Not a farting matter

Women are shedding their inhibitions and coming out on social media to talk about what’s troubling their bowels

Talking about things like bloating, cellulite and hair is very normal, but it has never been easy for me,” says Mumbai-based yoga instructor and influencer Natasha Noel. Many of Noel’s students, and three lakh followers are glad that she is taking the lead. Noel doesn’t mind showing you how her tummy looks pre and post a poop, and often talks about the changes the body goes through when it’s going through PMS, as well as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a stomach ailment that affects a lot of women. 

According to a 2018 research paper published in the Journal of Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, around 10 to 20 per cent of Indians suffer from IBS, out of which only 20 per cent seek medical care. Most don’t report it because they either think of it as the usual bad stomach, or worse, are embarrassed by it. It’s no wonder then that they are searching for answers and solutions on social media. Instagram has almost 1.5 million posts with the hashtag #IBS. On TikTok, videos hashtagged #bloating collectively have over 518 million views. Videos hashtagged #IBS have more than 840 million views. Social media, and women who chat about IBS, have now made it okay to quip about bloated, constipated and fart-ful days, leaving behind the apprehension one felt when talking about “unlady-like” things.

Breathing techniques like Uddiyana Banddha and Nauli help massage the abdominal walls and improve gut-related issues. Pics/Satej Shinde

“IBS is a syndrome caused by a spastic colon, where your intestine and your muscles around it end up contracting. That is why you have pain, gas and bloating. It’s an umbrella term under which a lot of symptoms such as abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhoea, constipation, gas and bloating can be factored in,” explains Dr Rebecca Pinto, who has 1,48,000 followers and is one of the expert influencers decoding IBS. “Diagnosing IBS is not very easy,” says Pinto. “This is because, if you see your intestinal linings and stomach under the microscope, and if you see the stomach of an IBS patient, it would look the same.” Pinto points out that while stress does not cause IBS, it definitely aggravates it. “The disease does not behave similarly for everyone. The symptoms are different and is based on the diagnosis,” says Consulting Nutritionist and Clinical Dietitian and Founder of Health Habitat, Prachi Shah, who has more than 13,000 followers on Instagram. She posts content and reels about dietary habits and nutrition, and says that the disorder can be classified under four different types—IBS-C (constipation predominant), IBS-D (diarrhoea predominant), IBS-M (mixed bowel habits)  and IBS-U (unclassified). Experts believe that the most common type suffered by women is the one constituting constipation, and it often affects women below the age of 50. “We have clients who are as young as 17,” says Chetan Arora, founder of Levelup for Women, that looks into women’s health and provides guidance for women with clinical reality like IBS, PCOD, PCOS and maternity. They have a specialised clinical dietician, exercise specialist and a nutritionist on board, all of whom are experts in women’s health.

Bengaluru-based Loveena Sirohi, 22, who is the co-founder and director of India Hemp Organics, which actively shares information about gut health on Instagram for their 20k followers, says that at first, she didn’t care too much about her situation, but after a few years of her stools not passing properly, feeling perpetually constipated, and bloated, she started keeping a diary that helped her document her bowel movements. “I realised that how what I was eating was affecting me. I also realised that due to this I was constantly low on energy levels, and it affected my work,” she says. She then took matters in her own hands, and figured a vedic perspective that helped her with her ordeal. She now has non-negotiable habits like eating cooked greens, and sleeping for eight hours, all tips that are shared on her page. “But it’s not one-shoe-fits-all. It’s very important to educate yourself. A condition like this one, can’t be fixed overnight. There is a lot of stigma. Gut health is important to address for an overall healthy you.”

Dr Rebecca Pinto, Loveena Sirohi, Prachi Shah and Chetan Arora

The reason why this disorder is common among women, says Pinto, is because the level of estrogen and progesterone keeps fluctuating, “because of our menstrual cycle and hormonal changes. These fluctuations cause decreased gut motility, which in turn result in IBS”. Another myth that she busts is that bad food habits lead to IBS. While that is partially true, there are other reasons as well. “It’s not only a food-related syndrome,” adds Shah, “Mental health plays an equal part as gut-brain connection is bi-directional and what you think and feel directly affects the brain positively or negatively.” Shah alludes to the butterflies one experiences in their stomach before an exam in school or college. Why does that happen? It happens because the brain is constantly pulsing; due to anxiety it makes you feel uneasy. 

Noel believes that women can now take control of the situation because conversations have become more open. In fact, the month of April is also regarded as IBS Awareness Month with its periwinkle ribbon. “I feel like we are headed in a better direction,” she says. “There have been voices talking about bloating so then women think they are not alone and they start talking about it too. This is powerful, the fact that you have a voice. We know that this needs to be normalised because bloating is common,” says Noel. Platforms like Levelup for Women are also actively working on creating more awareness about this disorder through their customised consultations. They have a 24/7 WhatAapp support group.

Pinto agrees that the power of social media has resulted in an increase in knowledge sharing. But we still don’t have the right kind of awareness, she thinks. “One in seven people in the world have IBS and still a lot of people around us don’t know what it is and whether they have it, because it is something that is yet to be diagnosed. It needs proper medical attention,” she says.

How to manage IBS

Mugdha Pradhan, nutritionist and CEO & Founder of iThrive

. Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol, caffeine, carbonated beverages, and dairy as they can trigger IBS
. Avoiding fried foods and extremely fatty, oily and spicy foods can provide great relief to the gut and the GI tract
. Foods like cabbage, broccoli, sugar and soy should also be avoided as they are difficult for the body to digest
. The best way to find a solution is to look and seek help from a good functional nutritionist, who looks at all aspects of digestion and nervous system health

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