Foods for IBS – What You Should Know

November 15th, 2010 | Foods for IBS | No Comments »

We all live in a world full of delicious foods, everywhere we look at there is a good restaurant, fast food corner or pastry shop for us to hang out and even when we go for grocery shopping, we are being presented by different kinds of foods. All these places give us the certain high to crave for something good. However, not all these are healthy and good for our health. When choosing our food, we have to be keen about it and know if it is included in the list in the good foods for IBS.

IBS or known as the irritable bowel syndrome is a digestive problem that may lead to severe constipation. We all know for a fact that being constipated is not good for our body since the toxins are trapped in our body which causes uneasiness in our lives. From the word, irritable, it is yet very irritating for we cannot function like how we normally do. With that, we need to avoid the kinds of foods that make our bowel movement irregular and so as to get rid of the uncomfortable situation.

There are a lot of foods for IBS that can help us but it is easier if we focus on the different kinds of foods and beverages that we have to avoid in order to get rid of the problem. Every day, we get to incorporate these kinds of food in our diet not knowing that these are already the causes of having IBS or irritable bowel syndrome. In order for us get away with it, we have to at least avoid or lessen our intake of the trigger causing foods for IBS as much as possible.

The different studies presented on the foods for IBS by nutritionists and the medical researchers that need to be avoided are quite of a number. However, if we want to address the problem when it comes to IBS, we have to be very serious about it and try our best to minimize the consumption of IBS causing foods. Red meat, artificial sweeteners, fried foods like French fries, drinking too much coffee and beverages with alcohol content, dairy products which causes problem to those with lactose intolerance and fruits and vegetables that are said to produce more gas in the system.

IBS or irritable bowel syndrome can be given a solution if we are serious of getting rid of it. With the different causing foods for IBS that are presented to us in our daily lives, we have to see to it that we should not abuse our system. With that, we have to be more conscious with what we eat and to think merely of our health.

Contrary to the belief of many, there is no such thing as the correct diet plan when it comes to choosing the foods for IBS that can help because we have our own preferences. What is important is that we know when and what kinds of food we have to avoid.

Diets for IBS – Detailed Guidelines

November 12th, 2010 | Diets for IBS | No Comments »

Observing diets for IBS sufferers contributes in managing and controlling IBS. IBS, which stands for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is a functional disorder in the digestive system. Whenever food enters in the stomach, symptoms, such as diarrhea, constipation and bloating, may activate. For this reason, eating has been a big problem for IBS patients.

Although, there is no particular food that causes IBS due to different reactions of individual to various kinds of food, it is still recommended that you follow diets for IBS. Here are some tips recommended by patients who are suffering from IBS:

• HIGH-FIBER INTAKE. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber, since fiber absorbs water and adds magnitude to the large intestines for easier and frequent bowel movement in which abates constipation. Increase in intake of high fiber foods should be bit by bit in order to avoid excess gas. High fiber diet is the most common dietary recommendation for diets for IBS patients.

Though for some patients, increasing fiber in their diet can actually worsen symptoms. Thus it is advisable that you consult your dietitian first before changing your diet.

• ELIMINATE food that contribute or may worsen diarrhea. Foods that are high in fat, dairy products that have lactose, gas-producing, high sugar content, caffeinated drinks, and alcoholic beverages should be avoided in order to lessen diarrhea.

• DRINK plenty of fluids. It is important to drink six to eight glasses of water (1.5liters) per day. As we all know, water is the major source of fluid, though for some IBS sufferers, diluted tea or juices are more suitable for them. Seeing that fiber absorbs water, it is really important that you drink lots of fluid for the reason that it helps halting dehydration for diarrhea and constipation.

•    PRACTICE eating in a pleasant and relaxing environment. One of the contributors of IBS symptoms outburst is stress. For this reason, it is very much helpful if you eat in a quiet and soothing place. Food may have a great contribution in IBS symptoms flare up, but a simple act of eating can also affect. Therefore, it is important that you include how you eat in your diets for IBS. You should eat in small amounts. Chew your food painstakingly. To prevent bloating, do not swallow air.

• KEEP a daily journal on your diets for IBS. Having a daily diary of you diets is the key in handling your IBS. This will help you determine which food is safe for you and which is not. Through your diary of your daily diets for IBS, you can try to eliminate one food that causes symptom burst at a time. And coordinating with your doctor will keep you on a balanced and pain-free diet.

Diet is a personal experience, thus it is important that you make your own diets for IBS diary to keep you in control with your IBS. Diets for IBS provide prevention from pain and discomfort caused by your IBS.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Diet – Your Basics Guide

September 3rd, 2010 | Irritable Bowel Syndrome Diet | 1 Comment »

Do you know that irritable bowel syndrome diet is the best and most effective way of dealing with the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition that affects around ten to twenty percent of the population in the US alone? Seventy percent of this ten to twenty percent are said to be women. The irritable bowel syndrome is manifested by different symptoms including constipation, explosive diarrhea, and abdominal pain, among others. If you want to learn more about the irritable bowel syndrome diet, continue reading this article.

There are two main symptoms of the irritable bowel syndrome: diarrhea and constipation. Diarrhea is caused by the spastic contraction of the colon while constipation is caused by the freezing up of the colon. Because these two IBS symptoms are diet related, the best way to deal with them is to go for irritable bowel syndrome diet which mainly involves reducing or probably eliminating the intake of stimulants or irritants such as caffeine, alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee, and chocolate, since they all cause either stimulation or irritation of the GI tract that causes the irritable bowel syndrome. The irritable bowel syndrome diet is about healthier food choices in order to reduce the IBS symptoms, because as mentioned earlier, there is no exact cure for IBS.

The IBS diet or the irritable bowel syndrome diet also proposes frequent meals in a day. What does this mean? How can this help? It’s simple. As mentioned, the irritable bowel syndrome is actually caused by the irritation of the GI tract and aside from eating irritants or stimulants; GI tract can also be irritated by large and fat-filled meals. Thus, it is a good idea to switch to 5 or 6 meals a day instead of the traditional 3 meals a day. Just make sure you eat in smaller portions so that the amount of your 5 or 6 meals is similar to or close to the total amount of the 3 meals a day. If you decide to use the irritable bowel syndrome diet to deal with the IBS symptoms, you need to make healthy and conscientious food choices. It is a healthy idea to eat more lean meats, whole grain breads, vegetables, and fruits, to make sure your stomach is kept balanced to prevent any IBS symptoms from flaring up.

Some dietitians suggest that your irritable bowel syndrome diet must be rich in fiber in order to reduce the IBS symptoms. Fiber sources such as peaches, apples, carrots, broccoli, peas, cabbage, kidney and lima beans, cereals and whole-grain breads can round out your irritable bowel syndrome diet. Eating the fiber before any other foods when the stomach is empty is good to reduce the IBS symptoms. You might think that it is hard to follow the IBS diet; however, once you have learned the food you can and you can’t eat, it will be much easier for you to reduce the IBS symptoms and to learn the triggers.

By and large, the irritable bowel syndrome diet is all about healthy eating. If you exert the effort to avoid the trigger foods as well as to eat healthy, low-fat, small-portioned meals, then there will definitely be a decrease or significant reduction in your irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to avoid eating the foods that you want. It simply means making smarter food choices to prevent having IBS attacks. In the end, it is still up to you to care for your stomach!