IBS Treatment
IBS Treatment
Can Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms Be Controlled Through Diet?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, is characterized by a set of symptoms which are not accounted for by other diseases.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is usually diagnosed when infection, Coeliac disease, parasites, food allergy, and lactose intolerance have ruled out. So, what is IBS Treatment.
There are two types of IBS- diarrhea-predominant and constipation-predominant. In both types, other symptoms include a feeling of urgency to evacute the bowels, a feeling that the bowels have not been fully evacuated, pain, cramping, bloating, and abdominal distention. Since the diagnosis is made by these sets of symptoms, there is no known cause, although it is generally agreed that stress can bring on these symptoms.
Since there is little agreement on the cause of these symptoms, there is no one diet which doctors recommend for those who suffer from IBS. In addition to stress, fatty foods and foods high in sugar often bring on attacks, so avoiding these is generally recommended.
Other suspected culprits are caffeine, alcohol, fructose, milk and milk products, gas-producing foods (such as beans, cabbage, and broccoli) and the artificial sweeteners sorbitol and xylitol, which are often found in sugar-free candies and gum. Since the symptoms of IBS and lactose intolerance are so similar, doctors often recommend cutting out milk and dairy products, just to be on the safe side.
They also advise keeping a food diary, writing down what is ingested each day so that the offending food may be narrowed down. They also agree that eating slowly in a quiet, relaxed atmosphere can help with symptoms. Now that we’ve identified foods to avoid, let’s review some foods which are recommended for those who have Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Probiotics are gaining popularity for all sorts of digestive tract problems. The word comes from the Greek “pro” (for) and “biotic” (life). Probiotics are the good bacteria which live in our digestive tracts and are essential to good health. Recently, yogurt and smoothies containing probiotics became available in every grocery store. Further dietary recommendations depend upon whether the IBS is constipation-predominant or diarrhea-predominant.
Fiber, both soluble and non-soluble, will help with constipation. However, many fiber-rich foods fall under the catergories of foods to avoid. Fruit contains fructose, and beans, cabbage, and broccoli are gas-producing. Non-gas-producing vegetables, whole grains in breads, cereals, and pastas would be good choices. Failing that, fiber supplements can be taken. Drinking plenty of water can also help relieve constipation.
When diarrhea is a problem, drinking plenty of fluids is also important to avoid dehydration. It is also a good idea to replace the electrolytes lost if the diarrhea is severe. Failure to do so upsets the balance of sodium and potassium in the blood. These are essential for the electrical rhythm of the heart to continue.
Avoid sports drinks for this replenishment, since they are also very high in sugar, which can be a culprit in IBS. Sugar-free sports drinks are available. Another good choice might be tomato or tomato-vegetable blend juices. Since each person is a unique individual, controlling Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms will be unique to each sufferer. Avoid stress, especially when eating, avoid foods high in fat and sugar, and keep that diary.
Base your dietary choices on the foods which leave you symptom-free, and also avoid those which give you problems.
Best IBS Diet
Best IBS Diet and my story.
This is going to be short and sweet because I know that you don’t want a sales pitch. This is the transcript of a recent interview about my Best IBS Diet.
Who are you? I’m Ross, and I am 62 years of age, male, and living in Ireland.
What do you do for a living? I am retired from business and now manage an online audiobook website.
How long have you had IBS? I’m certainly not blaming my good wife for this, but I got the first symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome the year we got married, that was in 1975. So IBS has been in my system for more than 30 years. 33 in fact. I sometimes see misspellings like bowl syndrome.
Have you any medical qualifications? None, just some first hand experience.
What symptoms do you suffer from? Right now, thankfully none. But I did have nasty toilet habits: Predominately constipation with occasional loose stools of an urgent nature. Worse than that was abdominal pain: Lower right hand side abdominal pain. Irritating in the evening causing bloating and belching. And, by far the worst part was about two hours after I went to bed , I would wake up with an excruciating pain in my abdomen. I spent many early mornings between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. walking about the house because I could not lie down. It felt like a build-up of gas that had no intention of shifting. The result of this was that I felt tired during the day due to a lack of sleep and a bit on the irritable side. Irritable bowel syndrome = Irritable behaviour syndrome
What action did you take? • Many visits to doctors, each costing €40 ($50) • Several visits to Consultants each costing €80 ($100) • Colonoscopy – Cost €800 ($1,000) • Medicine – Antispasmodal Pills, several brands. • Natural Remedies – Peppermint Pills, Digestive enzymes Betaine hydrochloride Multi vitamin/mineral Amylase (for digesting carbohydrates) Lipase Bromelain/papain and a multitude of other remedies recommended by health food shops. You name it, I’ve probably tried it.
What good did this do you? It emptied my wallet. However, the medical profession confirmed that I was suffering from IBS. Well, that did me some good because they also said that it was not a life threatening disorder. I think that diagnosing IBS is a case of ruling out other complaints. What Did The Doctors Recommend? Drink plenty of water, take lots of exercise and avoid stress.
So, how are you now? I haven’t had any IBS Symptoms in 15 months. As a result of all those pills and medicine? No, I haven’t taken a pill in 15 months So, what did you do? Well, I will tell you, and, I want others to benefit from what I have learned. Will your advice help others? It’s not advice exactly. My conclusion is that IBS It’s a simple diet change I made which I will tell you about and, I can only hope that it will help others. Having visited several forums, I feel sorry for those who are suffering with this disorder and most of them seem to be doing what I used to do, jump from one remedy to the next.
Sounds like there is going to be a fee? You’re right, I want to cover the cost of maintaining this website and the associated marketing costs.
Any testimonials? Afraid not. This website is brand new. Nobody else has tried this programme yet and, I’m not about to invent any testimonials. However, I hope that in time, some testimonials will filter through.
What guarantee can you give? Well, my guarantee is that if anyone does not feel better after 30 days of this simple programme, then they can email me and I will refund them their $7.
Did You say $7 ? Yes, I said $7.
That’s not so expensive. No, my reward will come when someone emails me and says, Hey, I’m feeling better. This would make me very happy.
So, is there a lot of reading in your programme? No, it’s only a couple of pages long and will take you about 5 minutes to read it.
So, apart from the €7 what other costs are involved? The change of diet should actually save people money because there are no drugs, pills, medicine or supplements involved. 
IBS in Younger People
Conquering Irritable Bowel Syndrome
ibs diet for younger people
| Research has shown that in fact, a great number of young people suffer from irregular bowel movement | |
| They also experience bloating and abdominal pains. Whether this is a sign of Irritable Bowel Syndrome is not clear as the disorder mainly affects the over thirties.Another factor that contributes to IBS with constipation is traveling since most people who are traveling tend to suppress the urge to go to the bathroom. There are also some cases where some people just cannot have a bowel movement in bathrooms that are not familiar to them. Psychology has an important part to play in this disorder. | |
Medications are applied for patients that have severe and recurrent symptoms of IBS with constipation. Nevertheless, medications like treatments need to be customized to suit various needs of the patient since different patients tend to respond differently to various medications. Psychotherapy is also applied to some IBS cases since stress sometimes affects bowel movement. Psychotherapy can provide assistance in coping with chronic illness and uncovering emotional triggers that may be present. If you suspect you are suffering with IBS, it is advisable to consult your primary care physician before taking any other steps.