Diet That Works for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

January 10, 2010 by mbelcher · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Irritable Bowel Syndrome IBS 
Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition that can be characterized with several symptoms. Hence, it is very important to reach to the root cause of the problem in order to determine better treatments to improve the condition.

First, it is very important to start on with a diet that’s meant to improve the condition. Understand that there are certain problematic foods that can trigger off symptoms such as bloating, constipation and diarrhea.

There is absolutely no standard diet that can be used by all those with irritable bowel syndrome. The problem and symptoms vary from person to person. Hence, the diet prescription varies accordingly.

However, there are certain common guidelines and food groups one needs to focus on in order to steer clear of irritable bowel syndrome. In case, a diet plan does not seem to work at all, you need to consult a health care practitioner.

Certain lifestyle change and the way one takes his or her meals should be altered. Usually people are accustomed to take three large meals in a day. This is where the problem arises.

Large meals have the tendency to cause strain and compaction inside the stomach. Hence, it is advisable to take 4-5 small meals in a day as compared to the traditional three regular meals. This habit will help in eliminating the root cause that’s responsible to trigger off irritable bowel syndrome.

One should also reduce the in take of fat-based foods. The fat is hard to digest. In fact, it gets digested in a slow pace. Poor digestion is one of the major causes of irritable bowel syndrome. When the food is not digested properly, it may cause gas inside the intestine. This results in the rise of many symptoms, thereby, aggravating the problem.

Dietary fat restricts the movement of gas slower from the stomach to small intestine. People may suffer from discomfort due to this interruption of a primary function of the body.

Doctors usually prescribe increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, wheat- based products and beans. All these food items work towards providing relief from gastrointestinal tract vices. Fiber intake improves the bulkiness of the stool. This further helps in easy and better removal of the stool.

An adequate fluid intake of at least 1.5 liters on a daily basis is very important. The major source of fluid intake must be derived from plain water. You may also opt for some amount of dilute tea or juices. One should steer clear of carbonated soft drinks and coffee.

Regular and light exercises are important for reducing symptoms. Here are certain food items you should avoid when on a diet for irritable bowel syndrome.

- Caffeinated drinks such as tea, coffee and soda

- Alcohol

- Wheat

- Carbonated drinks such as soda

- Dairy products

- Fried foods

- Citrus fruits

- Artificial sweetness

- Fatty food items

- Red meats

- Chocolate

- Gluten

You must take special care of including foods rich in fiber such as kidney, beans, lima beans, whole-grain breads and cereals

Also include a lot of fruits and vegetables in your irritable bowel syndrome diet.



By: Bertil Hjert

About the Author:

For more Articles, News, Information, Advice, and Resources about Irritable Bowel Syndrome please visit IRRITABLE BOWEL ADVICE and ACID REFLUX EXPERT



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Vitamins For Irritable Bowel Syndrome

January 7, 2010 by mbelcher · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Irritable Bowel Syndrome IBS 
The Effects of Vitamins for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can vary from person to person. There are people who experience symptoms of diarrhea with their irritable bowel syndrome while there are some people who experience constipation. Because of this, there are different effects of vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome. Vitamins generally cause chemical reactions in the stomach and these reactions can either be beneficial or harmful to a person’s IBS. Here are some common effects of vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome:

1) Vitamin C – Also known as ascorbic acid, this vitamin has a laxative effect. People should be careful in taking this vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome as it can cause diarrhea when it reaches the stomach. People already suffering from symptoms of diarrhea should monitor their intake of vitamin C very closely.

Taking this vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome may also cause gas and bloating. This occurs when the acid of the vitamin reacts with the alkaline setting of the lower intestinal tract. You can try to observe this reaction by dropping a couple of mentos on a glass of diet coke.

2) Calcium – This vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome can have either a laxative or constipating effect on a person, depending on the type. People suffering from IBS should try to discover hat type of calcium is right for them:

a) Calcium carbonate – This vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome contains no magnesium and can relieve symptoms of diarrhea. This is the best vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome which is prone to diarrhea (IBS-D).

b) Calcium citrate – This type of vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome contains magnesium and thus, can trigger symptoms of diarrhea. This is the best for people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome which is prone to constipation (IBS-C).

A good advice to follow when taking calcium vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome is to keep the amount at a maximum of 500 mg. This is in order to prevent triggering symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. It is also a good idea to take this vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome with vitamin D as this helps in the absorption of these nutrients.

3) Iron – This vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome can be quite constipating. People taking this vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome are also prone to stomach upsets. It is also a known fact that Iron interferes with the absorption of calcium.

Tips in taking vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome:

1) Try to get balanced doses of your vitamins – When buying supplements, make sure that those supplements deliver the right amounts of vitamins you need. It is important that a certain supplement does not contain a megadose of any vitamin as this could trigger symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

2) Always take your vitamins with food – It is important that you not take your vitamins on an empty stomach. Doing so could increase the discomfort brought about by the chemical reactions caused by the vitamins. This is especially true with acidic vitamins like vitamin C.

3) Consult a pharmacist – Remember that there are different effects of vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome. If you are unsure regarding which vitamin supplement to take, you should get help from a pharmacist in finding the mildest vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome.

4) Take separate vitamins separately – Vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome also react in various ways with each other. For the best absorption of nutrients, you should try taking vitamins one type at a time.



By: Janet Rusky

About the Author:
Janet Rusky is a health freak and as an ex IBS sufferer offers her hints and tips to manage this discomfort on her website. http://irritable-bowel-syndrome.nichetray.com



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Do Allergy Shots Help in Reducing the Allergy Symptoms?

October 25, 2009 by mbelcher · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Diseases And Conditions 
Itchiness, watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, and redness are some of the common symptoms that majority of the people experiences as allergy symptoms.

The most effective way to fight against particular allergen is immunotherapy or allergy shot, but some people will get frightened to get allergy shot.

Allergy shots hold a little amount of substance that fights against the particular allergen. For example, if the person is allergic to pollen, a small amount of substance called pollen will be added to the shot.

A small amount will be given so that the body will get used to fight against the allergen and if the body comes in contact with that substance next time, body will be familiar with that.

Who are not eligible to take allergy shot?

Allergy shots are not safe for everyone. Although most of the people experienced positive results from these shots, they are not suitable for all. People who are suffering from asthma, heart attack, and respiratory problems, pregnant women, and children under age of five are not recommended to receive allergy shot.

Alternatively, certain individuals are experiencing some side effects such as:

• Feelings of shock when the shot is initially injected

• Lightheadedness

• Nausea

So, for these reasons, the patient should stay in the doctor’s office for at least fifteen to twenty minutes after receiving the shot.

Benefits of allergy shots:

• Allergy shots improve allergic rhinitis, hay fever, bee sting allergies, drug allergies, and eye allergies.

• In some cases, allergy shots improve asthma symptoms also. The most common reaction to allergy shot is swelling at the place where the shot is given.

The success of this immunotherapy varies from person to person depending on the severity of the person’s allergy and the number of substances the person is allergic to.

In addition to the traditional allergy shots, there are new approaches to immunotherapy procedures to treat allergies.

Oral immunotherapy works similar to the allergy shot. In this method, increasing doses of allergen will be given to slowly build up the patient’s tolerance. The only difference with oral immunotherapy from allergy shot is with oral immunotherapy extract of allergen is used as drops. In this method, generally the drops are placed under the tongue and then swallowed.

Intranasal immunotherapy method involves intranasal administration of grass and house dust mite allergen extracts, which reduces the nasal symptoms such as “nasal allergy”.

The side effect with intranasal immunotherapy is nasal irritation. When compared to the traditional allergy shots, intranasal immunotherapy has no long lasting benefits.

Rush immunotherapy involves quick build up to the maintenance dose of extract. In this method of treatment, during early phase increasing doses of allergen will be given every few hours rather than a few days. Since there is a great risk involved with this rush immunotherapy, this should be done in hospital under close supervision.

Some people will experience severe reaction to the allergy shot, which is called “anaphylaxis”. In case of bad reaction with this shot, physicians will do appropriate treatment to stop this reaction.

Since allergy shots are not good for everyone, talking to the physician before taking this shot is more advisable. Visit Allergy Symptoms



By: Neelima Reddy

About the Author:

Allergy Asthma blog helps you learn everything you need to know about allergy relief. Know more about asthma control & protect yourself to improve your quality of life. Visit http://www.allergyasthmazone.com



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Ibs : What is Ibs or Irritable Bowel Syndrome ?

July 30, 2009 by mbelcher · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Irritable Bowel Syndrome IBS 
Irriatable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is characterized by symptoms of abdominal discomfort or pain, usually in the lower abdomen. Discomfort is often associated with a change in bowel pattern, chronic or recurrent diarrhea and constipation. When the irritable bowel syndrome is present, the pattern of motility becomes disordered because of excessive muscular contractions, which cause the pain and other problems to surface. Although these symptoms are distressing, irritable bowel syndrome is not a disease. The specific cause of IBS is uncertain, but it is believed that the intestines of people with irritable bowel syndrome may be more sensitive to stimulation than other people. Irritable bowel syndrome is the result of a complex interaction between psychological and physical factors.

Symptoms

As much as 20 percent of the adult population in America has symptoms of IBS, making it one of the most common disorders diagnosed by doctors. Although it can vary from person to person, researchers have found that women with IBS may have more symptoms during their menstrual periods, suggesting that reproductive hormones can worsen IBS problems.

Up to 70 percent of people suffering from IBS are not receiving medical care for their symptoms. Usually the first impression of discussing about IBS is embarrassing, however seeking professional advice is recommended and sometimes a simple diagnosis may be made on the basis of the symptoms and no diagnostic testing is required. Irritable bowel syndrome can be distressing and in many cases, these problems may last for a few days or weeks and then cease for months at a time. Some of IBS symptoms can occur at the same time, some may be more pronounced than others. Symptoms of IBS are usually produced by abnormal functioning of the nerves and muscles of the bowel. While anxiety and stress may aggravate symptoms, they are probably not the cause of them. Therefore it is important that an accurate and detailed description of the symptoms will not only help your healthcare provider detect other conditions that mimic IBS, but also help them recommend the best treatment.

Treatment

While there is no cure yet for irritable bowel syndrome , there are many ways to successfully manage and address these problems through safe IBS treatments. Unfortunately, many people suffer from IBS for a long time before seeking medical help. Treatment for ibs and its related symptoms may involve a combination of medicines such as laxatives, antidiarrhea medicines, tranquilizers, and diet changes. There are plenty of treatments that sufferers from IBS can use. One of these is Bowtrol Colon Cleanser. This herbal based product is safe to use and can effectively and naturally treat your ibs problem.



By: Bryan Gonzales

About the Author:

To get more information about IBS, visit www.bowtrol-review.com.



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