|  | Conditions Treatments | Digestive Health

Recommended IBS Diet

Managing irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, involves modifying your eating habits and choosing foods that won't trigger symptoms. Typical symptoms of IBS include abdominal bloating, flatulence, constipation, stomach pain and diarrhea. Different factors bring on symptoms such as stress and lack of physical activity. However, foods and beverages are primary culprits, and alleviating symptoms often involves sticking to a specific diet.

  1. Improve Symptoms With Fiber

    • Fiber can improve or worsen symptoms of IBS (too much fiber causes bloating and gas). Thus, it's vital to find a healthy balance. Chronic constipation is one sign of IBS; if you suffer from this symptom, you have fewer than three bowel movements a week or deal with hard stools. Incorporating more fiber into your diet can get rid of constipation and improve IBS symptoms. Adults ought to consume between 20 and 35 grams of fiber a day. The recommended daily serving can come from fruits, whole grains, nuts and vegetables. Fiber supplements are also available--take as directed. Drink eight glasses of water a day to make sure you are fully hydrated.

    Reduce Dairy Consumption

    • Lactose intolerance and irritable bowel syndrome go hand-in-hand. Eating or drinking milk products typically aggravates or brings on IBS symptoms. To ease discomfort and ward off an attack, limit your consumption of dairy, or completely eliminate dairy from your diet. Several products are available to assist the digestion process, and these are effective remedies for lactose intolerance. Take a lactose digestive enzyme before eating or drinking milk products (cheese, milk, yogurt and ice cream). If you limit your intake of dairy, take a calcium supplement to maintain strong bones.

    Other Diet Tips

    • Controlling IBS symptoms involves recognizing which foods and beverages trigger your digestive problems. Numerous foods are known IBS triggers. Aside from dairy products, problem foods include chocolate, spicy foods and fatty foods. Beverages to avoid with IBS include coffee, caffeinated drinks, sodas and alcohol. Because IBS trigger foods vary from person to person, you'll need to keep a record of your meals and attacks to identify factors that prompt your symptoms.

Digestive Health - Related Articles