Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a common gastrointestinal disease in which symptoms include abdominal pain and cramping, bloating, gas and diarrhea or constipation. The cause for IBS is not known, nor is there a cure. However, by making certain dietary and lifestyle changes, you can learn to control the symptoms of your condition.
Symptoms
Symptoms of IBS vary greatly from person to person. The most common symptoms are abdominal tenderness or pain, cramping, gas and diarrhea or constipation. Some people experience alternating diarrhea and constipation, making IBS even harder to treat. In addition, people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome may notice mucus in their stools.
Treatment
There is no known cure for irritable bowel syndrome. However, your physician may prescribe certain medications to treat your symptoms. Medications include over-the-counter laxatives or antidiarrheals, pain medication, or even anti-anxiety drugs, as IBS has been known to exacerbate under stress in some patients. By eating the right kinds of foods, exercising and reducing your stress, you may be able to control and manage the symptoms of your condition.
What to Eat
The American Dietetic Association recommends that you choose low-fat or fat-free dairy products and lean cuts of meat, poultry or fish. These foods have lower contents of fat, which can exacerbate diarrhea, gas and bloating. In addition, the ADA recommends that you eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, and monitor the ones that are not tolerated to avoid in the future. In general, you should also limit the amount of fat you use for cooking in order to decrease your intake.
What to Avoid
There are certain foods that should be avoided in order to control your symptoms. Caffeine, for example, is a known irritant and should be avoided when possible. Other foods that may exacerbate your symptoms include whole dairy and dairy products, marbled and deli meats, and poultry with the skin on. In addition, some vegetables are known to cause gas and bloating in certain patience, such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, leeks and onions. You should monitor your intake of these to see if you tolerate them well or if you are better off avoiding them. Finally, avoid prune or grape juice if you have diarrhea as these are high in sugars and may cause your symptoms to worsen.
Considerations
It might be helpful for you to keep a food diary so that you can monitor which foods worsen your symptoms and which are well-tolerated. In general, avoid frying foods or using too much fat for cooking. Also, you may want to try keeping a tight schedule for you meals and eating four to six small, frequent meals instead of two to three heavier ones. It is also very important to keep yourself well hydrated, especially if you have diarrhea. Increasing your fiber intake may help you relieve constipation. Just remember that if you are going to increase your fiber intake, do it gradually.
