Irritable Bowel Syndrom (IBS) What Is It and How to Cure it
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a condition that affects the digestive system and approximately 10-15% of people in the world suffer from it. IBS affects individuals by altering their stomach because of repeated pain in the abdomen and changes in bowel movements. Painful symptoms such as: bloating, cramps, diarrhoea, constipation and gas can last from a few days, to weeks to months.
There is still no real cure for IBS, but lifestyle and diet changes have proven to significantly reduce its symptoms and ease chronic pain. People who suffer from IBS are therefore, highly recommended to follow a low FODMAP diet. FODMAP stands for: Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols that are short-chain carbohydrates and sugar alcohols that are not easily absorbed by the body, which result to cause severe abdominal pain and bloating.
Diets that include high quantities of these foods can lead to:
Abdominal Pain
Bloating
Constipation
Cramps
Diarrhoea
Nausea
IBS Symptoms
Abdominal pain is undoubtedly the most common symptom of this condition. The pain is usually felt in the upper, middle and lower abdomen.
Increased pain after eating, followed up by bloating.
Cramping and diarrhoea after eating.
Decreased tension and pain after any bowel movement.
Severe IBS can also lead to: muscle pain, general fatigue and tiredness, brain fog, low mood, insonnia, anxiety and depression.
TRIGGERS
Antibiotics
Food Intolerances
Lack of Sleep
Menstrual Period/ Pain
Poor Diet/ Large quantities of high FODMAP’s foods
Stress and Anxiety
IBS CAUSES AND MENTAL HEALTH
The real exact cause of IBS is still unknown. However, studies have proven that there is a strong correlation between the gut, the brain and the nervous system. Two of the main causes of IBS are in fact: gut dysbiosis (an imbalance in the gut bacteria), and high and constant levels of stress and anxiety. Not by chance, our brain that is linked to our gut, also known as our “second brain”, directly impacts our physiological processes such as: memory, learning and mood regulation.
Therefore, if we have an inflamed gut, we will inevitably have an altered and negative mood. As a matter of fact, the distress that this condition can cause to patients, may lead to forms of depression as some people suffer from so much pain that this in turn leads them to: cancel activities, stop going out as they know that they cannot enjoy a restaurant, avoid going to work and meet their friends as the chronic diarrhoea and constipation gives them strong feelings of discomfort and exhaustion. Many people also feel restless and easily irritable when living with IBS, as this condition can be mentally and physically exhausting, leading to conduct a lower quality of life because of the pain and discomfort that it can cause.
IBS TREATMENTSChanging your diet regime, will definitely play a key role in alleviating IBS symptoms. However, a change in your lifestyle will also allow you to feel a significant difference in your condition. Activities such as: yoga, meditation and physical activity if done on a daily or weekly basis, have proven to destress the mind and body and consequently, reduce bloating and cramping.
Breathing exercises and cognitive behavioural therapy, have shown to treat IBS and improve people’s way of living with this condition. When it comes to gut problems, the mind the body and the soul must all be aligned to work properly as our gut is our second brain, and it will therefore, inevitably feel all of our emotions and feelings.
In most severe cases, IBS can be treated with specific medications that will have to be prescribed from your local doctor, to help relieve pain such as: antispasmodics. Other quick fixes that should be considered while having strong IBS flare ups, focus on avoiding direct triggers such as: caffeinated beverages, alcohol, specific foods (fried, spicy and high FODMAP foods).
Hot tubs and warm heating pads have also proven to release and ease tension in the stomach quite instantly. Natural remedies such as: acupuncture, daily probiotic intake and chamomile and peppermint tea have also shown to decrease IBS flare up symptoms.
FoodS to avoid WHEN YOU HAVE IBS SYMPTOMS AND FLARE UPS are
Animal Based Proteins
Cow’s Milk
Cheese (some of them)
Kefir
Ice-Cream
Yogurt
Sausage
Cereals
Barley
Cereals
Cous Cous
Kamut
Noodles (made from wheat)
Rye
Wheat
Dried Fruits
Cashews
Pistachios
DRINKS
Alcohol
Caffeine
Carbonated Drinks
Goat Milk
Kombucha
Oat Milk (up to 30ml is low in FODMAP, 125 ml is high in FODMAP)
Tea (some of them)
Fruits
Apples
Apple Juice
Apricots
Blackberries
Cherries
Figs
Goji Berries
Grapefruit
Mango
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Prunes
Raisins
Watermelon
Plant-based proteins
Baked Beans
Butter Beans
Chickpeas
Kidney Beans
Legumes
Lentils
Soybeans
Vegetables
Artichokes
Asparagus
Avocado (half avocado is considered high in FODMAP but 1/8 of avocado is considered low FODMAP. This means that if you are having severe IBS it is recommended to avoid avocados, but if you are not currently inflamed, a small portion of avocado on a weekly basis should not alter your gut).
Baked Beans
Beans
Beetroot
Broccoli
Black Beans (boiled and canned)
Brussel Sprouts
Cauliflower
Cabbage
Garlic
Hummus
Kidney Beans
Leeks
Lentils
Mushrooms
Peas
Onions
Shallots
Sweet Corn
FOODS TO INCLUDE WHEN LIVING WITH IBS AND WANT TO AVOID FLARE UPS ARE
ANIMAL BASED PROTEINS
Beef
Blue Cheese
Brie
Camembert Cheese
Cheddar
Chicken
Cottage Cheese
Feta Cheese
Ghee
Goat Cheese
Eggs
Lamb
Parmesan Cheese
Prawns
Salmon
Scallops
Seafood
Trout
Turkey
Tuna
White Fish
CEREALS
Basmati Rice
Brown Rice
Black Rice
Buckwheat
Corn Pasta
Corn Flour
Gluten Free Pasta
Millet
Oats
Polenta
Quinoa
Red Rice
Rice Noodles
Rice Cakes
Rice Crackers
Soba Noodles
White Rice
DRIED FRUITS
Almonds (up to 10 almonds are considered low FODMAP, 20 or more result high in FODMAP)
Brazil nuts
Macadamia Nuts (up to 20)
Hazelnuts
Peanuts (up to 32)
Pecans (up to 10)
Pine Nuts (1 tablespoon)
Sesame Seeds (1 tablespoon)
Sunflower Seeds (2 tablespoons)
DRINKS
Almond Milk
Coconut Milk
Hemp Milk
Lactose- Free Milk
Peppermint Tea
Soy Milk (made from soy bean protein is low FODMAP, whole soy bean milk is high in FODMAP)
Rice Milk
fruits
Cranberry
Cranberry Juice
Lemons
Limes
Lemonade (homemade with no sugar)
Mandarin
Orange
Papaya
Passion Fruit
Pineapple
Raspberry
Strawberries
PLANT-BASED PROTEINS
Tofu
Tempeh
VEGETABLES
Bean Sprouts
Butternut Squash
Carrots
Celery
Chives
Chicory Leaves
Cucumbers
Edamame (up to 90g per serving)
Eggplant
Endive
Ginger
Kale
Pack Choi
Parnship
Pumpkin
Rocket Salad
Seaweed
Snow Peas
Spinach
Sweet Potato
Tomato
Tomato Sauce
Watercress
Zucchini
IBS FRIENDLY RECIPES