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Nutrition for IBS

People suffering from IBS need to pay more attention to their diet than other people. IBS is a functional disorder of the digestive tract characterised by abnormal bowel movements. The symptoms include diarrhoea, constipation or alternating diarrhoea and constipation along with abdominal pain and bloating. As bowel movements are directly linked with what we eat, analysing our diet is the first step to controlling IBS.

People with IBS have to make that what they are eating or drinking isn’t making their IBS symptoms worse and they also need to ensure that they are getting enough of the important nutrients and minerals for good health. This is particularly true in cases where diarrhoea is the most dominant symptom of IBS as many important nutrients may be excreted.

Some people with IBS may be reluctant to eat due to the effect that eating has on their digestive system. This can lead to malnutrition and many other health problems. One of the first things you can do to improve nutrition if you suffer from IBS is to keep a food diary for at least two weeks where you spend some time noting down exactly what you eat on a day to day basis and record any change in your IBS symptoms. This is essential in order to establish what foods help and what foods hinder as well as any other factors that may affect your symptoms.

Making dietary changes

From your food diary you should be able to identify any foods that irritate your digestive system so you can eliminate them from your diet. Common culprits include dairy products, wheat, citrus fruits, some vegetables and nuts.

Probiotics may prove helpful, particularly if you suspect that your IBS symptoms are linked to bacterial imbalances in the gut. These can be in the form of yoghurts and drinks or supplements.

Cut down on the amount of fat in your diet as this can help relieve abdominal pain and is better for your health in general.

Increase the amount of fibre in your diet, not in the form of bran, as research indicates that bran can indeed exacerbate the symptoms of IBS. The best form of fibre is the insoluble fibre. This can be found in fresh fruits and vegetables, barley, oats etc. and in supplement form. Ispaghula husk and also psyllium may prove quite effective for some people.

It would also be wise to make sure you are getting enough fluids. Most people don’t drink enough water as it is but it is particularly important to drink plenty of water if you are increasing the amount of fibre in the diet.

Take more exercise as this will not only relieve stress but will get the bowels moving more efficiently and will improve health in general.

Make sure you take the time to enjoy your meals and never ever be tempted to skip meals or overeat to the point that you feel bloated and full. This will only make your IBS symptoms more intense.

f you have IBS and are worried about nutrition, speak to your doctor or a qualified nutritionist for expert help and advice.