Irritable bowel syndrome is the most prevalent gastrointestinal issue in the world. The condition can make you experience painful diarrhea, abdominal cramps, constipation, gas, and bloating. However, you can get help from the Cypress irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) specialists offering effective treatments to help you manage your symptoms. But you might have to execute some lifestyle and diet changes to regain your normal intestinal function and lead a quality life.
Here are some compromises you can make to help you manage some IBS symptoms.
Eat Slowly
Sometimes how you eat can lead to gastrointestinal complications related to IBS. Please avoid eating hurriedly to allow time for digestion. Chew food thoroughly to ease digestion and ease some irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Also, eat to your full capacity only. Overeating could cause complications or make your IBS symptoms worse. When you eat slowly, you get the chance to monitor how you feel and track down the foods worsening your condition or those alleviating your symptoms. Evaluate how you feel after about an hour after eating and note any effects caused by different foods like abdominal pain, diarrhea, gaseous discomfort, or constipation.
Eat Small Meals Frequently
Medical experts advise you have small frequent meals instead of a few large meals. Eating too much will increase your risks for complications like abdominal pain or diarrhea. But eating small portions of food several times a day could help alleviate some of the IBS symptoms. It is not a must for you to stick with two or three meals a day, plan your day well to ensure you can eat more but take small portions of food.
Limit Your Intake of Gaseous Foods
Some foods are well known to cause gas which can worsen your IBS symptoms. Although some are vital components of your diet, you should incorporate them with moderation to avoid severe discomfort and gaseous pain. You should consult your provider about proportioning foods like broccoli, brussels sprouts, milk products, and cabbage. Additionally, foods like beans, whole grains, onions, lettuce, hard candy, carbonated drinks, and cauliflower should be taken in moderation.
Eliminate Food Triggers
Some foods are known to trigger IBS, and knowing what your triggers are could help you avoid the condition or improve your symptoms. Extra spicy or greasy foods can cause your symptoms to flare up and should be avoided. Also, drinks or foods with sorbitol or other artificial sweeteners can worsen your symptoms, and you should avoid them. Additionally, carbonated drinks, dairy products, pears, watermelon, fried food, pizza, soybeans, and cooked beans are common triggers to avoid.
Invest in a Gluten-free Diet
If you are used to a bread and grain products diet, you can try a gluten-free alternative. Your symptoms might improve when you take less gluten every day. But since gluten can also be found in other unexpected places, please ensure you read the labels carefully on your foods. But note that you might need to stick to a gluten-free diet for several weeks to get twice the results.
Try a Low FODMAP Diet
FODMAP nutrition can make your irritable bowel syndrome symptoms worse. Instead of taking the diet or certain sugars and carbs, you can opt. for peppers, kale, squash, and celery. FODMAP foods are not easily digested, and avoiding them could lift your symptoms.
Consult Dr. Bharat Pothuri, MD, FACG of GastroDoxs today to understand what you need to do about your irritable bowel syndrome. Dr. Pothuri will offer effective treatment options and advise on the lifestyle and dietary changes you can adapt to.