The Gut Experts: ‘Women with gut problems used to be told by doctors it was all in their head. We want to change that’

Professor Barbara Ryan and Elaine McGowan — aka The Gut Experts — are on a mission to help women find a healthier, happier gut. Here, they talk about the secrets of separating fads from facts, the problem with ‘clean’ diets and why IBS sufferers are being let down by the health system

The Gut Experts, Professor Barbara Ryan (left) and Elaine McGowan. Photo: Conor McCabe

Katy McGuinness

‘There’s a lot of talk about gut health at the moment,” says Professor Barbara Ryan, “and everywhere you turn, people are saying, ‘Eat loads of fibre!’ and, ‘Feed your gut with good bacteria!’ That’s all fine and dandy; it’s good for most of us and reduces the risk of lots of diseases, but if you have a gut problem like IBS or Crohn’s or colitis, you cannot just feed your gut bacteria in a blind way by eating loads of fibre and kimchi — you have to be more specific.”

During their collective five decades of professional experience, consultant gastroenterologist Professor Ryan and her colleague, clinical dietitian Elaine McGowan — who have worked together at the Hermitage Clinic for 14 years — have treated over 60,000 patients. They reckon there has never been more misinformation and confusion around diet than there is now.