IBS can look different from one person to the next

Irritable bowel syndrome affects how the bowel functions and how symptoms are experienced. One person may mainly struggle with constipation, another with diarrhoea, while someone else may move between the two. Bloating, wind, abdominal discomfort and urgency can also vary from week to week.

IBS-C
Constipation-predominant IBS You may experience harder or less frequent bowel motions, straining, bloating or the feeling that your bowel has not emptied completely.
IBS-D
Diarrhoea-predominant IBS Loose or frequent bowel motions, urgency and anxiety about finding a toilet can make work, travel, exercise and social activities harder to plan.
IBS-M
Mixed bowel symptoms Some people alternate between constipation and diarrhoea. This usually needs a flexible approach rather than using the same strategy every day.
IBS is not the same as inflammatory bowel disease

Irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease can cause some similar symptoms, but they are different conditions. If your symptoms have not been medically assessed, it is worth speaking with your GP before assuming food is the cause.

When food starts to feel like the problem

It is easy to start blaming individual foods when your gut feels unpredictable. Over time, the list of foods you avoid can become longer even though your symptoms remain. A dietitian can help you step back, look for meaningful patterns and decide which changes are actually worth testing.

Bloating and abdominal pressure Look at when bloating begins, whether it builds during the day, what else is happening with your bowel pattern and which meals are genuinely associated with symptoms.
Changing bowel habits Constipation, diarrhoea and urgency may need different nutrition strategies. We consider stool consistency, frequency, fluid, fibre and your usual routine.
A growing list of food restrictions If you have removed gluten, dairy, fruit, vegetables or other foods without a clear plan, we can review what still needs to be restricted and what may be suitable to bring back.
Unpredictable triggers A food may seem fine one day and uncomfortable the next. Portion size, combinations of foods, bowel function and other factors can all change how a meal is tolerated.
Eating away from home Fear of symptoms can make restaurants, work lunches or travel stressful. We can help develop strategies that give you more options rather than simply avoiding social meals.
Symptoms affecting everyday life Your plan needs to work around your job, family, school, travel, exercise and usual food preferences, not only what looks ideal on paper.

How an IBS dietitian can help

There is no single IBS diet that works for everyone. We use your symptoms, bowel habits, usual meals, medical history and lifestyle to decide what deserves attention first.

Map your symptom pattern We look at what happens across the whole day rather than assuming the last food you ate caused the symptoms you noticed.
Review fibre carefully More fibre is not always the answer. The amount, type and timing of fibre may need to change depending on whether constipation, diarrhoea or bloating is most troublesome.
Test likely food triggers Instead of changing five things at once, we can test targeted changes so you have a better chance of knowing what actually made a difference.
Use low FODMAP when appropriate If FODMAPs appear relevant, we can guide you through a structured trial without turning it into an unnecessarily restrictive permanent diet.
Review meal pattern and timing Long gaps between meals, very large meals or an irregular routine may matter for some people. We consider how your eating pattern fits alongside your symptoms.
Build a sustainable long-term diet Symptom management matters, but so do nutrition, enjoyment and convenience. The aim is a diet you can live with, not a growing collection of food rules.
Low FODMAP dietitian support

A low FODMAP diet should have an exit plan

A low FODMAP approach may help some people with medically diagnosed IBS, but the restrictive stage is not intended to become your permanent way of eating. The useful part is learning which FODMAP groups affect you, the amounts you tolerate and which foods can return to your diet.

1 Reduce If a low FODMAP trial is suitable, we identify practical swaps for higher FODMAP foods while maintaining balanced meals and enough variety.
2 Challenge Foods are systematically reintroduced to work out which FODMAP groups you tolerate and which are more likely to trigger your symptoms.
3 Personalise Your long-term diet is expanded using what you learned during challenges, keeping restrictions focused on your actual tolerance rather than a generic food list.
Already following low FODMAP but never completed reintroductions?

We can help you work out a practical way forward. Reintroducing foods can increase variety, make eating socially easier and help clarify which restrictions are still useful for you.

IBS nutrition is not only about FODMAPs

Low FODMAP advice has become closely associated with IBS, but it is only one possible strategy. Depending on your symptoms, we may spend more time looking at bowel regularity, fibre, fluid, portion sizes, meal pattern or a smaller number of obvious dietary triggers.

Fibre type and tolerance Different fibres behave differently in the gut. Your current intake and bowel pattern can help determine whether increasing, reducing or changing the type of fibre is worth exploring.
Fluids and bowel function Fluid intake can be especially relevant when constipation is present or when you are adjusting fibre. We look at your actual intake rather than relying on a generic target.
Meal size and spacing Your gut may respond differently to large meals, grazing all day or long gaps without food. Sometimes adjusting the structure of meals is a more useful starting point than removing ingredients.
Foods that deserve individual review Caffeine, alcohol, very rich meals, certain sweeteners and other foods may affect some people. The goal is to determine what matters to you rather than create a universal banned-food list.
What might we actually change? Your first plan may be much simpler than you expect. Depending on your history, it could involve only a few targeted changes rather than a complete diet overhaul.
  • Adjusting breakfast to better support bowel regularity
  • Changing one or two likely symptom triggers
  • Reviewing fibre type rather than simply adding more
  • Spacing meals differently across your working day
  • Testing FODMAPs only if a structured trial is worthwhile
  • Bringing unnecessarily restricted foods back into your diet

Before assuming every gut symptom is IBS

Bloating, abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits can occur for many reasons. If you have not been medically assessed, your GP can consider whether further investigation is appropriate before you begin increasingly restrictive diets.

Speak with your doctor if symptoms are new, severe or concerning

Medical review is particularly important if you notice blood in your bowel motions, unexplained weight loss, fever, severe or ongoing symptoms, or a significant change from your usual bowel pattern. Dietetic care can then work alongside appropriate medical assessment rather than replacing it.

What to expect at your IBS dietitian appointment

You do not need to arrive with a perfect food diary or know exactly what triggers your symptoms. We start with the information you have and build a plan from there.

1 Understand what has been happening We review your symptoms, bowel habits, diagnosis, medical history, relevant investigations, medications, supplements and what you usually eat.
2 Choose what to test first We identify the highest-value changes rather than asking you to remove every food that has ever been associated with gut symptoms.
3 Review, reintroduce and adjust Follow-up appointments help us judge what worked, challenge assumptions about triggers and broaden your diet wherever possible.
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Accredited Practising Dietitians
Individual nutrition support for IBS, bowel symptoms and food tolerance.
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Personalised rather than restrictive
We aim to identify useful changes while keeping your diet as broad as practical.
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Australia-wide appointments
Access IBS dietitian support through telehealth or selected Queensland clinics.

IBS dietitian support in Queensland and Australia wide

You can work with a Simply Nutrition Dietitian from home through telehealth or attend one of our available Queensland clinic locations. Online appointments can be particularly useful for IBS because you can discuss your usual foods, kitchen routine and symptoms from your own environment.

Choose the appointment option that works for you

Our dietitians support clients across Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and other Queensland locations, with telehealth appointments available throughout Australia.

Brisbane dietitians → Sunshine Coast dietitians → Australia-wide telehealth →

Digestive symptoms can overlap. If you are dealing with another diagnosed gastrointestinal condition, or you are still working out what may be contributing to your symptoms, our broader stomach and bowel nutrition service may be a better starting point.

Broader stomach and bowel dietitian support Our dietitians also provide nutrition support for coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, reflux, diverticular disease and other gastrointestinal concerns. Visit our stomach and bowel dietitian page to learn more.

IBS dietitian FAQs

What can a dietitian do for IBS?

An IBS dietitian can review your usual eating pattern, bowel habits and symptoms, then help identify changes worth testing. This may involve fibre, fluid, meal timing, food triggers or a structured low FODMAP approach. The goal is to improve symptom management while protecting nutrition and food variety.

Do I need to follow a low FODMAP diet if I have IBS?

No. Low FODMAP is one possible strategy, not a requirement for everyone with IBS. Depending on your symptoms, smaller changes to fibre, fluid, meal structure or specific triggers may be a more suitable starting point.

Is the low FODMAP diet meant to be permanent?

The restrictive phase is not intended to be permanent. A structured FODMAP approach includes reintroducing and challenging foods so you can learn your individual tolerance and develop a more varied long-term diet.

Can you help with IBS constipation?

Yes. We can review fibre intake, the types of fibre you are eating, fluids, meal pattern and other possible dietary contributors. Recommendations need to be individualised because simply adding large amounts of fibre does not suit everyone.

Can you help with IBS diarrhoea and urgency?

Yes. We can review the timing and pattern of your symptoms, your usual diet and likely dietary contributors. Persistent or severe diarrhoea should also be medically assessed rather than assumed to be IBS.

Why can I tolerate a food sometimes but not other times?

Food tolerance can be affected by portion size, combinations of foods, your bowel pattern and what else you have eaten during the day. This is one reason a single meal or symptom does not always provide enough information to identify a reliable trigger.

Should I cut out gluten or dairy for IBS?

Not automatically. Removing entire food groups without knowing whether they are contributing can make your diet unnecessarily restrictive. If coeliac disease is a possibility, speak with your GP before removing gluten because testing may need to be completed while you are still eating it.

Can I see an IBS dietitian by telehealth?

Yes. Simply Nutrition Dietitians provides telehealth IBS and gut health appointments throughout Australia, as well as face-to-face appointments at selected Queensland locations.

Do I need a GP referral?

You can usually book a private dietitian appointment without a GP referral. Medicare rebates may be available if your GP has prepared an eligible referral. Private health extras may also provide dietitian benefits depending on your policy.

Tired of guessing what is upsetting your gut?

Work with an IBS dietitian to make sense of your symptoms, test useful nutrition changes and build a way of eating that gives you more confidence without unnecessary restriction.

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