Could Your IBS Have Started After Food Poisoning? Here's What You Need to Know

Ever wonder why your gut never felt quite the same after a bad case of food poisoning?

You are not imagining it — and you are definitely not alone.

For many people, IBS symptoms like bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, and gut pain start after a single infection. This is known as post-infectious IBS, and it is much more common than you might think.

How Post-Infectious IBS Happens

After a bacterial infection (such as food poisoning from undercooked food, contaminated water, or traveller’s diarrhoea), your immune system goes into high alert. It fights off the infection — but sometimes, it accidentally targets parts of your own gut’s nerve lining at the same time.

One key protein often caught in the crossfire is called vinculin, which plays a vital role in regulating your gut's movement. When vinculin is damaged, your gut cannot function properly. Movement slows down. Digestion becomes irregular. This creates the perfect environment for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) — a major trigger for ongoing IBS symptoms.

In short:

• You fought off the infection.

• But the gut never fully healed.

• Now, symptoms like bloating, pain, diarrhoea, or constipation persist.
  

Why This Matters for Your Gut Healing Plan

If your IBS started after food poisoning, your gut may need specialised care to fully recover.In my clinic, when I see signs of post-infectious IBS, we usually take a more targeted approach:

• Support gut lining repair with nutrients like glutamine and specific soothing herbs.

• Test and treat for SIBO if needed, since the risk is significantly higher.

• Rebuild gut motility (the natural rhythm of digestion) with evidence-based strategies.

• Strengthen the gut-immune connection to prevent further flare-ups.
  

Healing post-infectious IBS is absolutely possible — but it requires understanding how your gut’s history shapes your current symptoms.

You Do Not Have to "Just Live With It"

Many people are told they "just have IBS" and must manage it forever. But if your symptoms started after food poisoning, you deserve more answers — and a personalised plan to truly heal.

If this sounds like your story, I would love to support you in reconnecting with your healthiest, happiest gut. You can book a one-to-one consultation with me https://www.helenalutz.com.au/book