IBS: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic condition characterized by abdominal pain and regular bowel movement irregularities , often alternating between constipation and diarrhea. It affects approximately 5% to 10% of the French population, with women being twice as likely to be affected as men. While not a serious condition, it significantly disrupts daily life and often goes undetected by doctors due to a lack of awareness. However, it is now scientifically proven that an imbalance in the gut microbiota —that is, an imbalance of the beneficial bacteria that make up the gut—is most often the cause.
SIBO: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
Also known as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), this condition is an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine . This excessive number of bacteria damages the gut microbiota and causes intestinal problems because the bacteria consume nutrients, including carbohydrates and vitamin B12. This bacterial overgrowth is linked to impaired intestinal motility, meaning the intestines don't contract properly.
It's a condition characterized primarily by excessive flatulence, bloating, and alternating constipation and diarrhea. These are almost the same symptoms as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In fact, according to gastroenterologists, the majority of patients who consult for SIBO actually suffer from IBS, which is much more common .
SIBO can significantly impair the lives of affected patients. In France, healthcare professionals have only recently begun to take an interest in it. There is no single gold standard test for diagnosing SIBO. However, the use of glucose breath tests with hydrogen measurement is recommended. This is the most common test. Bacteriological analysis of the fluid in the jejunum, the middle part of the small intestine, is also an effective method for confirming SIBO. As with IBS, both of these tests aim to analyze the composition of the gut microbiota.
Crohn's disease: a chronic inflammatory bowel disease
In France, Crohn's disease affects nearly one in 1,000 people. It manifests as abdominal pain (spasms, burning), sometimes severe, which occurs in attacks similar to those caused by appendicitis. Other symptoms include profuse, watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Only a gastroenterologist can diagnose this condition, which affects men more often than women.
IBS and SIBO are therefore the two most common conditions among women. They are often conditions we live with from puberty without paying enough attention. However, it is vital to address them because an imbalance in the gut microbiota leads to a loss of overall immunity . We then become more susceptible to colds and more serious respiratory illnesses, cystitis, and urinary tract infections. It is now established that the quality of our gut microbiota is important for our digestive, metabolic, immune, and neurological health .
And it is relatively easy to take care of it by combining a balanced diet, without sugar or industrially processed foods, limited in alcohol, with occasional courses of probiotics and food supplements .
Probiotics are a concentrated source of "good bacteria" that support our gut microbiota, increasing its diversity and nourishing its beneficial bacteria. As such, probiotics have demonstrated their effectiveness in aiding the digestion of certain foods, reducing bloating, and regulating bowel movements. The challenge lies in carefully selecting the right strains—that is, the different types of bacteria—that are suitable for conditions such as IBS and SIBO.
It was from this issue that the Atelier Nubio research team formulated Microbiote et Peau, composed of four probiotic strains specifically selected for their beneficial effects on digestion. The benefits of these four strains have been proven by clinical studies that measured their effectiveness when used together.
A regular course of Bone Broth is also ideal for soothing the intestines.
Testimonials
Anna, 42 : "For several years, my stomach problems have fluctuated according to my menstrual cycle. Bloating at the end of the day, flatulence on seemingly calm days. Severe constipation for several days the week before my period, followed by bouts of diarrhea during my period. Needless to say, this pattern leaves me little respite. The various specialists I've consulted are adamant: I don't suffer from any inflammatory condition like Crohn's disease. 'Eat prunes,' 'do some exercise' – I've always been very physically active – 'don't eat spicy food' – thank goodness my body already told me that – are the only recommendations I've received. These consultations haven't provided any lasting solutions. Sensitive to the power of plants, I've been researching nutrition. I highly recommend the Beauty Food guide by Atelier Nubio, which is a good reminder of dietary practices. By keeping a food diary, I've identified the foods that don't agree with me." They weren't suitable. By eliminating them, I found a dietary balance that works for me. When I feel I'm straying from this or that my lifestyle—stress, eating lunch on the go—disrupts this balance, I take preventative measures and compensate with courses of probiotics.
Florence, 38 : "Looking back, I realize I've always had stomach pain. This realization came to me during a consultation with a micronutritionist specializing in food intolerances and the gut microbiota, whom I was seeing to start a weight loss program. Before we even discussed weight, our conversation focused on my stomach. I remembered that as a student, I would sometimes lie down at friends' houses who invited me to dinner mid-meal because I was writhing in pain from stomach cramps. During periods of 'calm,' my stomach would swell up by lunchtime and wouldn't return to a 'normal' shape during the day; I often spent the afternoon with my jeans button undone. Pains would appear for no apparent reason, and they were socially debilitating. Her diagnosis was clear: weight loss wasn't the issue. We needed to find the foods that didn't agree with my gut microbiota. She performed a test." of food intolerance and gut flora imbalance. Then he asked me to remove from my diet all foods containing sugar, gluten, and unhealthy fats, raw vegetables, and even alcohol, including that small glass of wine on Friday evenings. There wasn't much left besides legumes, brown rice, vegetables, white meat, and small amounts of fruit. The stomach aches stopped very quickly. We gradually reintroduced certain foods. I didn't lose much weight, which was my initial motivation. But the result was beyond my expectations: I felt lighter because my stomach no longer bloated after every meal, and my clothes weren't tight anymore. Since then, stomach aches are a thing of the past, provided I don't make any major dietary indiscretions and I take probiotic supplements regularly.
