The irritable bowel diet makes living easier for an estimated 15-20% of all Americans who have Irritable Bowel Syndrome-- a devastating and incurable condition. Fortunately, Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms (pain, diarrhea, constipation, bloating) can be controlled by adhering to this special diet.

The irritable bowel diet is likewise beneficial for inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis, plus diverticulosis and diverticulitis.

Despite the fact that diet plays a direct role in gut function (which is instinctively obvious to IBS sufferers, who are desperate for a reliable diet as they know this will help them), many doctors fail to give their patients any dietary guidelines for Irritable Bowel Syndrome at all.

Worse still, much dietary information available for Irritable Bowel Syndrome is outdated and useless - or likely to trigger symptoms (have you been told to eat bran? lots of raw veggies for fiber? this is wrong!)

The proper Irritable Bowel Syndrome diet (and yes, there is one - IBS is not so highly individualized that no accurate generalizations can be made) makes a world of difference for almost everyone with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. For many, the IBS diet makes the difference between living a normal, happy, outgoing life versus spending every single day stuck in the bathroom enduring blinding pain, bowel dysfunction, bloating, and other Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms.

More information on irritable bowel syndrome is available at http://www.helpforibs.com/diet/

The good news about irritable bowel diet is that it does not mean deprivation, never going to restaurants, bland food, or an unhealthily limited diet. Nor does it mean living on "rabbit food" available exclusively at health food stores, or following brutal elimination diets, or keeping endless food diaries for the rest of your life.

How Do Diet and Stress Affect IBS?

The potential for abnormal function of the colon is always present in people with IBS, but a trigger also must be present to cause symptoms. The most likely culprits seem to be diet and emotional stress. Many people report that their symptoms occur following a meal or when they are under stress. No one is sure why this happens, but scientists have some clues.

Eating causes contractions of the colon. Normally, this response may cause an urge to have a bowel movement within 30 to 60 minutes after a meal. In people with IBS, the urge may come sooner with cramps and diarrhea.

The strength of the response is often related to the number of calories in a meal and especially the amount of fat in a meal. Fat in any form (animal or vegetable) is a strong stimulus of colonic contractions after a meal. Many foods contain fat, especially meats of all kinds, poultry skin, whole milk, cream, cheese, butter, vegetable oil, margarine, shortening, avocados, and whipped toppings.

Since diet is one of the easily identifiable culprits of IBS, the irritable bowel diet is especially indicated.

How Does a Good Diet Help IBS?

For many people, following the irritable bowel diet lessens IBS symptoms. Before changing your diet, however, it is a good idea to keep a journal noting which foods seem to cause distress. Discuss your findings with your doctor. You also may want to consult a registered dietitian, who can help you make changes in your diet. For instance, if dairy products cause your symptoms to flare up, you can try eating less of those foods. Yogurt might be tolerated better because it contains organisms that supply lactase, the enzyme needed to digest lactose, the sugar found in milk products. Because dairy products are an important source of calcium and other nutrients that your body needs, be sure to get adequate nutrients in the foods that you substitute.

Irritable Bowel Diet

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Information on this site is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or dietitian. Information and statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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