Irritable bowel syndrome is a common chronic illness affecting many people. It can cause chronic and devastating symptoms. Doctors don't know for sure exactly what causes the condition, and there is no specific cure, but changes in the diet can make a difference in how a sufferer feels. Outlined below is an overview of how nutrition can help and hinder irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), including specific foods to avoid and ones to include in your diet.
Those who have the disorder often innately know that there are some foods that make the symptoms worse and others that make the food better. There are relatively clear guidelines for what you should eat if you have IBS in order to minimize the symptoms.
Controlling the Gastrocolic Reflex is Key
One of the problems is that there are no single foods that definitely cause symptoms in IBS. There are, however, broad categories of foods that really need to be avoided if one wants to have improvement in the symptoms. This includes foods that are fatty, have much insoluble fiber, are high in caffeine, anything with carbonation, coffee, or alcohol. All of these foods are considered gastric stimulants or irritants and are liable to cause strong reactions of a person's gastrocolic reflex.
A gastrocolic reflex involves the spasm of the muscles around the colon, leading to pain, diarrhea, constipation, excessive gas, and bloating. The trick in minimizing IBS symptoms is to avoid eating foods that trigger the reflex. It doesn't mean there is nothing good to eat or you are limited to just eating healthy foods. In the case of IBS, a food diet is not necessary unless you encounter chronic problems. Eating well, however, does mean learning the safest foods to eat, and knowing how certain foods affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Trigger Foods for IBS
Here is a look at some foods that affect the GI tract in patients with IBS. There are no hard and fast rules, but there are certain foods that are triggers more than others.
- Red Meat. This includes any food that comes from hooved animals.
- Poultry. This includes only dark meat and the skin. White meat that is skinless and seafood are perfectly acceptable.
- Dairy products. This includes all kinds of dairy products, including butter, cheese, and yogurt. There are proteins like whey and casein that are considered to be triggers in dairy products.
- Egg yolks. The whites of eggs are considered to be perfectly acceptable.
- High fat foods. This is a long list that includes fried foods, anything battered and fried, shortening, margarine, salad dressings, mayonnaise, whipped cream, coconut milk, any kind of solid chocolate, coconut, nuts and nut butters, pie crusts, pastries of any kind, corn or other chips, or olives.
Fatty foods are not always easy to identify. Think about fat when you eat cookies, certain crackers, pancakes, and even some servings of mashed potatoes. It is especially difficult when you are eating in a restaurant to know exactly what contains fat and what doesn't. If you really want to do your homework, ask your waitress to point out low-fat recipes on the menu.
A Healthy Diet for IBS Patients
Eating a healthy diet is one of the best ways to combat IBS. A good alternative is to buy your food from the health food aisle of your grocery store. Become good at reading the labels as to how much fat and dietary fiber is in the food. Soluble dietary fiber is not bad for IBS. It is the insoluble dietary fat that wreaks havoc on the bowels. Also look for fat free alternatives of regular foods, like fat free crackers or fat free bread.
Unfortunately, it does take time and effort to help control IBS symptoms. Many patients suffering with the illness will agree that the time spent reading labels and making informed decisions is worth it. IBS can be quite painful, and if you know how to avoid triggering the symptoms, your quality of life will be that much better.
Note: This article is not intended to be solid medical advice. It is an informational piece only. Always consult with your doctor for advice on a proper diet for IBS that is specifically designed for you.
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