IBS is a condition that can cause lots of disruption to your daily life. If you’re living with IBS and are having a hard time finding relief from your symptoms, we offer some helpful tips here.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal condition that causes symptoms like cramping, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and gas. The exact cause of IBS is unknown; however, some researchers believe it’s the result of an overly sensitive immune system or colon.
Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for IBS. While one method might work for some people, it may not work well for others. Plus, there’s no medication you can simply take to reduce your symptoms.
Because everyone is unique and needs different things to relieve their IBS symptoms, our team at Newtown Gastroenterology with three locations in New York City – Elmhurst in Queens, Flatbush in Brooklyn, and Chinatown in Manhattan – has compiled some tips that you can try in order to find relief from your IBS.
Being careful about what you eat might simply mean ingesting more fiber and steering clear of dairy. We also generally recommend a low FODMAP(fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols) which have been shown in clinical studies to reduce IBS symptoms, however, that may not be enough for you.
Not only is it important to eat on a schedule, but it’s also important to keep track of when you have IBS symptoms and what foods you ate prior to the onset of those symptoms. This can help you narrow down what triggers your IBS flare-ups and avoid those foods.
Some common IBS triggers to be mindful of include beans, cabbage, alcohol, chocolate, and coffee. On the other hand, some foods that are safer include vegetables like carrots and cucumbers, fruits like grapefruit, artificial sweeteners, and maple syrup.
Studies have shown that some people who take probiotic supplements have found relief from their IBS symptoms. Probiotics are packed full of “good” microorganisms that help to balance the bacteria living in your gut.
There’s plenty of foods that are packed with probiotics if you don’t want to take a probiotic supplement. Yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, and miso are all great options for adding probiotics to your diet.
Research tells us that stress can not only increase your risk of developing IBS in the first place, but it can also worsen your IBS symptoms. There are many different things you can try in order to reduce stress.
The first thing you can try is mindfulness. Some things you can do in order to practice mindfulness include meditating, using a mindfulness app, going for a walk and looking at your surroundings, paying attention to your current physical circumstances, or imagining you’re in a place that brings you peace.
You can also try physically relaxing your body through visualization, deep breathing, or muscle relaxation.
If you’d like more information on how you can find relief from your IBS, don’t hesitate to contact our team to set up an appointment with us. You can do this over the phone or online today.
