One common misconception that has been around for centuries is that irritable bowel syndrome is caused by eating certain kinds of food.
However, this notion couldn’t be any more false. The truth is that Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder meaning that the problem lies in your bowels and not really on your food intake. In fact, even until now, no known cause has been pinpointed to trigger this syndrome.
“Now that’s cleared up, most people would be wondering, so is there a connection between food and irritable bowel syndrome at all?”
As a start, some foods do indeed trigger irritable bowel syndrome even though they might not directly cause it. Some of the symptoms that can be triggered include abdominal problems, diarrhea or constipation as well as sudden changes in bowel movement. Below is a list of foods that can trigger these symptoms.
1. High fatty content foods
Avoiding food with high fat content can help avoid irritable bowel syndrome. Ideally, the fat intake should be below25 percent because fat is known to be either a great or worst stimulant for digestion. The moment fat is introduced into your stomach, your colon immediately starts contracting and since irritable bowel syndrome has more to do with intestine function, this reaction thus triggers the problem.
2. Coffee
This included decaf! People think that decaf is so much better, but it actually contains the same enzyme that irritates the gut. Regularly drinking coffee can trigger bowel irritation since it contains caffeine.
3. Alcohol
Okay, so this is an exception. You can take it in as long as it’s done in small amounts. However, it can also function as an irritant especially if it is drunk without taking in food first.
These foods do trigger symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome; however, there are also different kinds of food that help minimize this problem from happening.
Food with high fiber content is essential to keep your digestion steady. Some people refrain from eating foods with soluble fiber content because they think it is a laxative, but the fact is that it is more of a stabilizer. It prevents diarrhea and constipation from happening.
Most people see only the negative and think that the food causes the problem. However, it should be known that food alone does not cause irritable bowel syndrome. A person going through this only needs to look for the right kind of food that helps minimize this problem from happening.
Taking in insoluble fiber can trigger irritable bowel syndrome. However, insoluble fiber can also be found in fruits, which are regular foods that health conscious individuals eat.
So most people will need to choose about the nutrition these kinds of food provide or the pain that they cause.
One way to get around this is balancing your diet. By eating enough food that contains soluble fiber, you can minimize irritable bowel syndrome from happening. Plus, you still get the nourishment that your body needs.