| IBS is a very common disorder of the | | | | distress but one thing is certain: it |
| intestines recognized by the medical | | | | never causes permanent harm to the |
| community as a form of chronic | | | | intestines and does not lead to |
| gastrointestinal disorder. Though it | | | | intestinal bleeding or to a serious |
| produces no significant damage to the | | | | disease like cancer. Although the |
| lining of the intestinal walls, it | | | | symptoms of IBS can be controlled |
| causes a series of ongoing symptoms that | | | | through specific medication combined |
| greatly affects the patient's quality of | | | | with stress management, the best |
| life. Unlike many other conditions | | | | approach to this disorder is prevention. |
| affecting the colon, IBS is rather | | | | Some food types have a noticeable |
| tricky as nobody knows for sure what | | | | influence on the development of IBS and |
| causes it. Consequently, finding a cure | | | | also worsen the symptoms. Thus they may |
| is a very difficult thing to do and | | | | be viewed as potential causes of this |
| there is no guarantee that what cures | | | | syndrome. Avoiding such elements from |
| one patient will be effective for | | | | your daily diet will prevent flare-ups |
| another. There are several theories | | | | and ensure a more natural digestion. |
| about the causes of IBS. Some doctors | | | | Caffeine (found in tea, coffee and other |
| believe it develops due to the | | | | beverages), chocolate, alcohol and |
| inflammation of the stomach and | | | | carbonated drinks are known to trigger |
| intestinal linings; others consider it | | | | IBS. Another common cause of this |
| is caused by an overgrowth of Candida | | | | syndrome is red meat and so is fatty |
| (yeast that lives in the digestive | | | | fried food. Sugar and artificial |
| tract). A very popular theory casts the | | | | sweeteners like aspartame, as well as |
| blame on people's over-sensitivity to | | | | gluten, a protein found in barley, rye |
| different types of food but emotional | | | | and wheat, also play an important part |
| conflict or stress may sometimes trigger | | | | in the occurrence of IBS but nothing |
| this disorder or worsen its symptoms. As | | | | seems to beat dairy products and citrus |
| you probably know, the normal bowel | | | | fruits (including natural fruit juice), |
| function varies from person to person, | | | | which are top of the list for most |
| ranging from three stools a day to three | | | | people affected by IBS. Yet, there are |
| a week. Similarly, the symptoms may be | | | | many other consumers of such foods who |
| different - constipation in some | | | | never complain about feeling any |
| patients and diarrhoea in others (not to | | | | discomfort after drinking the usual cup |
| mention the possibility that both | | | | of milk before going to bed (or after |
| symptoms should occur alternatively, | | | | eating a much-longed for juicy orange on |
| which makes the situation even more | | | | a hot summer day). It all depends on the |
| annoying). Besides these frequent or | | | | individual sensitivity to certain types |
| infrequent bowel movements, the symptoms | | | | of food, which means that a |
| of IBS include abdominal pain and | | | | carefully-balanced diet from an early |
| cramping, gas, bloating and sometimes | | | | age will also prevent this syndrome from |
| even weight loss. In some cases symptoms | | | | striking later in life. |
| like anorexia nervosa, anxiety and | | | | Get help for your IBS and get tips and |
| depression make things much worse. IBS | | | | tricks to cure your irritable bowel |
| may bring about a lot of discomfort and | | | | syndrome. |