Diets for IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder characterized most commonly by cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. IBS causes a great deal of discomfort and distress, but it does not permanently harm the intestines and does not lead to a serious disease, such as cancer. Most people can control their symptoms with diet, stress management, and prescribed medications. For some people, however, IBS can be disabling. They may be unable to work, attend social events, or even travel short distances.

The cause of irritable bowel syndrome is currently unknown. IBS is thought to result from interplay of abnormal gastrointestinal (GI) tract movements, increased awareness of normal bodily functions, and a change in the nervous system communication between the brain and the GI tract. Abnormal movements of the colon, whether too fast or too slow, are seen in some, but not all, people who have IBS.

Irritable bowel syndrome has also known to develop after episodes of gastroenteritis.

It has been suggested that IBS is caused by dietary allergies or food sensitivities, but this has never been proven.

Bloating and distention may also occur from intolerance to dietary fats. Reflex-mediated small bowel gas clearance is more impaired by lipids (fat) ingestion in patients with irritable bowel syndrome versus patients without irritable bowel syndrome.

Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome may worsen during periods of stress or menses, but these factors are unlikely to be the cause that leads to development of IBS.

According to Ayurveda IBS develops due to derangement of digestive fire called ‘Agni’ which leads to the improper functioning of the colon. People which have n more of Pitta and vata (fire and air respectively) in their constitution are affected by this syndrome. As this is a disorder of function of colon and the digestive capacity overall, there is no organic damage in GI tract.

Stress per se has not been proved to cause IBS, but in people with IBS, the colon can be overly responsive to even slight conflict or stress. Stress makes the mind more aware of the sensations that arise in the colon, making the person perceive these sensations as unpleasant.

Some evidence suggests that IBS is affected by the immune system, which fights infection in the body. The immune system is affected by stress. For all these reasons, stress management is an important part of treatment for IBS.

For many people, careful eating reduces IBS symptoms. Before changing your diet, keep a note of the foods that seem to cause distress. Then discuss your findings with your doctor. You may want to consult a dietitian who can help you make changes to your diet. For instance, if dairy products cause your symptoms to flare up, you can try eating less of those foods. You might be able to tolerate yogurt better than other dairy products because it contains bacteria that supply the enzyme needed to digest lactose, the sugar found in milk products. Dairy products are an important source of calcium and other nutrients. If you need to avoid dairy products, be sure to get adequate nutrients in the foods you substitute, or take supplements.

In many cases, dietary fiber may lessen IBS symptoms, particularly constipation. However, it may not help with lowering pain or decreasing diarrhea. We recommend a diet with enough fiber to produce soft, painless bowel movements keeping flatulence to a minimum Vata predominant constitution are more prone to flatulence, so fibre is slowly introduced and herbs to negate the flatulent effect of fibre are also advised. Kitchen herbs that enhance the digestive capacity of the intestine like coriander seeds, dried ginger powder, asafetida, cumin seeds, fennel seeds are used with good results. Foods that decrease Vata and pitta help in most of the sufferers and can result in a permanent cure.

Tips for IBS Sufferers:

• Try to avoid trigger foods if any.
• Spicy and fried foods is to be avoided for better.
• Alcohol/tea/coffee should be kept to a minimum.
• Shift to green tea.
• Do stress management. Practice various techniques to control stress like pranayam, meditation etc.
• Take a decoction of corriander seeds and rind of Vilwa (Aegle marmelos fruit) twice a day.
• In many cases isapgul husk or psyllium husk taken in dose of 1 table spoon twice a day before meals with warm water helps to control the symptoms.