I could tell that the bloating I was experiencing wasn’t like the usual bloat people get occasionally.”

Doctors still don't know exactly what causes IBS, a disease with symptoms such as excess gas, diarrhea or constipation, and cramping. And unfortunately, there aren’t any specific medications that can treat the condition, so people living with it—25-45 million in the US alone, up to 65 percent of them female—are left trying to solve the mystery with elimination diets and complementary therapies.

This was certainly the case for Crawford. “I wasn’t told enough information about what IBS was and how I got it. From that moment on, I was convinced that what I had wasn’t, in fact, IBS but something else,” she says. The model met with different doctors to rule out any other digestive health issues, but after countless tests that led nowhere, she was frustrated and tired. “I was so disheartened and felt like I had literally hit rock bottom,” Crawford says.

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But then, she made a discovery that turned her health around—and unwittingly led her to become an inspiration for countless other IBS sufferers in the process.

Keep reading to find out how Alyce Crawford learned to treat her IBS symptoms naturally.

BELOW? A very honest & very personal post that I am sharing in the hope that it can help someone else. *NOTE* This story has a positive ending so if you read it, read it all! For the last 3 years, I have suffered with IBS. The symptom I suffer with specifically is severe bloating. It began literally overnight while I was living in America. I woke up one morning, my stomach was extremely bloated & I was experiencing sharp stabbing pains. From that day on, my life was never the same. This illness is often very misunderstood & overlooked a lot by medical professionals & the general public alike. No, it is not life threating, but it is a condition that has caused & had a severe negative impact on my mental & physical health. To me, that alone is enough to be considered an illness. There was never 1 day in 3 years, that I ever felt completely well or healthy. The repercussions of feeling this way not only effected my mental & physical health, but effected relationships & my work as a model. For those of you reading who suffer from IBS or a similar condition (or know someone suffering) will understand & know exactly what I am talking about, & others may scroll past this post. But this is real, it hurts & I am sharing my experience & how I came to get better so it can possibly help someone else. The above photo on the right where I am bloated was the stomach I put up with 90% of the time for 3 years. The photo on the left is my stomach NOW 90% of the time (+ 4kgs of body fat down compared to the photo on the right). No woman or man is ever going feel good about themselves, while physically looking like the photo on the right. Looking this way was just one of the battles, the other was how I felt. Sick, nauseous, sore, unmotivated & very lethargic. Feeling like this often made the smallest thing in my day a struggle (getting dressed for example). All I wanted to wear, was my pyjamas & not move from a laying down position, as sitting upright hurt too much. *CONTINUED IN COMMENTS

A post shared by Alyce Crawford (@alycecrawford) on Jun 28, 2017 at 3:11am PDT

The low-FODMAP diet and IBS

Crawford eventually met with Joanna Turner, a health coach based in Sydney, who put her on the low-FODMAP diet—one that restricts foods high in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols. These compounds are linked to bloating and found in tons of different foods, including onions, garlic, apples, dates, gluten-containing grains, beans, and dairy products.

Crawford experienced a pretty steep learning curve, as you can imagine. (Try going to a restaurant and finding something without onions or garlic in it.) “I had no idea how to eat while I was following it. I lived off rice cakes and bananas,” she says. But after following a daily, low-FODMAP meal plan developed by Turner, Crawford started to feel better—and now, she’s better able to manage her IBS symptoms.

Many other IBS sufferers have found relief from laying off the FODMAPs, too. A 2017 study from the International Journal of Preventive Medicine suggests that the diet can help control IBS symptoms, but more research is needed to show its long-term effects.

HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE!! Who had take away and/or chocolate over the weekend? Who enjoyed it? Who then felt guilty? Who thought that eating those foods ruined their progress? . If you answered "me" to one/all of those questions, then it's important to remember: -You are human. NOBODY is perfect 100% of the time -One (or even two) Big Mac meals won't make you unhealthy or "fat", just like one salad won't make you healthy or "skinny" -Life is too short to not enjoy your favourite foods!!!!!!!!!!! . I just spent another amazing weekend back home in Kiama with my family. I worked out, ate nutritious food, and also ate a lot of chocolate. I enjoyed it all, however I am now bloated but hey, It happens. My body, my choice. . It is what I, and you, choose to do next that counts. Give up? Keep eating take away and fall into a negative spiral?... OR begin the next day fresh?! You enjoyed your three day food fest, but now acknowledge how it has made you feel, and move on and make better choices that will make you happiest. . Two or three days of take away will not ruin your progress. Two weeks of take away however, is not ideal health wise (or if fat loss is your goal). You may feel bloated and sluggish, which I know firsthand can negatively mess with your head (and body), but get back to being active and working out, and choose to eat food from this exact point on that will make you feel good and energetic for the rest of your week. ?Choccy=sometimes? ????️?Fruit, vegetables, protein and carbohydrates=most of the time (aka BALANCE)

A post shared by Alyce Crawford (@alycecrawford) on Feb 19, 2018 at 1:15am PST

Crawford’s favorite low-FODMAP foods and recipes

Once she learned the ropes of low-FODMAP cooking, Crawford found that it wasn't as intimidating as she once thought. “Following a low-FODMAP diet forced me to become creative in the kitchen. I started to experiment with some of my favorite meals, like spaghetti bolognese,” she says. Since pasta, garlic, onions, and Italian sausage are all high-FODMAP foods, Crawford uses fresh chives and smoked paprika for flavor and makes her own pasta sauce with crushed tomatoes and herbs. “After I got used to swapping ingredients, I realized how many of my favorite meals I could do this for,” she says.

Crawford also stocks up on low-FODMAP prepared foods, like FODY nut bars. “I find it hard to stop at one bar. They’re so delicious and easy to pack with me when I’m out,” she says. She also likes their tomato salsa, ketchup and other seasonings. Finding good substitutes for high-FODMAP foods is key because Crawford tries to avoid “cheat days.” “Some days are harder than others, but I’ve honestly learned how to adapt,” she says.

That's because when she does sneak in a few high-FODMAP foods, she pays a pretty major price. In a recent Instragram post, Crawford shared how much pain and bloating she experienced after celebrating her birthday with cake, chocolate, and wine. The next day she resumed her low-FODMAP diet, and about five days later, the bloating finally subsided. She's dreaming of the day when she'll be able to find low-FODMAP dupes for her favorite foods everywhere. “I only hope that in the future, more restaurants, cafés, and food companies acknowledge the low-FODMAP diet and contribute to this growing market,” she says. At least the low-FODMAP community has her Insta-advice to rely on until then.

Here are 5 doctor-approved foods to eat if IBS is taking over your life. And for your busiest days, you can make this low-FODMAP quesadilla recipe in less than 10 minutes.