Often abbreviated IBS, irritable bowel syndrome is a common health problem, notes MayoClinic.com. Unfortunately, as many as 70 percent of the people who have the condition do not seek treatment because they are unaware they have it, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, or NIDDK. No cure is currently available for irritable bowel syndrome, but the people who realize they suffer from it can reduce symptoms by altering their diet and taking medications, if needed.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Features
Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are often similar to symptoms of other disorders, and they differ in severity and among people, explains MayoClinic.com. Common features of the condition include abdominal cramping or pain, chronic constipation and/or diarrhea, bloating, bloody feces, gas and white-colored mucus in your feces. Regardless of the specific signs, MayoClinic.com advises consulting a doctor if you have any symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome that persist. Such changes could indicate a serious health problem that requires medical treatment.
Foods to Avoid
Making dietary changes is one of three main methods for decreasing symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome, along with taking medication and practicing stress-reduction strategies, states the NIDDK. One approach to altering your diet is to avoid certain foods and beverages that can either cause or aggravate symptoms. Relevant items include alcohol, caffeinated and carbonated beverages such as coffee and soda, chocolate, and foods made with fat or milk such as cheese and fried chicken.
Foods to Eat
Just as some foods may worsen symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, other types of food may relieve certain symptoms of the disease. For example, foods that contain fiber can help decrease constipation because they make solid waste softer and, therefore, easier to pass through your digestive system, explains the NIDDK. Such foods include beans, breads, cereals, fruits and vegetables. If you decide to add more fiber to your diet, make sure you do so gradually in order to avoid potential side effects, which include abdominal discomfort and gas.
Selecting Foods
Changing your diet to manage symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome requires determining which foods you should and should not consume. To simplify the selection process, the NIDDK suggests maintaining a food diary to keep track of your eating habits. Things to note include the beverages and foods you consume each day, which beverages and foods make you develop symptoms, what those symptoms are and when the symptoms happen. Consulting your doctor to discuss the entries can then help you determine which foods trigger symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in you.
Other Diet Considerations
Modifying your eating habits in other ways can help relieve irritable bowel syndrome also. Besides adding fiber to your diet and avoiding troublesome foods, the NIDDK recommends eating more frequent but smaller meals to prevent the diarrhea and cramping that large meals can provoke. Additional possibly helpful changes include drinking more water, varying the foods in your diet and not using laxatives, points out the American Academy of Family Physicians website FamilyDoctor.org.
References
- FamilyDoctor.org: Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Tips on Controlling Your Symptoms
- MayoClinic.com: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: What I Need to Know About Irritable Bowel Syndrome
