Living With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Treatment for IBS can vary depending of the cause of the disease. However, most treatment plans call for some type of dietary changes. A typical irritable bowel diet may include avoiding such foods such as “gassy foods” like cabbage, salads, raw fruits and vegetable, sodas and carbonated beverages, nuts, seeds, broccoli and cauliflower may help reduce some of the bloated feelings common with irritable bowel. Some doctors also recommend taking fiber supplements to help keeping things moving along in the colon which will help relieve constipation. If your problem is with diarrhea, then anti-diarrheal medicines can help. In severe cases, prescription medicines can be used to treat diarrhea.

For alternative therapies for IBS, some people have found relief through yoga and relaxation therapy. Also, acupuncture helps some people, too, by focusing on the muscle spasms that can occur in the abdomen. Probiotics taken in a capsule or liquid form can help grow good bacteria in the gut which can promote healthy digestion.

Living With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

It is possible to live a healthy life with irritable bowel symptoms so long as you are willing to experiment with different diets and foods to see which ones make you feel better or worse. A daily food diary is a big help with this. Simply keep track of every food you eat throughout the day and also journal how you felt that day after eating those foods. You should soon see a pattern of which food to avoid and which foods make you feel good. With a detailed journal you will know definitely what to eat and what not to eat. Some people have found that fatty and greasy foods cause diarrhea so by avoiding fast food and junk food, they can eliminate their diarrhea. Other people have found that eating nuts and seeds causes them severe constipation. By eliminating these items from their diet can bring total relief. And other people may discover that certain combinations of foods may cause problems such as drinking sodas and carbonated beverages while eating fatty and greasy foods (a fast food restaurant combination!) causes their IBS to flare up.

So, while Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms can be uncomfortable, it doesn’t have to be life limiting. Work with your doctor to find which foods cause you problems and learn how to avoid these items. Work with a dietician or nutritionist to create a food menu that works for your situation.