Diet Treatment for IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder that causes cramping, constipation and diarrhea. You are more likely to get IBS if you are female and if you have a family member with the disorder. The cause has not been determined but certain foods seem to trigger symptoms, so altering your diet is an important part of the treatment for IBS.

Triggers

• Keep a food diary for several weeks that tracks the food you eat with the symptoms you experience each day. Over time, you may see a pattern forming that points to a particular food that causes your symptoms to worsen. Eliminate that food from your diet--- or at least limit the number of times you eat it. Food triggers vary from person to person, so you will have to find the ones that affect you. These cannot be determined with an allergy test as they are food insensitivities and not food allergies.

Fat

• Reduce the amount of fat in your diet, since foods that are greasy or high in fat are not tolerated very well. Grill or bake your meat and let the fat drain away while it cooks. Remove visible fat before cooking, and remove chicken skins before eating.

Lactose

• Eliminate dairy products from your diet for a few weeks to determine if your symptoms diminish. If so, you may be lactose intolerant or you may not be able to digest the fat in dairy products. You can also try using only fat-free dairy products and track your symptoms. If you are lactose intolerant, you may not be able to consume any dairy products including milk, cheese, butter, sour cream, cottage cheese and ice cream.

Sugar

• Avoid certain types of sugar like fructose that is natural to honey--- and fruit and fructans that are found in onions, wheat and green beans. Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol that is frequently used in chewing gum and sugar free candy. It can cause gas and abdominal discomfort.

Fiber

• Eat a high-fiber diet. Soluble fiber may help ease your symptoms, but it should be added gradually. Good sources of soluble fiber are potatoes, peas, oats and barley.

Gas

• Limit the amount of foods that are known to cause bloating and intestinal irritation like onions, beans, cabbage, broccoli, turnips, cauliflower, bananas, brussels sprouts, wheat germ, prunes and raisins.

Meals

• Eat smaller meals more often and avoid overeating. Drink plenty of water to keep your high-fiber diet moving through your bowels. Avoid drinking beverages that have caffeine or alcohol.