Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder. IBS is not the same as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a more serious condition that causes inflammation in the digestive tract and can result in severe complications.
Symptoms of IBS include abdominal cramping or pain, bloating, gassiness and altered bowel habits. The cause of irritable bowel syndrome is currently unknown. It is thought to result from a combination of abnormal gastrointestinal (GI) tract movements, increased awareness of bodily functions, and a disruption in the communication between the brain and the GI tract.
What to eat when you have IBS?
Normally, the digestive system is an excellent and well-functioning mechanism. But when something goes wrong - the whole system suffers. To make it easier or to eliminate symptoms, a planned and well matched nutrition and diet can help.
Different diets may help different people with IBS. You may need to change what you eat for several weeks to see if your symptoms improve. Or it could take little more time. But, the main goal is to balanced and improve your food habits.
Specialists from Manhattan Gastroenterology NY recommend sach changes in your diet to help treat symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS):
eat more fiber
avoid gluten
follow a low FODMAP diet
Eat more fiber
Fiber may improve constipation in IBS because it makes the stool softer and easier to pass. You can find soluble fiber in beans, fruit, and oat products. And insoluble fiber is in whole-grain products and vegetables. Research suggests that soluble fiber is more helpful in relieving IBS symptoms.
To help your body get used to more fiber, add foods with fiber to your diet a little at a time. Too much fiber at once can cause gas, which can trigger IBS symptoms. Adding fiber to your diet slowly, by 2 to 3 grams a day, may help prevent gas and bloating.
Avoid gluten
Gluten—a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Foods that contain gluten include most cereal, grains, pasta, and many processed foods. Some people with IBS have more symptoms after eating gluten, even though they do not have celiac disease.
Low FODMAP diet
There is a special diet—called the low FODMAP diet. Some foods contain carbohydrates that are hard to digest. These carbohydrates are called FODMAPs.
For examples, they are apples, apricots, blackberries, cherries, mango, nectarines, pears, plums, and watermelon, or juice containing any of these fruits. Sach vegetables as artichokes, asparagus, beans, cabbage, cauliflower, garlic and garlic salts, lentils, mushrooms, onions, and sugar snap or snow peas. Dairy products such as milk, milk products, soft cheeses, yogurt, custard, and ice cream. Honey and foods with high-fructose corn syrup
You may try the low FODMAP diet for a few weeks to see if it helps with your symptoms. If your symptoms improve, your doctor may recommend slowly adding foods that contain FODMAPs back into your diet. You may be able to eat some foods with FODMAPs without having IBS symptoms.
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