Adecade ago, Kaitlyn, a 28-year-old support worker, became very ill. She had painful constipation, fevers and was losing weight. “If I ate too much, I would vomit,” she says. After tests ruled out Crohn’s disease and colitis, Kaitlyn’s family doctor diagnosed her with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a chronic disorder that causes cramping, pain and bloating, along with constipation or diarrhoea.
While IBS can’t be cured, it can be managed through lifestyle changes. A dietitian suggested that the bacteria that lived in Kaitlyn’s intestines – collectively known as the gut microbiome – might be out of balance, contributing to her condition. She recommended Kaitlyn take probiotics to help put things in order. After only a few days of taking the probiotics, Kaitlyn felt a lot better. “The pain and fevers…
