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Eating with IBS

Eating ought to be a pleasurable experience and for most people it is, however for those who suffer from IBS it can be anything but. Painful stomach cramps and bouts of diarrhoea or constipation, excessive flatulence as well as indigestion, heartburn, headaches and nausea can destroy any enjoyment of food.

Many people ask if there is a special diet for IBS and the simple answer is yes there is, but it isn’t applicable to everyone. It is the diet that works for you. IBS is a complex disorder that affects everyone in different ways so just as there is no single trigger of IBS that applies to everyone, neither is there a single pattern to treatment nor is there a standard diet sheet.

Controlling IBS through diet

The first step to controlling IBS through diet is to take steps to eliminate the foods and drinks that overly stimulate your digestive system. The problem is, no two people will experience IBS in the same way and whereas one food may be tolerated perfectly well by one person, another may find themselves doubled up with painful stomach cramps and incapacitated by diarrhoea.

There are however certain foods that are known culprits and which are probably best avoided or consumed with caution and these include the following:

Red meat
Dairy produce
Fatty foods
Fried foods
Chocolate
Coffee
Alcohol
Carbonated drinks

It is important that you identify any additional trigger foods that make your IBS worse and take steps to eliminate them from your diet. The best way to do this is to keep a food diary for at least a couple of weeks and note down everything that you eat and drink and any affect that these foods or drinks have on your symptoms.

The following additional tips and guidelines will give you the best chance of controlling your IBS through diet.

Increase the amount of fibre in the diet although avoid bran as this has been found to make IBS worse in some people. The best sources of fibre are soluble fibre in the form of fresh fruits and vegetables and wholegrain cereals.

Drink plenty of water, at least two litres a day. Water is essential for healthy bowel functioning and particularly important when the amount of fibre in the diet is increased.

Eat regular meals and have smaller portions and take time to enjoy your food. Don’t eat for several hours before going to bed as this can cause additional digestive problems. Avoid the temptation to skip meals.

Never ever overeat as this will put unnecessary pressure on your digestive system and can result in heartburn, indigestion and worsening of your symptoms.

If you are overweight, try to lose some.

The good news is that for many people some modification to diet is enough to keep their IBS symptoms under control. However, others may find they need the help of medication too. In any event, speak to your doctor or a nutritionist for expert advice.