Help for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Sufferers

January 9, 2010 by mbelcher · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Irritable Bowel Syndrome IBS 
Irritable bowel syndrome is not a life threatening illness; however, it can be very uncomfortable and can cause many individuals to begin staying at home instead of dealing with the problems that can arise while in public such as diarrhea. Diarrhea is just one of the symptoms that can be embarrassing and often painful. Other symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome include constipation, cramping, abdominal pain, and bloating. The problem is often seen in more women over the age of 35 than in men or other ages.

The causes of irritable bowel syndrome are unknown at this time; however, it is believed to have something to do with either the colon or large intestine being sensitive to specific foods or either due to stress. Other speculations may be the immune system may be trying to fight off an unseen infection that is not really present.

As far as anyone can tell a few things, do make the symptoms worse such as some medications, alcoholic drinks, eating huge meals, chocolate, caffeinated drinks, barley, rice, wheat, and stress.

This is another one of those ailments that is hard to pinpoint, as there is no test available that will ensure that a person has irritable bowel syndrome. In the majority of cases, your doctor will have to do an elimination process with all kinds of tests to eliminate various diseases and disorders before coming to the conclusion that you do in fact have irritable bowel syndrome. Some of the tests that will have to be administered include x-rays, stool samples, colonoscopy, and blood tests. Once all other problems are eliminated, he or she may decide you have irritable bowel syndrome.

During the testing period, you may be prescribed various medications to help with the symptoms such as medications for diarrhea, constipation, or gas.

The best treatment available for irritable bowel syndrome consists of changing your diet along with learning how to manage stress. The only way to truly know what foods may be causing the problem you will need to keep a diary. In this diary, you will need to write down all the foods you eat and the times you eat. Then if you notice symptoms arising the next day, you will have to eliminate foods until you learn which ones may be causing the symptoms to occur. Of course, this will be a tedious task, as you will more than likely eat several things in a day. However, eliminating items that are known to cause the symptoms in the beginning, will help you narrow down the ones that cause your symptoms. Another option to consider is having a food allergy test.

While you are working on your diet and managing stress, your healthcare practitioner will more than likely prescribe medications to aid in relieving the discomfort. Many IBS sufferers find relief using all-natural supplements instead of medications. Websites such as healthremedies.com can provide information and supplements that can help you learn how to alleviate the symptoms while changing your diet until all the symptoms have disappeared. A few of the supplements that have aided other irritable bowel syndrome sufferers include probiotic supplements, ginger, DGL, and herbal digestive remedies.



By: Valerie Balandra

About the Author:

Valerie Balandra is a nurse practitioner that believes in utilizing holistic approach to health and nutrition. For more information, visit lab tests online, symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, and digestive support.



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Cure your Ibs Symptoms Through Ibs Diet

July 30, 2009 by mbelcher · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Irritable Bowel Syndrome IBS 
Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a disorder that didn’t become commonly known until 1992. Although IBS is still largely a mysterious disease, it is now more easily diagnosed by doctors because more symptoms have been identified. Some symptoms of IBS include stomach cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. IBS is not a life threatening disease, but it can cause great discomfort, distress and embarrassment to people who suffer from it.

Many IBS sufferers claim that their IBS symptoms are exacerbated by certain foods. If you have IBS, you will need to do some trial and error before you can identify exactly which food trigger your IBS symptoms. Keep in mind that the foods that trigger IBS in other IBS sufferers may not trigger your IBS symptoms and vice versa. This is because IBS is a very individual disorder.

The first thing that most people do once they are diagnosed with IBS is get on a strict diet, avoiding most food groups. In general, this is not a good thing because it deprives the body of the necessary nutrients in order for it to function. If you have been diagnosed with IBS, the best thing you can do is start taking out the more common IBS trigger foods from your diet. These foods include the following:

* foods high in oil content such as cooking oil, butter, spread, sauce, salad dressing, fried food and fast food

* milk and dairy products

* solid chocolate

* alcoholic drinks

* caffeinated drinks like coffee and soda

* foods that contain MSG, preservatives, additives, and artificial flavoring and sweetener

* sugar alcohols, which cause diarrhea

* foods like broccoli, corn and cauliflower that can cause gas

* starchy foods like potatoes, pasta, pumpkin, noodles and rice

While there are foods that can trigger IBS symptoms, there are foods that are safe for people with IBS:

* foods that contain soluble fiber (e.g., oatmeal, rice, banana and white bread)

* foods that contain insoluble fiber (e.g., raw vegetables and fruits)

* tofu, which is a rich source of protein and is easily digestible

* probiotics, which provide good bacteria in the gut for strengthening the digestive system

If you are worried that you won’t be able to eat foods you like because of your disorder, there’s good news. You only really need to avoid IBS trigger foods for a while to give your digestive system time to stabilize. You can then slowly add back some foods into your diet. However, you need to do this one food at a time. If your digestive system accepts the food without triggering any IBS symptoms, you can continue consuming it. It can be very time consuming to identify the foods that are safe for you and the ones that can trigger your IBS symptoms, but there is no other way you’ll find out.



By: Jen Miller

About the Author:

Are you looking for an IBS Cure ?Then it is vital to first have a good knowledge of what IBS is and how to mange it. Symptoms Of IBS is a comprehensive resource with lots of information on Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Jen Miller is a health and fitness enthusiast. She currently runs a website at http://www.symptomsofibs.org to help people deal with IBS in their lives.



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