Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common disorders of gut-brain interaction, affecting an estimated 4 to 11 percent of people worldwide depending on the diagnostic criteria used. It involves recurring abdominal pain along with changes in how often you go and how your stools look, and its symptoms overlap with, and can sometimes be driven by, related conditions such as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO), and small intestinal fungal overgrowth (SIFO). That overlap is one reason an accurate diagnosis matters before changing your diet. IBS is real, common, and manageable, and while there is no single IBS diet, a growing body of research shows that what and how we eat can meaningfully calm symptoms and support a healthier gut.
