The bad news is: there are no cures for IBS; the good news is, only by changing your lifestyle and adhering to the natural health solutions I am about to give you will help to lessen the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Firstly, I’m sure you’ll want me to give you a few facts which will take the fear out of this painful condition. No matter how much you suffer the symptoms of IBS, it is NOT a disease and is NOT life threatening.
Not even the medical profession are really sure what the causes of irritable bowel syndrome are. Apparently, it affects women more than men and you can experience your first symptoms at any age from your teens on.
It is also known there are triggers which are contributors to your IBS flare-ups. Some of those nasty symptoms you have to endure include:
• Discomfort in the abdomen which comes in waves.
• Bloating, resulting in wind.
• Pains are spasmodic, varying from mild to severe.
• Spasms can come quickly and cause diarrhoea or come slow and cause constipation - or both.
• A rush to the toilet as soon as you wake; this may be several times with a feeling you have not really emptied your bowels.
• Feeling full after eating.
• Heartburn.
No one person has the exact same symptoms of IBS and you will become familiar with your own pattern of symptoms.
I am in no position to give you medical advice and I have no knowledge of your health situation. It is therefore vital you visit your health practitioner so they can diagnose you are actually suffering from symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. There is no actual test and the only reliable diagnosis is the symptoms you describe to your doctor.
So, as there is no known cause for the symptoms of IBS, as mentioned above, so what are the triggers?
It really boils down to your lifestyle: certain foods trigger IBS symptoms. Keep a diary of what you eat and record what brought on your symptoms.
Stress is another known trigger. The good news is, by changing your lifestyle, there are natural health remedies to minimize stress!
We’ll first talk about the foods that are most likely to cause you problems, not forgetting drinks, and then we’ll go onto the natural health solutions of certain foods which should cut down your IBS flare-ups to a much more manageable degree of comfort.
It has to be said, and I know you saw it coming if you smoke. Smoking is a no no. The problem is, whilst smoking, you draw in lots of air and you actually swallow it and this is highly sensitive to your digestive tract and can set off a spasm.
To decrease your symptoms of IBS and the number of flare-ups, you have to be a little kinder to yourself:
• Cut down on fatty foods.
• Avoid dairy foods, margarines oils and meats.
• Spicy foods, hot peppers will cause spasms and diarrhoea.
• Cut down on your caffeine found in coffee, tea, sodas and cola.
• Avoid foods that cause wind, such as: Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cabbage.
• Stay away from Artificial sweeteners which are included in sodas, colas and sweets which act as a laxative and will give you diarrhoea - check labels on cans and all food products.
• Alcohol can bring on flare-ups too.
This not an exhaustive list and some mentioned may not affect you at all.
There is no Irritable Bowel Syndrome diet; however, there are foods and drink that are much kinder to you than the above list.
Eat smaller amounts of food often. A cup or two of Peppermint Tea will relax and reduce spasms, however it is no good when you have heartburn. Ginger tea bags are good too. Or grate a half teaspoon of fresh ginger into cup. Let it steep in hot water for 10 minutes. Strain and drink.
If your flare-ups result in constipation, then a high fibre diet will help with passing hard stools. Drink plenty of water: 6-8 glasses daily. Insoluble fibre foods include: Eating fruits, such as: grapefruit, strawberries and apples.
Other good sources of fibre are beans, pulses, porridge, greens, whole grains and bran. These will all help reduce your symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Insoluble fibre won’t help you if your flare-ups result in diarrhoea; try to avoid them. Eating yoghurt will help though, or probiotic supplements.
Exercise is essential in dealing with the stress trigger. Take up Yoga and Meditation. My recommended site list on the left should be of interest to you.
Take care and I'll catchya later. Bye...
James Hamilton-Heenan
Firstly, I’m sure you’ll want me to give you a few facts which will take the fear out of this painful condition. No matter how much you suffer the symptoms of IBS, it is NOT a disease and is NOT life threatening.
Not even the medical profession are really sure what the causes of irritable bowel syndrome are. Apparently, it affects women more than men and you can experience your first symptoms at any age from your teens on.
It is also known there are triggers which are contributors to your IBS flare-ups. Some of those nasty symptoms you have to endure include:
• Discomfort in the abdomen which comes in waves.
• Bloating, resulting in wind.
• Pains are spasmodic, varying from mild to severe.
• Spasms can come quickly and cause diarrhoea or come slow and cause constipation - or both.
• A rush to the toilet as soon as you wake; this may be several times with a feeling you have not really emptied your bowels.
• Feeling full after eating.
• Heartburn.
No one person has the exact same symptoms of IBS and you will become familiar with your own pattern of symptoms.
I am in no position to give you medical advice and I have no knowledge of your health situation. It is therefore vital you visit your health practitioner so they can diagnose you are actually suffering from symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. There is no actual test and the only reliable diagnosis is the symptoms you describe to your doctor.
So, as there is no known cause for the symptoms of IBS, as mentioned above, so what are the triggers?
It really boils down to your lifestyle: certain foods trigger IBS symptoms. Keep a diary of what you eat and record what brought on your symptoms.
Stress is another known trigger. The good news is, by changing your lifestyle, there are natural health remedies to minimize stress!
We’ll first talk about the foods that are most likely to cause you problems, not forgetting drinks, and then we’ll go onto the natural health solutions of certain foods which should cut down your IBS flare-ups to a much more manageable degree of comfort.
It has to be said, and I know you saw it coming if you smoke. Smoking is a no no. The problem is, whilst smoking, you draw in lots of air and you actually swallow it and this is highly sensitive to your digestive tract and can set off a spasm.
To decrease your symptoms of IBS and the number of flare-ups, you have to be a little kinder to yourself:
• Cut down on fatty foods.
• Avoid dairy foods, margarines oils and meats.
• Spicy foods, hot peppers will cause spasms and diarrhoea.
• Cut down on your caffeine found in coffee, tea, sodas and cola.
• Avoid foods that cause wind, such as: Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cabbage.
• Stay away from Artificial sweeteners which are included in sodas, colas and sweets which act as a laxative and will give you diarrhoea - check labels on cans and all food products.
• Alcohol can bring on flare-ups too.
This not an exhaustive list and some mentioned may not affect you at all.
There is no Irritable Bowel Syndrome diet; however, there are foods and drink that are much kinder to you than the above list.
Eat smaller amounts of food often. A cup or two of Peppermint Tea will relax and reduce spasms, however it is no good when you have heartburn. Ginger tea bags are good too. Or grate a half teaspoon of fresh ginger into cup. Let it steep in hot water for 10 minutes. Strain and drink.
If your flare-ups result in constipation, then a high fibre diet will help with passing hard stools. Drink plenty of water: 6-8 glasses daily. Insoluble fibre foods include: Eating fruits, such as: grapefruit, strawberries and apples.
Other good sources of fibre are beans, pulses, porridge, greens, whole grains and bran. These will all help reduce your symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Insoluble fibre won’t help you if your flare-ups result in diarrhoea; try to avoid them. Eating yoghurt will help though, or probiotic supplements.
Exercise is essential in dealing with the stress trigger. Take up Yoga and Meditation. My recommended site list on the left should be of interest to you.
Take care and I'll catchya later. Bye...
James Hamilton-Heenan
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