IBS has been a cause for concern to a huge number of individuals because of how it affects a person’s appetite. People with IBS oftentimes don’t enjoy the foods that they eat due to the persistent pain and discomfort their body feels after a meal. IBS or is also known as irritable bowel comes with a variety of troublesome symptoms including cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation. Furthermore, IBS is under the category chronic condition which means that patients will need to deal with it in long terms.
Since food plays a predominant role with IBS, it is important for patients make the necessary measures to manage their eating habits. Let us look at some of the common eating mistakes that can make your IBS symptoms worse.
Erroneous Eating Habits
A slight change of eating pattern can result to your IBS to start acting up. For that matter, it is vital for patients to eat on a regular schedule. This does not mean that you must eat 3 times a day only as you will also need to have meal or snack every three or four hours after that to keep stomach active.
The way you consume your food will also play a huge role with your IBS. People who tend to eat their food in a hurry are more likely to suffer from IBS attacks. To avoid this, patients will need to relax and eat more slowly taking time to chew their food well. This in turn helps digest the food more easily.
IBS Diet Plans
Aside from eating regularly, it is also necessary to create a well-balanced diet. This diet consists foods that are rich in fiber such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains that are not only nutritious but also goes a long way in helping prevent constipation.
For some eating a high fiber diet may prove to be beneficial for their IBS. It should be noted that this can be a case by case basis. This means that there are also patients who will gain little to no effects with this type of diet. If you are in the latter, then you may want to pursue a low fiber IBS diet as an alternative. Instead of eliminating fiber entirely, you can concentrate on sources of soluble fiber. This can be found in foods such as apples, berries, carrots, and oatmeal. Soluble fiber is a great alternative because of their ability to dissolves in water. You can also get a good chunk of this type of fiber through whole grains, nuts, tomatoes, raisins, broccoli, and cabbage.
As mentioned earlier, IBS symptoms and its triggers can vary depending on their patients. For that matter, it is important for patients to take notes about their IBS triggers by creating a journal documenting the cause of their attacks. Doing so will help give you to some extent an overview about your IBS. You can also share this data to your doctor as you work hand in hand in managing your symptoms.