- Home
- |
- Articles
- |
- Health Directory
- |
- Ask a Question
- |
- MediFind
- |
- Yoga
- |
- Vitamins
- |
- Health Tips
- |
- Herbs
- |
- Contact Us
IBS Diet & Symptoms
IBS
Often confused with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a condition where the bowels become irritated with no physical signs or explanations (whereas IBD shows inflammation of the intestinal tract). Because of this, IBS is difficult to diagnose, and multiple visits to the doctor may be necessary.
The causes of IBS are yet unknown, although research shows that it may be linked to certain brain signals not getting to the intestines, or being distorted along the way. Some studies of IBS show that there may be link between IBS symptoms and certain food allergies.IBS Symptoms
IBS symptoms can vary from patient to patient, but some of the more common signs include abdominal pain and diarrhea. Also knows as spastic colon, IBS can cause some or all of the symptoms listed below:
• Abdominal pain, cramping
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Flatulence
• Bloating
• Mucus being passed through the rectum
In many cases, the symptoms of IBS (abdominal pain, flatulence and bloating) are relived once stool has been passed. In some cases, these symptoms are ongoing and severe. It is important to note that some symptoms of IBD are not the same as IBS. Therefore if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, see your physician immediately:
• blood passing with stool
• vomiting and nausea
• weight loss
• fevers
Even if you are not experiencing the IBD symptoms above, you should always consult your physician when experiencing any of the symptoms listed in this article.
IBS Diet
Although the cause of IBS is not known, it has been shown that changing your diet can help reduce the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Here are some general diet tips for reducing your IBS symptoms:
• Avoid the following foods:
o Fatty Foods: Stay away from fatty foods, and lessen your overall fatty food intake.
o red meat
o egg yolk
o dairy
o fired food
o pop or soft drinks
o alcohol
o insoluble fibre
• Eat soluble fibres such as rice cereals, squash, pumpkin, parsnip, turnip, potatoes, yams, mangos, bananas
• Eat small portions, leisurely
In addition to the Irritable Bowel Syndrome diet suggestions above, keep a journal of what you eat and when you have symptoms. By slowly eliminating foods that eat when you have symptoms, you can slowly get a handle of your symptoms and sometimes eliminate them altogether.
IBS and Stress
Besides diet, there are other triggers that cause your symptoms to erupt, most notably stress. Although it is unlikely that stress is the cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, it definitely plays a part in symptom activation and triggering. Clinical studies show that stress alone can cause symptoms to surface, causing speculation on diet related causes. Nonetheless, keeping yourself stress free and properly managing your stress can cause symptoms to go into remission. It is important to mention that menstruation can also cause IBS symptoms to occur, which are often misdiagnosed as menstrual bloating and aching.
