IB-Free: Relief & Strength for People Living with IBS
Evidence-informed tips, gut-friendly recipes, and honest stories.
Education Hub
Foods and Drinks with the Highest Concentrations of FODMAPs to Avoid for IBS Relief
High-FODMAP foods like apples, onions, garlic, milk, and wheat can worsen IBS. Learn which foods and drinks to avoid — and how to swap them for gut-friendly, low-FODMAP options that ease symptoms.
Boosting Heart Rate Variability (HRV): A New Frontier in Managing IBS Symptoms
HRV is more than a fitness metric. By strengthening parasympathetic tone and the gut–brain axis, higher HRV can help calm IBS symptoms. Here’s how to raise it—breathing, movement, cold, biofeedback, sleep—and what to track.
IBS-Friendly, Calorie-Dense Foods for Strenuous Hiking
Hiking with a sensitive gut doesn’t have to mean bland food or bonking early. These five calorie-dense, low-FODMAP staples—fatback, eggs, potatoes, firm bananas, and dark chocolate—deliver energy without inviting a flare.
The Link Between Serotonin and IBS: Understanding the Connection and Treatments
Serotonin isn’t just about mood—it’s about your gut. Discover how intestinal serotonin, receptor signaling, and new treatments connect to IBS symptoms, and what options you have to regulate them.
Unpacking the IBS Exclusion Diet: A Smarter Way to Find Relief
Tired of guessing what’s causing your IBS symptoms? The exclusion diet offers a systematic, science‑backed way to identify triggers and reclaim your gut health—one bite at a time.
Stimulate Your Vagus Nerve: Six Simple Ways to Support IBS, Stress, and Inflammation
Stimulating the vagus nerve can improve digestion, reduce IBS flare-ups, and lower stress. These six evidence-backed methods help bring your body back into balance—naturally.
A Diet for IBS Relief: Simple Whole Foods for a Happier Gut
Finding comfort with IBS starts on your plate. Explore how a simple, whole-foods approach can reduce symptoms and support better digestion—without sacrificing taste.
Can Cannabis Help IBS Symptoms? A Look at THC, CBD, and Gut Health Relief
IBS symptoms like bloating, pain, and anxiety are exhausting. Can cannabis offer relief? We break down the science behind using THC and CBD to manage gut health—plus what to watch out for.
Why European Dairy May Be Easier to Digest for People with IBS
Discover why European dairy is often easier to digest for people with IBS and explore U.S. A2 dairy brands that may reduce digestive discomfort.
Sugar Substitutes and IBS: Why Sugar-Free Foods Can Trigger Symptoms
Sugar-free foods may trigger IBS symptoms. Learn which sweeteners to avoid and which are safer choices for gut health.
Swimming in Cold Water: A Promising Remedy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Discover how cold-water swimming may reduce IBS symptoms by easing stress, lowering inflammation, and boosting gut health.
Comprehensive IBS Treatment Options: Natural, Over-the-Counter, and Prescription Remedies
Explore comprehensive IBS treatment options including natural supplements, OTC medications, and prescription remedies for effective symptom relief.
The Growing Challenge of IBS and IBD: A Call for Novel Treatment Approaches
Explore the urgent need for innovative treatments for IBS and IBD, including personalized medicine, microbiome therapies, and brain-gut interventions.
It’s Not BS… It’s IBS: How the Pandemic Triggered My Gut Spiral
When the world locked down for COVID, my gut went into meltdown. What started as minor bloating turned into a full-blown digestive disorder. This is the story of how I found my way out—and why IBS is anything but BS.
The Chilling Truth: How Cold Therapy Can Help Manage IBS
What if your IBS treatment didn’t come from a bottle, but from a cold shower? Discover how cold therapy may ease pain, reduce stress, and support better gut health.
Breathing Through the Flare: The Wim Hof Method for IBS Relief
IBS isn’t just a gut issue—it’s a stress issue too. Discover how the Wim Hof Method’s blend of breathing, cold exposure, and mindfulness can help calm symptoms and bring balance.
Understanding FODMAPs: The Digestive Puzzle Behind IBS
FODMAPs are hidden in many everyday foods and can worsen IBS symptoms. This guide explains what they are, why they matter, and how to manage them through diet.
Why Garlic, Onion, Milk, Wheat Bread, and Pizza Might Be Wrecking Your Gut
If you’ve got IBS, some everyday favorites—like garlic, onion, milk, and pizza—might be setting off your symptoms. Here’s why these foods are common triggers and how cutting them may help.
The Paradox of IBS and IBD Remedies: How Their Side Effects Mirror the Very Symptoms They Aim to Cure
Managing IBS means finding the right balance of tools—natural remedies, over-the-counter fixes, and prescriptions. Here's a guide to treatment options and what to expect with each.
How COVID-19 Lockdowns May Have Disrupted Our Guts—and Sparked a Surge in IBS
Lockdowns changed everything—our routines, our diets, even our microbiomes. This piece explores how isolation and hyper-clean living may have disrupted gut health and triggered a post-pandemic rise in IBS.
Educational content only — not medical advice.
When the world locked down for COVID, my gut went into meltdown. What started as minor bloating turned into a full-blown digestive disorder. This is the story of how I found my way out—and why IBS is anything but BS.