Dr. Mohamed Farivar, a Harvard-trained gastroenterologist with nearly 50 years of experience, reveals that true Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is extremely rare, with most cases being misdiagnosed digestive issues that have specific, treatable causes.

• True, IBS affects only about 5% of those diagnosed, while the remaining 95% have identifiable, treatable conditions
• Over 40 different conditions can cause IBS-like symptoms, including food intolerances, enzyme deficiencies, and bile salt malabsorption
• Doctors often lack knowledge about proper diagnosis, and the medical system doesn't incentivize physicians to spend time investigating root causes
• FODMAP-rich foods (including many "healthy" vegetables and fruits) can cause digestive discomfort, but shouldn't be completely eliminated
• Bile salt malabsorption is a particularly serious yet commonly missed diagnosis, causing urgent bowel movements and occasional incontinence
• Probiotics are generally unnecessary as we already have trillions of beneficial bacteria in our gut - yogurt and kefir provide better natural alternatives
• Many patients suffer unnecessarily for years before discovering simple solutions through proper diagnosis

For more information, visit Dr. Farivar's website at gerd-ibs.com or his new site isitibsoryourdiet.com, where his book will be available for free.

Thanks for listening! Send me a DM on Facebook or Instagram