How To Eat Well And Avoid IBS

If you have ever suffered from irritable bowel syndrome you will know that it is no joking matter. You can go from feeling fine to being in agony in no time at all. In fact any kind of stomach ache is something you would rather avoid. If you want to know more about how to keep yourself feeling fine in the digestion department, please read on!

What is IBS?

IBS is short for irritable bowel syndrome and it is also known as spastic colon. This condition's symptoms are chronic abdominal pain and extreme discomfort with a bloated feeling. You will also probably experience constipation and diarrhea. So basically it is something you would like to avoid if possible. Some people are more prone to this condition than others, but all of us should try to eat correctly and avoid the chances of falling foul to IBS.

IBS Free Diet

Before you think about following diet you should be mindful that everyone has different tolerances and can react badly to certain foods. So you should tailor your diet around your own personal details, but you can use this as a rough guideline.

Fibre Issues

Fibre intake can cause problems for those of us who suffer from IBS and we can help our conditions by modifying this amount. There are two main types of fibre in our diets:


- Soluble Fibre – This is digested easily by our bodies

- Insoluble Fibre – Our bodies cannot digest this type.


Soluble Fibre Foods

- Oats

- Barley

- Rye

- Fruit including apples and bananas

- Carrots and potatoes


Insoluble Fibre Foods


- Cereals

- Bran

- Wholegrain bread

- Nuts and seeds


Avoid!

You should try and avoid all of the insoluble fibre foods if you suffer from IBS. If you suffer from IBS with constipation then you should try and increase the amount of soluble fibre foods in your diet.

Eating Advice

Your IBS issues may decrease if you try and follow these tips when it comes to your eating habits:

- Eat regularly and do not rush your meal times.

- Do not be tempted to skip meals and do not leave long periods between meal times.

- Try to drink at least two litres of water every day.

- Reduce your intake of alcoholic and fizzy drinks.

- Do not drink more than three cups of tea or coffee per day.

- Do not eat more than three portions of fresh fruit per day.

- If you suffer from diarrhea try to stop eating cereal for six weeks – see if this helps.

- Try to avoid all processed foods as they contain resistant starch and this can cause IBS.


Exercise for IBS

Regular exercise will help to relieve the symptoms of IBS and will make you feel better as a result. You should aim to exercise for about thirty minutes per day. This exercise needs to be strenuous enough to increase your heart rate and make you perspire.

Need a simple, non-invasive breath tests to find out whether you have fructose, lactose and sorbitol malabsorption and small intestine bacterial overgrowth? Take the test from Stream Diagnostics, Australia's leading provider of hydrogen/methane breath tests.