Monday, February 04, 2008
IBS Diet - Identifying IBS Trigger Foods and IBS Safe Foods
Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a disorder that didn't become commonly known until 1992. Although it is still largely a mysterious disease, it is now more easily diagnosed by doctors because more symptoms have been identified. Some symptoms of IBS include stomach cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. IBS is not a life threatening disease, but it can cause great discomfort, distress and embarrassment to people who suffer from it.
Many IBS sufferers claim that their symptoms of IBS are exacerbated by certain foods. If you have experiencing it, you will need to do some trial and error before you can identify exactly which food trigger your IBS symptoms. Keep in mind that the foods that trigger IBS in other sufferers may not trigger your IBS symptoms and vice versa. This is because this is a very individual disorder.
The first thing that most people do once they are diagnosed with IBS is get on a strict diet, avoiding most food groups. In general, this is not a good thing because it deprives the body of the necessary nutrients in order for it to function. If you have been diagnosed with IBS, the best thing you can do is start taking out the more common trigger foods from your diet. These foods include the following:
* foods high in oil content such as cooking oil, butter, spread, sauce, salad dressing, fried food and fast food
* milk and dairy products
* solid chocolate
* alcoholic drinks
* caffeinated drinks like coffee and soda
* foods that contain MSG, preservatives, additives, and artificial flavoring and sweetener
* sugar alcohols, which cause diarrhea
* foods like broccoli, corn and cauliflower that can cause gas
* starchy foods like potatoes, pasta, pumpkin, noodles and rice
While there are foods that can trigger symptoms of IBS, there are foods that are safe for people with IBS:
* foods that contain soluble fiber (e.g., oatmeal, rice, banana and white bread)
* foods that contain insoluble fiber (e.g., raw vegetables and fruits)
* tofu, which is a rich source of protein and is easily digestible
* probiotics, which provide good bacteria in the gut for strengthening the digestive system
If you are worried that you won't be able to eat foods you like because of your disorder, there's good news. You only really need to avoid IBS trigger foods for a while to give your digestive system time to stabilize. You can then slowly add back some foods into your diet. However, you need to do this one food at a time. If your digestive system accepts the food without triggering any IBS symptoms, you can continue consuming it. It can be very time consuming to identify the foods that are safe for you and the ones that can trigger your IBS symptoms, but there is no other way you'll find out.
Many IBS sufferers claim that their symptoms of IBS are exacerbated by certain foods. If you have experiencing it, you will need to do some trial and error before you can identify exactly which food trigger your IBS symptoms. Keep in mind that the foods that trigger IBS in other sufferers may not trigger your IBS symptoms and vice versa. This is because this is a very individual disorder.
The first thing that most people do once they are diagnosed with IBS is get on a strict diet, avoiding most food groups. In general, this is not a good thing because it deprives the body of the necessary nutrients in order for it to function. If you have been diagnosed with IBS, the best thing you can do is start taking out the more common trigger foods from your diet. These foods include the following:
* foods high in oil content such as cooking oil, butter, spread, sauce, salad dressing, fried food and fast food
* milk and dairy products
* solid chocolate
* alcoholic drinks
* caffeinated drinks like coffee and soda
* foods that contain MSG, preservatives, additives, and artificial flavoring and sweetener
* sugar alcohols, which cause diarrhea
* foods like broccoli, corn and cauliflower that can cause gas
* starchy foods like potatoes, pasta, pumpkin, noodles and rice
While there are foods that can trigger symptoms of IBS, there are foods that are safe for people with IBS:
* foods that contain soluble fiber (e.g., oatmeal, rice, banana and white bread)
* foods that contain insoluble fiber (e.g., raw vegetables and fruits)
* tofu, which is a rich source of protein and is easily digestible
* probiotics, which provide good bacteria in the gut for strengthening the digestive system
If you are worried that you won't be able to eat foods you like because of your disorder, there's good news. You only really need to avoid IBS trigger foods for a while to give your digestive system time to stabilize. You can then slowly add back some foods into your diet. However, you need to do this one food at a time. If your digestive system accepts the food without triggering any IBS symptoms, you can continue consuming it. It can be very time consuming to identify the foods that are safe for you and the ones that can trigger your IBS symptoms, but there is no other way you'll find out.
# posted by Medical Information : 12:32 AM
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