IBS Information
Your Online Resource for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Posts Tagged ‘irritable bowel diet’

The Connection Between Foods & Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Monday, January 11th, 2010
Foods & Irritable Bowel Syndrome
The Connection Between Foods & Irritable Bowel Syndrome
There’s a common misconception that says foods cause irritable bowel syndrome. It says that the main connection between foods & irritable bowel syndrome is the fact that the illness is caused by eating certain foods. However, this is not true. Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder which means that the illness lies in the function of your bowels and not in the food that you eat. In fact, there is still no known cause of irritable bowel syndrome.
This leaves us with the question: what exactly is the connection between foods & irritable bowel syndrome?
First of all, even though foods are not the cause of irritable bowel syndrome, certain foods will trigger its symptoms. This includes abdominal pains, diarrhea or constipation, and sudden changes in stool frequency. Here are foods that can trigger these symptoms:
1) Foods with high fat-content– A person suffering from irritable bowel syndrome should try to keep the fat content of his or her food below 25 percent. This is because fat is simply the best (or worst) stimulant of digestion. When fat is introduced into your stomach, it immediately triggers your colon to start contracting. Since irritable bowel syndrome has more to do with the function of the intestines, this sort of reaction will trigger the symptoms of this illness.
2) Coffee – Don’t think that this does not include decaf! Many people do not know that decaf coffee still contains an enzyme that can irritate the gut. However, drinking regular coffee can be even worse, as caffeine is also an irritant. Put plainly, drinking coffee if you have irritable bowel syndrome would be akin to inviting pain into your life.
3) Alcohol – This is actually okay in small amounts like the amount used for cooking. However, it can be a very effective irritant especially if it is drunk on an empty stomach.
This, of course is not the sole connection between foods & irritable bowel syndrome. If there are foods that trigger irritable bowel syndrome, there are also foods that help minimize the symptoms.
Try eating foods with high soluble fiber content. Eating this type of food would aid the proper digestion of food. Some people are put off by the idea of eating soluble fiber mainly because it is said to be a laxative. However, soluble fiber is actually more of a stabilizer. It helps prevent both diarrhea and constipation.
People often tend to see the negative side of a relationship such as that between foods & irritable bowel syndrome. However, it should be stated that food per se will not trigger the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. A person with irritable bowel syndrome only needs to find the right types of food in order to minimize the symptoms of this illness.
Foods & irritable bowel syndrome need balance in order to benefit a person. Take insoluble fiber, for instance: many people know that insoluble fiber is a trigger for irritable bowel syndrome. However, it is also widely known that insoluble fiber can be found in fruits and vegetables –all healthy foods. A person is then faced with the dilemma of choosing between the nutrition provided by insoluble fiber foods and the pain caused by them.
However, by eating these foods with a quantity of soluble fiber, a person can easily avoid the pain of the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and still get the nourishment that he or she needs. And that is the connection between foods & irritable bowel syndrome.

There’s a common misconception that says foods cause irritable bowel syndrome. It says that the main connection between foods & irritable bowel syndrome is the fact that the illness is caused by eating certain foods. However, this is not true.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional disorder which means that the illness lies in the function of your bowels and not in the food that you eat. In fact, there is still no known cause of irritable bowel syndrome.

This leaves us with the question: what exactly is the connection between foods & irritable bowel syndrome?

First of all, even though foods are not the cause of irritable bowel syndrome, certain foods will trigger its symptoms. This includes abdominal pains, diarrhea or constipation, and sudden changes in stool frequency. Here are foods that can trigger these symptoms:

1) Foods with high fat-content– A person suffering from irritable bowel syndrome should try to keep the fat content of his or her food below 25 percent. This is because fat is simply the best (or worst) stimulant of digestion. When fat is introduced into your stomach, it immediately triggers your colon to start contracting. Since irritable bowel syndrome has more to do with the function of the intestines, this sort of reaction will trigger the symptoms of this illness.

2) Coffee – Don’t think that this does not include decaf! Many people do not know that decaf coffee still contains an enzyme that can irritate the gut. However, drinking regular coffee can be even worse, as caffeine is also an irritant. Put plainly, drinking coffee if you have irritable bowel syndrome would be akin to inviting pain into your life.

3) Alcohol – This is actually okay in small amounts like the amount used for cooking. However, it can be a very effective irritant especially if it is drunk on an empty stomach.

This, of course is not the sole connection between foods & irritable bowel syndrome. If there are foods that trigger irritable bowel syndrome, there are also foods that help minimize the symptoms.

Try eating foods with high soluble fiber content. Eating this type of food would aid the proper digestion of food. Some people are put off by the idea of eating soluble fiber mainly because it is said to be a laxative. However, soluble fiber is actually more of a stabilizer. It helps prevent both diarrhea and constipation.

People often tend to see the negative side of a relationship such as that between foods & irritable bowel syndrome. However, it should be stated that food per se will not trigger the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. A person with irritable bowel syndrome only needs to find the right types of food in order to minimize the symptoms of this illness.

Foods & irritable bowel syndrome need balance in order to benefit a person. Take insoluble fiber, for instance: many people know that insoluble fiber is a trigger for irritable bowel syndrome. However, it is also widely known that insoluble fiber can be found in fruits and vegetables –all healthy foods. A person is then faced with the dilemma of choosing between the nutrition provided by insoluble fiber foods and the pain caused by them.

However, by eating these foods with a quantity of soluble fiber, a person can easily avoid the pain of the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and still get the nourishment that he or she needs. And that is the connection between foods & irritable bowel syndrome.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Blog | Comments Off

Irritable Bowel Syndrome and the kinds of Food that Causes Them

Sunday, January 10th, 2010

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.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Blog | Comments Off

Important Facts on Irritable Bowel Diet

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome is considered to be a common disorder affecting the intestines. Common symptoms include stomach pain, bloating, gas, cramping and certain abnormalities in bowel habits.

Constipation is very common for some Irritable Bowel Syndrome patients while others tend to experience diarrhea. Still there are some that experience both. Eating fiber rich food can help control IBS symptoms however it should be introduced to the body little by little since it may trigger IBS symptoms.

It may also help if Irritable Bowel Syndrome patients may indulge in a low-fat/high fiber diet this can help them in eliminating constipation. Twenty to thirty-five grams of fiber included in daily diet can help control IBS symptoms.

Fiber-Rich Foods and Plenty of Fluids

You can find fibers in grains particularly bran, cereals, fruits, whole-grain breads and vegetables. Similarly there are also foods that are high in soluble fibers like peas, beans and oats that were also find out to help control constipation and diarrhea.

A word of advice for IBS patients: Always read food labels especially when purchasing cereals and breads make sure that they are made from whole-grain or whole-wheat. Similarly for meat dishes make sure that you add fibers like kidney beans, oatmeal, bran pinto beans, black-eyed peas and kidney beans. If you are to purchase ready to eat cereals make sure that it contain at least five grams of fibers.

In case of gas pain you may also purchase over the counter anti-gas pills. And of course don’t forget to drink lots of fluids. If you can follow the recommended eight glasses of liquid per day then so much the better. In terms of fluids you may take in water, fruit juices and even decaf drinks.

Likewise, take note of the instances where you usually experience IBS symptoms. Keep a record of the food that you take in during that time and try not to eat them again. If you can keep a food diary to help you in controlling your IBS then do so.

If you are used to eating large servings of foods per meal then divide it into smaller meals instead. Drinking multi-vitamins as well as mineral supplement especially those with one hundred percent US prescribed (RDI or recommended daily intake) may also help in controlling IBS.

But just like any type of medication it is important that you consult your doctor or your dietitian before taking in any medication. Same when taking in fiber supplement it is vital that you consult a doctor.

To avoid eating more try to eat your food slowly to digest the food well. Try to enjoy your food. And also refrain from drinking caffeinated and alcoholic beverages since they may cause diarrhea.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Flare-ups

IBS flare-ups calls for a low-fiber/low residue diet especially if it involves diarrhea. There are certain types of foods that tend to loosen up stools. Try to avoid these types of foods especially if you have diarrhea.

You may try to choose a different type of food or you may even adjust food temperature to help you in relieving diarrhea. These suggestions are not guaranteed to work in the same way for all IBS patients. Some may find relief while others may not. Just to be sure try to consult your doctors always before trying out some new methods to control your IBS symptoms.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Diet and Fitness, IBS Diet | Comments Off

Irritable Bowel Diet

Thursday, October 9th, 2008

A lot of people today are suffering from the illness known as Irritable bowel syndrome. Although irritable bowel syndrome is not fatal, this illness often changes people’s lifestyles drastically.

This is because the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome call for immediate attention when it is experienced. One way of controlling these symptoms is through a proper irritable bowel diet. Some people may say that “irritable bowel diet” sounds a bit dodgy. So let’s try to give it another name. How about diet for irritable bowel syndrome? It may be a mouthful, but it is okay for the ears.

People suffering from irritable bowel syndrome have these observations about food:

1) Some foods will definitely trigger the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Because of the knowledge that specific foods would definitely make their illness more uncomfortable, people learn how to avoid them.

2) Some foods okay to eat. People who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome try to find foods that do not trigger the symptoms of the illness. People who are able to find such foods do try to substitute these foods for the ones that they had to give up.

3) Some foods are unpredictable. There are instance when eating a certain food will trigger the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. However, there are instances when eating that same food will have no effect at all. People who experience this are left confused and they instantly think that they can rely on luck to help them eat a specific food without feeling anything.

Because of the third category, people are often reluctant to try and find the irritable bowel diet that’s right for them. This is also compounded by the fact that most people have been advised to try and find their personalized irritable bowel diet.

However, people need to understand that there are generic rules that they can follow in finding the right diet for irritable bowel syndrome. These tips will definitely help you find the irritable bowel diet that’s right for you:

1) Soluble fiber – Soluble fiber helps stabilize activities in your gut and prevents both constipation and diarrhea. Some people are reluctant to add soluble fiber to their irritable bowel diets because of the fact that soluble fiber is continually advertised to be a type of laxative. However, you should realize that soluble fiber will stabilize the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

2) Eliminate these foods from your diet:

a) High fat
b) Alcohol
c) caffeine
d) red meat
e) dairy
f) carbonated

If the food falls under one of those categories, do not eat it. It’s not worth the pain.

3) Make eating fun. Do not think of an irritable bowel diet as a prison which confines you. Think of it as your personal universe. Try to arrange and rearrange the different items in your irritable bowel diet to suit your mood. Think of ways you can substitute different foods for the ones that you had to give up. Remember that it is no use to think about the food that you cannot have and such thoughts will only lead you to despair.

4) If you are not sure about a specific food, then do not eat it. You cannot rely on luck to help you cope with the effects of Irritable bowel syndrome. Before you eat something that is not a part of your irritable bowel diet, ask yourself this question: “will the taste of this food be worth the pain of my illness?”

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in IBS Diet, IBS Symptoms | Comments Off

Site Menu

Recent Posts

Categories

Pages