This content has been archived and may not be up-to-date

The Diet That Your Bowel Needs

Almost 45 million people suffer from this disease in the United States. Although the cause remains unknown, after its diagnosis the symptoms can be treated. In this article, find out about foods that can irritate the bowel. 

You’re at work and, suddenly, that abdominal discomfort returns and makes you squirm in pain. It doesn’t matter what kind of task you’re performing, the urgent thing is to get to the restroom. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) affects almost 15% of the U.S. population. According to records from the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, between 25 and 45 million people suffer from this disorder, for which the cause remains unknown. Two of three patients are women.

Stop Blaming Stress
There is a popular belief that associates IBS with stress. In fact, the first thing most people mention when they go to a clinic is that every time they’re managing excessive stress they get abdominal discomfort. However, experts explain that IBS is not triggered by a stressful situation, it occurs because of alterations in the normal interaction of the bowel with the brain and the nervous system, causing changes in the intestinal motility.

Despite the cause, many complications are generated in the lives of the people that suffer this condition. And this includes the emotional, social, and work areas. IBS is unpredictable and may cause symptoms that go from diarrhea to constipation.
Therefore, you should consult a gastroenterologist as soon as you notice the first signs of this condition.

Pay Attention to Your Diet
In many patients, symptoms appear right after having a meal. Curiously, the discomfort is not always triggered by the same foods.
The International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders believes that food is not the cause of IBS, but acknowledges that, as hormonal processes can cause the symptoms, some foods may stimulate reactions in the intestine. Among them are:
• High-fat foods
• Fried foods
• Coffee
• Alcohol
• Foods with high amounts of artificial sweeteners, like sorbitol or fructose

Among the foods that may worsen gas production (another symptom of IBS) are:
• Beans
• Cabbage
• Legumes (such as peas, peanuts and soybean)
• Cauliflower
• Broccoli
• Lentils
• Brussels sprouts
• Raisins
• Onion
• Bagels
• Insoluble fiber, which is usually present in cereals and whole grains

These are some of the foods that can trigger symptoms. Anyway, experts suggest keeping a journal with the meals, activities, and symptoms experienced each day, in order to establish an accurate pattern for each person. This will greatly help to know more about the condition and prevent its triggers.

The Diet That Your Bowel Needs

Share your opinion