Some of the symptoms of IBS include bloating, swelling, abdominal discomfort and diarrhea. But one of the most uncomfortable problems a sufferer can face is the symptom of constipation with irritable bowel syndrome.
For many people, changing diet can help with constipation symptoms, especially if the current diet is not tailored specifically to alleviate IBS symptoms.
One of the first actions for an IBS sufferer is to start a food and symptoms journal. This should be used to keep track of the foods you are eating, and the resulting symptoms experienced after eating that specific food.
This will help you identify which foods you are hypersensitive to. You should consider what you ate during the day, how much of each food you had, and the time you ate during the day, what symptoms you had and how long they lasted.
In general, most IBS sufferers will benefit from cutting out or reducing some or all of the following foods:
Foods that contain dairy products like cheese or ice cream
Chocolate
Alcohol
Carbonated drinks
Food high in fat
Coffee and other highly caffeinated drinks, including some sodas.
It is definitely worth keeping a watchful eye on the above foods if you do still include them in your diet, ensure you look for any symptoms you may develop after consumption.
The good news is there are some foods that can really help with constipation when you are suffering with IBS. Generally, it has been found that foods high in fiber can help the symptoms of constipation by softening the stools, bulking them up and making them easier to pass.
Foods high in fiber include bran, beans, cereal, fruit, bread and vegetables.
It is important that fiber is added to the diet slowly to allow the body and the digestive system to get used it. Adding fiber too quickly can cause bloating and gas and actually trigger IBS making your symptoms temporarily worse.
In addition to increasing the intake of fiber rich foods, there is also the option to take fiber supplements. These are usually taken as a tablet, or powder that is mixed with water. However, it is important to speak with your nutritionist, dietician or doctor beforehand to be sure that this treatment is suitable for your symptoms.
Taking regular exercise is a good way to alleviate constipation. It is recommended that you exercise (this can just be taking a brisk walk) at least three times per week. The body movement helps with the process of eliminating waste products.
Drinking about 6 to 8 glasses of water per day can help with constipation too, as allowing the body to stay hydrated improves the chance of better digestion.
Finally, try and reduce the size of the meals you eat, and eat more regularly. This can really help with the symptoms of IBS, including constipation, as smaller meals allows for more effective digestion of a meal, prior to adding an additional burden to the digestive system.
Continue reading to discover more about natural methods to relieve IBS symptoms, and sign up to our free ‘Relieve IBS’ newsletter below.
There are number of methods that can be employed to ease constipation with irritable bowel syndrome. We have touched on a few in this article. It is however key that you find out what is triggering your IBS bouts, and this is where you should start introducing changes your diet and lifestyle.
» left by good gal (1 year 37 days ago.)
yeah~ its pretty good and all the information is suffiecient. THe best part is that they tell us what food to eat and what's not good for digestion.. Its pretty good overall. Respond to this comment
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Article added to SearchWarp.com on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 View other articles written by Susan Reynolds(236)
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