Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), otherwise known as spastic colon, is a digestive condition with no clear cause, but dietary, psychological and genetic factors have all been implicated.
IBS is usually characterized by various symptoms including: Diarrhoea Constipation Abdominal pain Bloating Flatulence IBS is usually diagnosed after other disease is excluded IBS is often the diagnosis given when other possible contributing conditions (e.g. colon cancer and Crohn’s disease) have been excluded. Therefore it is important if you have any of these symptoms to first check with your doctor that it isn’t anything more serious. There are various dietary changes you can make if you feel you have IBS -Avoid refined starches – white bread, cakes, biscuits and mashed potato can all make problems such as bloating and constipation worse. Rather choose higher fibre, less refined starches such as seed bread, jacket potatoes, oats and bran flakes. -Drink enough water – water is essential for proper digestion. Therefore not drinking enough can exacerbate constipation and bloating. -Avoid fatty foods – a high fat intake can exacerbate diarrhoea. -Avoid artificial sweeteners and carbonated drinks – these can both make bloating worse, and sweeteners can also cause diarrhoea. -Take probiotics – these are “good bacteria,” which are found naturally in the gut and help the body digest food. However, their levels may be reduced by stress, infection, antibiotic use, or incorrect diet. Replacing these bacteria has been found to aid digestive function and to improve symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea and flatulence. Probiotics are available in capsule form from most pharmacies. IBS can be an uncomfortable and embarrassing condition to have, but it can be dramatically improved by dietary and lifestyle changes, resulting in better digestive function and an overall better sense of wellbeing. http://all4women.co.za/health/irritable-bowel.html
4 Comments
Cosmo magazine reader
2/21/2010 11:18:19 pm
Lila I was pleasantly surprised to see that you have a website. I am a regular reader of Cosmo mag and saw your name in the interesting article in the new March edition about couples dieting together. I checked the internet and found your website. This IBS article interested me. When I am under stress I have terrible cramps but have no other IBS symptoms. Do you think that this is IBS and what can I do about it or do i have to make an appointment to see you? Thanks.
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Thank you for your comments and kind words. Cramps on their own may still be IBS, although if you are concerned it may be wise to consult a gastroenterologist who confirm the diagnosis of IBS and exclude any other causes. I think it'd be best if possible if you did make an appointment with me, so that we can investigate whether there any foods that may be causing the cramps and discuss appropriate dietary substitutions in the place of these foods.
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11/6/2013 07:11:54 pm
Because of posts like this I surf the internet and when I found you, the time I felt I was wasting, just turned my thoughts around and now I am thinking I invested my time in something really interesting.
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Lila BrukTMLila Bruk is a registered dietician, nutritional consultant and freelance health journalist. Click to set custom HTML
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