Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder that mainly affects people with bad eating habits. Thereâ€s no certain cause of IBS but a person is diagnosed with IBS due to acute gastrointestinal infection that occasionally occurs in a bad case of food poisoning. Symptoms include chronic diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain that is relieved by a quick bowel movement and a bloated stomach. Basically, a person affected by IBS will not feel normal and will make more than needed trips to the bathroom.

Types of IBS Patients

* Diarrhea-predominant (IBS-D)
* Constipation-predominant (IBS-C)
* IBS with a regular stool pattern (IBS-A or pain-predominant)

The Fight against IBS

In a research conducted by the health organization, it has been found that IBS affects more women than men. The fight against IBS is often harder for a woman especially during her menstrual periods. IBS is basically the silent enemy attacking us when we least expect it. If not properly taken care of, IB patients may find themselves with a permanent back pain and other health problems.

For now, thereâ€s no permanent cure for IBS but in cases where patients have no control over this disease, they are prescribed several medications by doctors such as stool softeners and laxatives to help reduce IBS symptoms. But medications alone wonâ€t solve the problem. The problem can only be overcome with a good and healthy diet.

Healthy IBS Diet

Since thereâ€s no cure for IBS, patients are advised to keep a healthy diet so as not to trigger the symptoms. Several IBS sufferers may find it hard to stick to the diet but thereâ€s no other initiative to take when it comes to this. A healthy diet is the only option to keep IBS patients healthy, period! When observing a healthy IBS diet, patients of irritable bowel syndrome will be able to let the walls of their intestines grow stronger again. IBS patients are advised to note down their food intake in a diary so that they will be able to track down and know what food triggered their symptoms. Though the diet might go on for a long period of time, IBS patients will come to realize that it was a worthy sacrifice when they are able to live normal again.

Donâ€ts in an IBS Healthy Diet

Itâ€s not possible to list down what are the foods that trigger the IBS symptoms as the reactions experienced from the IBS patients differ when it comes to consuming these foods. This is where the IBS food diary comes in hand.

Nevertheless, here are a few important instructions to follow for IBS patients on the road to a healthy diet. It is not necessary for every IBS patient to have the same reaction to the following foods.

Avoid

* Gassy Foods

It is important to avoid eating too much of food that will cause intestinal gas. The following forms part of the gassy food criteria:

* Vegetables (broccoli, artichokes, beans, cauliflower, green peppers, lentils, etc)
* Fruits (oranges, apples, raisins, prunes, bananas, etc)
* Milk Products (milk, cheese and anything containing milk)
* Whole Grains (barley, oat bran and wheat)
* Snack Foods (candies and gums with sorbitol, nuts and seeds)
* Caffeinated Drinks (coffee and sodas with caffeine)
* Carbonated Drinks (sodas)
* Fruit Juices (fructose, sucrose and sorbitol)

The foods mentioned here do not mean that IBS patients canâ€t take them but they should be able to know based on their experience on what they can or cannot take. If they are able to consume certain foods, they should do so moderately but if their system is not strong enough to take some of them then they should eliminate the intake of these foods in their diet until they are fit and strong enough to consume them.

Important Reminder

In order for a healthy diet to be effective on an IBS patient, certain daily habits such as chewing gum, smoking and heavy intake of alcohol should no longer be continued. Other than that, if a person affected by IBS is not confident of creating his/her own diet then he/she should consult a registered dietician for a proper suggestion.

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