Alexandra Burke has opened up about her hidden health battle and how she managed to “completely heal”.
The X Factor winner, 36, was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a common condition that affects the digestive system, in 2021.
It causes symptoms such as stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhea and constipation. These tend to come and go over time and can last for days, weeks or months at a time.
‘My IBS is completely cured and in a very good place. Before I didn’t have many healthy habits for fear of my IBS, but I completely changed that. And now, as a mother of two children, I make sure that my children create healthy habits from an early age,” Alexandra told daily star.
“It’s a whole domino effect, you have to take care of yourself and I wasn’t doing that at the time.”
Alexandra Burke has opened up about her hidden health battle and how she managed to ‘completely heal’
‘It’s no wonder I had IBS because I was so afraid that something felt strange in my body. But now I live a really healthy lifestyle.”
Alexandra, who has two children with her fiancé, Irish footballer Darren Randolph, previously spoke about her struggle with the condition on This Morning.
She revealed that she started having problems when she was in her early 20s, just after appearing on X Factor.
The singer admitted, “I got to the point where I felt out of control and it was an out-of-body experience,” but added that she felt too embarrassed to talk about it at the time even though she was in “agony.”
In 2021, Alexandra’s symptoms reached a new intensity while rehearsing for a tour of the show Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
The singer eventually sought medical help and was diagnosed with IBS.
She said: “The funny thing was that after having all these symptoms I also thought it was anxiety or something else that was triggering them.” Anxiety played a huge role in all of this.
‘I skipped meals before shows because all the pain came after eating. I would be hungry and then I would put on a show.
“It was so bad that I got to the point where I thought, ‘I can’t take this anymore.’
The X Factor winner, 36, was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a common condition that affects the digestive system, in 2021, but is now able to control it.
Looking back, Alexandra admitted she is surprised it took her so long to seek help.
“All the symptoms were there: the pain, cramps and bloating that followed every meal, but I didn’t realize it was IBS,” says Alexandra, who is speaking publicly about her illness for the first time. “As a person in front of the public, you want to maintain this perfect image.”
But he regrets not having consulted his family doctor sooner. “I didn’t want to bother her with something that I thought so many people were experiencing,” he said.
Alexandra is currently on cloud nine as she and and the footballer darren They announced their engagement last month after he popped the question.
The Strictly Come Dancing finalist shared the happy news of her engagement in September with snaps of her partner on one knee.
Alexandra looked stunning in a green lace midi dress for the romantic proposal, with a table covered in flower petals behind them.
The singer captioned the snaps with ring emojis as a host of stars wished the couple congratulations.
The couple welcomed their first child in June 2022 and their second in September 2023, and chose to keep their names private.
Speaking about their engagement, Alexandra added on Capital EXTRA Breakfast: ‘Don’t do it, it was magical! The commitment was very well thought out. Darren is… I didn’t even know how romantic he could be until that day!
‘The post we put on Instagram is ‘What a Wonderful World’ by Louis Armstrong. That’s my grandfather’s song and it came on right before it happened. And I thought, ‘If he doesn’t do it now, it will never happen to us. This is just an anniversary!’
Alexandra is currently on cloud nine as she and footballer Darren announced their engagement last month after he popped the question.
‘But when I went out on that terrace and saw him with the babies, oh my God. Oh my god. I just couldn’t stop crying! I’m starting to cry now, because he’s the man of my dreams.
So I’m just grateful. I am very grateful. Oh my God, I have him, my little family, and I couldn’t ask for more. God has truly blessed me.’
