Exploring the Diet for IBS

The Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is somewhat a common abdominal discomfort disorder that is characterised by change in bowel behaviour, abdominal discomfort and pain, and bloating. It must be acknowledged that the causes of this syndrome are not yet fully defined but by limiting one’s diet to particular foods that can easily be digested, one can help reduce the effects of this condition. It is said that the best way to overcome IBS is consuming foods low in fat but rich in fibre. Soluble fibers help strengthen the walls of the intestines to ease bowel movements. Good sources of soluble fibers include nuts, oat bran, barley, dried peas, psyllium husk, apples and oranges, flax seed and vegetables like carrots. According to research, there is no one right or wrong IBS diet. This is because what works for one person will not necessarily work for the next person. However, there are some general guidelines on foods one would rather avoid. Gluten foods should be the first off the list. Gluten is a sticky protein found in barley, rye and wheat, and thus bread, pasta and processed foods like sausages, ham and crisps are a no-go zone. During digestion, gluten sticks onto the intestines linings thus aggravating the condition. Dairy products follow suit along with caffeine drinks, spicy and oily foods, red meat and nitrogenous foods such as onions, beans, broccoli, garlic, cabbages etc. Sugary foods should also be avoided because their saccharine structure is normally hard to digest. A recommended IBS diet regimen is similar to the bariatrics approved diet. The foods in this regimen are sugar free, gluten free and aspartame free. The bariatric diet also includes drinks and snacks that are low in calories, high in gentle protein and low in carbohydrates, which makes it very suitable for persons with extra sensitive intestines. When shopping, you should go for bread and cereals that are quoted to be “whole grain”. Some bread types contain bran which as stated earlier is a good source of soluble fiber but you should be careful because to some people bran is a digestive irritant. The IBS diet should also contain uncooked vegetables other than the ones mentioned above. Cooked vegetables take up to 26 hours to go through the digestive system compared to the uncooked ones that take only an average of 12 hours. If you feel that you need the bariatrics approved foods to supplement your diet, you can easily access high quality and affordable products over the internet at www.bariatricfoodproducts.com. For more information about Bariatrics please visit www.bariatricfoodproducts.com