While I was at university, I lost my grandmother to cancer and was facing several other personal challenges. The stress quickly took a toll on my health, and almost overnight, it felt like IBS set in. Foods that had once been easy to digest, like high-fibre beans and dairy, became a constant struggle. I was battling symptoms of sickness and constipation, and eating became a stressful experience. But I kept pushing through, pretending everything was fine, which only made matters worse.
A few years later, I stumbled across Dr Rossi’s book, Eat Yourself Healthy, and began following her on social media, keen to get as much advice as possible. Something clicked, and I knew it was finally time to make a change for the sake of my long-term health. With the guidance of a registered dietitian, I started the low FODMAP diet and carefully identified my triggers. As I slowly reintroduced foods back into my diet, my meals became more diverse and nourishing. Dr Rossi’s approach also emphasised managing stress, and I was amazed at the profound impact stress had on my symptoms. So I started doing more walking, yoga and journalling to help manage this.
Fast-forward to today, and my symptoms have almost completely disappeared. I can now easily hit the recommended 30g of fibre daily target and enjoy a much more varied diet, consistently reaching my 30 plant points a week. Most importantly, I’ve learned how to tap into the gut: brain connection and manage my stress more effectively, so eating has once again become a more joyful experience. I couldn’t have done all of this without discovering Dr. Rossi’s resources, and I’m forever grateful for the transformation they’ve helped me make.
