This is often the diagnosis given to a Doctor's patient when everything else has been ruled out (no cancer etc.) that might be causing stomach cramps, constipation or loose bowels. From there on it's a prescription and a trip to the pharmacy for ant-spasmodic drugs and pain killers. This state of affairs can go on for years.
Sadly I often find that very little work has been done by the Doctor to check into the eating habits of the IBS sufferer. In my view IBS is most often a symptom of both stress and poor diet.
Before resorting to the drugs (or even the local Hypnotherapist) try keeping a diary of the foods you eat. Are you taking in lots of un-processed foods, fresh fruit and vegetables? Or more likely, is your diet is poor in these areas? Are you drinking plenty of non-caffeine fluids? All of these things can help greatly in reducing the symptoms of IBS.
Top Tips
- Boost the fibre in your diet
- Eat wholemeal bread/rice/pasta
- Eat much more fresh fruit and vegetables
- Reduce the amount of caffeine you take (tea, coffe cola etc.)
- Reduce pre-processed food consumption to a minimum.
- Avoid sugar, Mono Sodium Glutamate (MSG) and aspartame style sweeteners in your diet.
- Think about taking a good quality vitamin supplement if your diet is poor at present.
- Get some gentle excercise every day, it will help to stimulate normal digestive activity
- Eat your main meal at least 3 hours before you go to bed
- Eat your meals at regular intervals throughtout the day, binging and then fasting is not helpful
- Learn a relaxation/stress reduction technique and then use it every day.
- If you can't get away from the stress in your life, consider going to see a professional who can help you find ways to deal with stress more effectively.
- Give yourself so 'me time' every day to focus on what you want rather than being focussed on what you don't want.
John Burns
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