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