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How to Improve the Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010
Symptoms Irritable Bowel Syndrome
How to Improve the Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is called a “syndrome” because of the fact that a syndrome is characterized by having a certain set of symptoms. Symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome can vary from person to person and a doctor can only truly diagnose irritable bowel syndrome when he or she has examined the different symptoms experienced by a person.
However, may people who have Irritable bowel syndrome experience symptoms that are so mild that they do not really bother to call a physician. In fact, a person experiencing symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome would more likely attribute it to “bad food” than anything else.
There are cases when the symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome can interfere with one’s life. Symptoms of Irritable bowel disease such as diarrhea and abdominal pain could cause enough distraction that a person would want to seek some help.
How does a person get relief from these symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome?
1) Think about your symptoms – in order to control your symptoms, it is important to understand what these symptoms are. This is because Irritable bowel syndrome can have a variety of symptoms depending on the person. Some people may experience diarrhea, some people may feel constipated. Some people experience abdominal cramping while others may feel bloated.
Knowing about your symptoms can give you a guide to relieve those symptoms. By knowing specifically what symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome you feel, you can take the necessary steps to stop those symptoms from stopping you.
2) Choose a proper diet – What you eat is directly related to how you will feel. Once you know the symptoms of your illness, you can take steps to eliminate those symptoms. One of the best ways to do this is through eating a well-prepared diet. Depending on your symptoms, you can choose foods that will sooth you stomach and not cause further aggravation of the symptoms.
Since what you eat directly affects your digestive tract, you need to choose wisely. Some people say that you need to pinpoint what foods aggravate your Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms by eating each food and observing the effect. However, you do not really need to make yourself into a human lab rat in order to find the diet to soothe your irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Here’s a little tip for you: do not eat anything that’s high in fat, contains alcohol, or anything dairy. This is because these foods are likely to affect your IBS adversely.
3) Relax – many studies have shown that people who experience a lot of stress are likely to develop Irritable bowel syndrome. It may be because of the same reason that professionals today always keep some antacid on hand.
Stress triggers a reaction in your gut. It actually causes your stomach to release more acid and enzymes. This, of course, leads to very bad symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome. This is the reason why most people suffering from IBS today seek out relaxation therapies like acupuncture or yoga. By relaxing you will be able to make digestion a smooth process for your body.
By following these tips, you are sure to relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. In following these tips, you would be able to at least keep the pain of IBS away. Just because it is not curable does not mean you have to suffer its symptoms everyday.

Irritable bowel syndrome is called a “syndrome” because of the fact that a syndrome is characterized by having a certain set of symptoms. Symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome can vary from person to person and a doctor can only truly diagnose irritable bowel syndrome when he or she has examined the different symptoms experienced by a person.

However, may people who have Irritable bowel syndrome experience symptoms that are so mild that they do not really bother to call a physician. In fact, a person experiencing symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome would more likely attribute it to “bad food” than anything else.

There are cases when the symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome can interfere with one’s life. Symptoms of Irritable bowel disease such as diarrhea and abdominal pain could cause enough distraction that a person would want to seek some help.

How does a person get relief from these symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome?

1) Think about your symptoms – in order to control your symptoms, it is important to understand what these symptoms are. This is because Irritable bowel syndrome can have a variety of symptoms depending on the person. Some people may experience diarrhea, some people may feel constipated. Some people experience abdominal cramping while others may feel bloated.

Knowing about your symptoms can give you a guide to relieve those symptoms. By knowing specifically what symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome you feel, you can take the necessary steps to stop those symptoms from stopping you.

2) Choose a proper diet – What you eat is directly related to how you will feel. Once you know the symptoms of your illness, you can take steps to eliminate those symptoms. One of the best ways to do this is through eating a well-prepared diet. Depending on your symptoms, you can choose foods that will sooth you stomach and not cause further aggravation of the symptoms.

Since what you eat directly affects your digestive tract, you need to choose wisely. Some people say that you need to pinpoint what foods aggravate your Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms by eating each food and observing the effect. However, you do not really need to make yourself into a human lab rat in order to find the diet to soothe your irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Here’s a little tip for you: do not eat anything that’s high in fat, contains alcohol, or anything dairy. This is because these foods are likely to affect your IBS adversely.

3) Relax – many studies have shown that people who experience a lot of stress are likely to develop Irritable bowel syndrome. It may be because of the same reason that professionals today always keep some antacid on hand.

Stress triggers a reaction in your gut. It actually causes your stomach to release more acid and enzymes. This, of course, leads to very bad symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome. This is the reason why most people suffering from IBS today seek out relaxation therapies like acupuncture or yoga. By relaxing you will be able to make digestion a smooth process for your body.

By following these tips, you are sure to relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. In following these tips, you would be able to at least keep the pain of IBS away. Just because it is not curable does not mean you have to suffer its symptoms everyday.

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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.

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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.

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3 Ways To Life Happy And Healthy With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Friday, May 1st, 2009

3 Ways To Life Happy And Healthy With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Let me ask you something. What do Tyra Banks, Camille Grammer and Cybil Sheppard all have in common? They all suffer from irritable bowel syndrome ? along with about 20% of the rest of the population, according to recent studies.

I?m the IBS Diva. And I say having irritable bowel syndrome doesn’t have to be a death sentence. There are ways not only to cope but to thrive and live a happy, healthy life. Yes, I know, it can be a bit embarrassing at times ? always searching for the nearest bathroom whenever you go out, getting up in the middle of movies and only eating certain foods.

The IBS Diva doesn?t let that get in the way of her good time, though. And you shouldn?t let get in the way of yours, either.

Here are the IBS Diva?s three simple pieces of advice for coping with irritable bowel syndrome.

1. You?re still fabulous, honey. Act like it. Change your mindset about this functional disorder. You?re not an outcast. You?re a tough, no-nonsense leader. Believe it.

2. Don?t stress ? just rest. Just like the IBS Diva, you need your beauty sleep. Make sure you get at least eight hours per night. Let your body rejuvenate and heal during the night. Then you can wake up fabulous like the IBS Diva.

3. Keep searching. Even the IBS Diva searches for solutions for irritable bowel syndrome. Let?s face it. Having this disorder is no walk in the park. But there are ways to cope and live a happy, healthy life. Search for them while you?re on your journey to self acceptance. It can only help.

Honey, you have to look at irritable bowel syndrome as a challenge that you must overcome, not as a death sentence. With the proper mind set and a willingness to try new and effective dietary changes and medical solutions, you can live a healthy and happy life with IBS.

By: The IBS Diva

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

For the rest of the Diva?s no-nonsense advice on living with IBS, visit: www.ibsdiva.net. And remember, the IBS Diva says, ?Stay fabulous, baby!?

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Vitamins For Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Thursday, December 4th, 2008

The Effects of Vitamins for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can vary from person to person. There are people who experience symptoms of diarrhea with their irritable bowel syndrome while there are some people who experience constipation.

Because of this, there are different effects of vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome. Vitamins generally cause chemical reactions in the stomach and these reactions can either be beneficial or harmful to a person’s IBS. Here are some common effects of vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome:

1) Vitamin C ? Also known as ascorbic acid, this vitamin has a laxative effect. People should be careful in taking this vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome as it can cause diarrhea when it reaches the stomach. People already suffering from symptoms of diarrhea should monitor their intake of vitamin C very closely.

Taking this vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome may also cause gas and bloating. This occurs when the acid of the vitamin reacts with the alkaline setting of the lower intestinal tract. You can try to observe this reaction by dropping a couple of mentos on a glass of diet coke.

2) Calcium ? This vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome can have either a laxative or constipating effect on a person, depending on the type. People suffering from IBS should try to discover hat type of calcium is right for them:

a) Calcium carbonate ? This vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome contains no magnesium and can relieve symptoms of diarrhea. This is the best vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome which is prone to diarrhea (IBS-D).

b) Calcium citrate ? This type of vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome contains magnesium and thus, can trigger symptoms of diarrhea. This is the best for people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome which is prone to constipation (IBS-C).

A good advice to follow when taking calcium vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome is to keep the amount at a maximum of 500 mg. This is in order to prevent triggering symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. It is also a good idea to take this vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome with vitamin D as this helps in the absorption of these nutrients.

3) Iron ? This vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome can be quite constipating. People taking this vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome are also prone to stomach upsets. It is also a known fact that Iron interferes with the absorption of calcium.

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Intestinal Gas Among The Many Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome varies from one person to another, both in intensity and types. However, there are commonly appearing symptoms that are almost always present with all patients regardless of the mildness or aggravation of the condition.

Intestinal gas or bloating is among the many symptoms that may manifest if you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome. To better understand why this usually occurs among patients of IBS, let us discuss here conditions that are closely associated with intestinal gas.

Belching

Belching or betterly known as burping is the ability to expel intestinal gas through the mouth. This is usually caused by a bloated or distended stomach due to swallowed air.

This swallowed air will then cause abdominal discomfort, which will then be relieved through belching. Most patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome often experience abdominal bloating which in a way causes the aggravation of the condition through creating stress from painful stomach.

Aerophagia, on the other hand, is the excessive intake of air through rapid gulping of water or food and frequent intake of carbonated beverages.

Belching is somehow used to find relief for bloated individuals. However, there are many possibilities as to what causes the real ill concerning the intestine. If belching proved to be unhelpful, then this is a sure sign that something must be wrong in your intestinal tract. Excessive belching alone would not help determine the presence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome since it is usually associated with any other kind of abdominal disorders.

Bloating

While there may be some significant similarities between bloating and distention, it is still important to know that they are two different conditions.

Bloating is the subjective feeling that the stomach is quite larger than normal. Distention on the other hand is the actual experience of actual enlargement of the abdomen. Thus, both are closely related to any forms of abdominal discomfort.

It is, however, true that in many cases of distention, bloating may manifest.

There are three basic ways on which distention may arise: increase in abdominal tissue, air and fluid inside the abdominal tract. There are various diseases though that will trigger any of these three.

Flatulence

Farting or flatulence is gas passing through the anus. The gas that is concerned in here only has two sources: one is from the intestinal bacteria that thrive in the colon and the other is the swallowed air. The latter though rarely causes flatulence.

This intestinal bacteria produces gas after digestion of food (specifically the polysaccharides and sugars) that were not properly digested in the small intestine. The three most commonly maldigested sugars are sorbitol (common sweetener for low calorie foods), lactose (sugar found in milk which itself is considered as problematic food among irritable bowel syndrome sufferers) and fructose (sugar from fruits that is normally used as sweetener for drinks and candies).

Intermittent Abdominal Distention and Bloating

Apart from the bacteria that causes the production of intestinal gas, excessive and regularly-occurring bloating and distention can also be caused by physical obstruction.

Blockages in the intestinal tract can appear virtually from the rectum to the stomach. This may be due to scarring of the pylorus which can obstruct the complete emptying of the small intestine as the digested food passes through it towards the colon. This results to distention.

It may also be due to functional distraction, which by the way is the main reason why Irritable Bowel Syndrome occurs. This is due to the abnormality in the coordination of the intestinal muscles which causes further pain in the abdomen.

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