Each person is different, but there are a few general guidelines to follow on a diet for irritable bowel syndrome. Anyone who suffers from IBS can recall one or two foods that make their IBS symptoms worse. There may be several other unidentifiable foods that may also trigger IBS symptoms.
Try eating several smaller meals throughout the day rather than having three large ones. This may help to reduce IBS symptoms. Some IBS sufferers note that after a large meal they may develop cramping and diarrhea.
Many people also find that it help to keep their meals high in carbohydrates such as pasta, fruits, cereals, whole-grain breads, rice and vegetables. They also want to eat low-fat meals. A high protein, low-fat diet may also help reduce the pain that is experienced after eating.
These are some foods that can trigger attacks of IBS:
o Alcohol
o Artificial fats
o Coconut milk
o Dairy products
o Fried foods
o Dark meat and poultry skin
o Shortening
o Artificial sweeteners
o Carbonated beverages
o Coffee- even decaf
o Egg yolks
o Oils
o Red meat
o Solid chocolate
Fiber
Soluble fiber has various benefits that may help to reduce IBS symptoms. Because fiber seems to keep the colon slightly distended, spasms may be prevented. Fiber absorbs water. This helps the stools from getting too hard so that you may have difficulty in passing them. You should add just enough fiber to your IBS diet so that stools remain soft and are easy to pass. When first going to a high fiber diet, you may notice an increase in bloating and gas. However, these symptoms should subside as your body adjusts which could take a few weeks.
Sources of Soluble Fiber
Here are some sources of soluble fiber that you should consume on your IBS diet:
o Barley
o Currants
o Figs
o Fresh peas
o Citrucel
o Oatmeal
o Prunes
o Raisins
o Sourdough bread
o Brown rice
o Dried beans
o French bread
o Oat bran
o Pasta
o Metamucil
o Rice
o Soy
These are some foods that may cause excessive gas so you want to try to avoid these on an IBS diet at first. You may then add them slowly back into your diet, one by one, to see if any one is the reason for your symptoms:
o Beans
o Brussels sprouts
o Cauliflower
o Leeks
o Onions
o Bananas
o Broccoli
o Cabbage
o Garlic
o Nuts
o Raisins
Lactose Intolerance
When a body is unable to digest milk sugar, or lactose, the condition is known as lactose intolerance. Some of the symptoms include bloating, gas and even pain. If you suspect that you may be lactose intolerant, then you should avoid milk and all dairy products and see if your symptoms improve. You must be sure that your body receives enough calcium in other ways – through calcium supplements or eating other calcium rich foods.
Probiotics
Consuming lactobacillus acidophilus or “friendly bacteria” may also be an aid in digestion. This helps to maintain the “good” bacteria in your intestines. You can easily find these “good” bacteria in yogurt. Yogurt is also a good source of calcium, and is better tolerated than some of the other milk products.
Food Diary
You may be up against a big challenge when it comes down to figuring out what food will either harm or help IBS. When you are on a diet for irritable bowel syndrome, the best thing for you to do is to keep a food journal. You will be able to easily tell which foods are safe to eat and which foods may trigger your IBS symptoms.
Remember to try and stick to your diet for irritable bowel syndrome. You may just be pleasantly surprised at how your symptoms are relieved with the proper diet.
Article written by Jessica Bradbury, she has a site dedicated to bottom line information on IBS, including common diets for irritable bowel syndrome [http://www.ibs-information.com/common-diets.html] and the cure for irritable bowel syndrome.
