Steph McGovern has divulged her secret to managing her IBS symptoms, claiming that a specific eating routine has “sorted” the issue for her.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which affects the digestive system with symptoms such as cramps, bloating, diarrhoea, and constipation, is a widespread condition, according to the NHS.
In a candid discussion with the Mail on Sunday, Steph, 42, shared details about her dietary habits, including that the salad she had at 2pm was her first meal of the day, reports Gloucestershire Live.
Timing seems to be crucial for Steph in controlling her IBS, as she disclosed that adhering to a strict eating window has led to her symptoms being “totally sorted”.
She said: “The earliest I eat is 11am and the latest is 7pm, although I fast for longer when I can. My IBS is totally sorted now.”
The ex-BBC Breakfast host has been dealing with IBS since her youth. In a previous conversation with the Express in 2022, Steph mentioned she “assumed that it was an intolerance”.
It wasn’t until later in life that she had her gut “tested”, but the findings “came out as the worst third of the population”.
Recalling the moment, Steph said: “It was one of those shocking moments and obviously I was being filmed at the time, but I was really embarrassed.”
The tests revealed she had a “bad diversity of bacteria” in her gut. Besides fasting, Steph also mentioned last year that she incorporates kimchi into her meals and enjoys “kefir drinks every so often”.
Intermittent fasting (IF), a dietary approach that alternates between periods of eating and fasting, comes in various forms such as the 5:2 diet, 16:8 plan, alternate day, and 24-hour fast, according to Bupa.
The 16:8 method restricts food consumption to an eight-hour window each day. While some believe IF can aid weight loss, others warn of potential side effects like irritability and anxiety, as reported by Healthline.
Medical News Today suggests that research on the connection between IBS and IF is sparse, with some scientists proposing that IF could enhance digestion and gut health.
Conversely, other experts argue that frequent smaller meals could be more beneficial for those suffering from IBS.
