IBS Diet

An IBS diet is vital for those suffering with irritable bowel syndrome. So often it seems like the things you eat bring on more symptoms, and if you know what to eat and what to avoid, it can make dealing with the syndrome a little easier.

What is IBS?

IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, also sometimes referred to as spastic colon, affects 10 to 20 percent of the population and is generally defined as a problem with the function of the colon (or intestines).

There's no visible problem when X-rays or endoscopes are used, so it is usually diagnosed by taking a history from the patient and using a process of elimination to learn that it is not some other health problem.

Symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain accompanied by a change in bowel movements—either diarrhea or constipation, sometimes both alternating.

Most people have mild symptoms that do not interfere with daily life. About 25 percent of those diagnosed have more severe symptoms that get in the way of normal activities more frequently, while five percent have frequent and intense problems that interfere with daily life regularly.

There are some drugs that can help treat symptoms of IBS (though the most popular, Zelnorm, was pulled from the shelves in March 2007 because of worries that the drug increased heart problems). Antidepressants are sometimes used for pain management, and stress relief is an important aspect of treatment as well.

Many people with IBS keep a food diary and monitor their symptoms that way, developing their own IBS diet based on the foods that seem to cause them the fewest problems.

Developing an IBS Diet

Most people with IBS who keep food diaries will soon discover that it's not one particular food that is causing them problems, but more accurately groups of food. When these categories are eliminated, many of the symptoms of IBS are as well.

These foods are most commonly cited as problematic in the IBS diet:

• High-fat foods
• Foods high in insoluble fiber
• Caffeine
• Coffee (even decaffeinated)
• Carbonated beverages
• Alcoholic beverages
• Milk and other dairy products
• Large meals
• Fried foods or greasy meals

The reason these food groups (and beverage groups) need to be avoided is that they either stimulate or irritate the bowels, leading to those unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms that IBS sufferers are so familiar with.

Not all of these groups will affect everyone with IBS in the same way, which is why it is important to keep a food diary and determine which foods are causing you the most problems.

Some people find that high-fat meat causes them problems, while alcohol or dairy products are less of an issue. Some find fiber helpful, others harmful. Developing your own IBS diet based on your symptoms will be vital for controlling your triggers.

Stress Relief

High-fat foods are not a good choice for the IBS diet.

It may seem strange to talk about stress relief as part of the IBS diet, but it is a vital component of feeling better for a lot of people. Some people only have IBS flare-ups when they are extremely stressed out, which creates a vicious cycle because you're worrying about when another flare-up is going to happen.

Doing your best to regulate the amount of stress that is happening in your life, or at least controlling how you deal with that stress, is a big help for controlling symptoms. You might want to consider an exercise program if you are not already working out, yoga or even therapy sessions to help you learn how to deal with stress better.

While stress and how you deal with it is not the only piece of the IBS puzzle, it does seem to have a big impact for a lot of people. So make sure you're keeping track of your mental state as well as what you eat and any symptoms that you have in order to help you and your doctor better discover your triggers and how to deal with them.

IBS is a chronic disorder, but it does not have to be a chronic problem. A little bit of research can go a long way toward controlling your IBS symptoms.