Discomforts in the gastrointestinal tract can be frustrating, as they hinder your ability to carry on with life peacefully. One such disorder is Irritable Bowel Syndrome, commonly known by the acronym IBS. This chronic condition is a functional gastrointestinal health complication that adversely affects the lower gastrointestinal tract.
Though the syndrome isn’t easily distinguished by structural and metabolic infections, abnormalities, or disturbances, it leads to a significant impairment in a patient’s life. And the long-term abdominal pains resulting from the disorder can cause anxiety, depression, and hopelessness, thus disrupting a patient’s quality of life. Patients with the condition also report a more significant impairment than those who have asthma, gastroesophageal reflux, or migraines.
Is There a Cure for IBS?
For many years now, the underlying cure for this health complication has remained unclear. While there’s no cure for the disorder, some medications are available to alleviate the symptoms. Medical practitioners also confirm that there are certain medications and foods that worsen the condition. Fortunately, the recent research studies by various learning and medical institutions have led to an increased understanding of the syndrome. You can also check medicalprices.co.uk for more information on IBS.
One such mechanism is avoiding the below five foods. This avoidance will relieve the underlying symptoms and bring you significant relief:
Foods to Avoid
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Milk
Milk contains lactose, just like ice cream and cheese. Lactose causes bloating and the formation of gas, especially to people who are lactose intolerant. Research shows that 70% of adults globally don’t produce significant amounts of lactase to effectively break down the sugars in milk. Because of this, the small intestines fail to absorb lactose and, in turn, the undigested lactose proceeds to the body’s colon. Here, it results in the fermentation of bacteria and causes the formation of gas, thus worsening the symptoms of the syndrome.
Though many dairy products are considered to be culprits of the discomforts, yogurt is an exception. This is because yogurt contains bacteria that naturally break down lactose and, therefore, do not result in gassy symptoms. SIBO Survivor does a great job of explaining the benefits of IBS diets in detail.
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Carbonated Beverages
Carbonated beverages like seltzer and soda have lots of bubbles. These bubbles tend to produce a fizzy effect in your body’s lower gastrointestinal tract, so they’re best avoided. An alternative to this would be sticking to lactose-free milks or drinking pure water to quench your thirst. Instead of adding your favorite processed juicy drinks to this list of permitted drinks, you can opt for fruit- or veggies-drinks, which are not rich in fructose. Most patients do not know that even the processed juice contains some form of preservation gas that disturbs the GI tract.
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Foods Rich in Fructose
Commercially prepared foods like sweets and processed foods like soft drinks are typically rich in fructose corn syrup. Though this ingredient makes them a major culprit of IBS, they aren’t the only cause to blame for bloat. Surprisingly, it turns out that some of the very healthy and commonly-consumed foods like pears, apples, broccoli, and other dried fruits also have high quantities of these naturally occurring sugars. When the sugar is ingested, it triggers some similar adverse side effects like those of undigested lactose. Instead of eating such foods, you can eat fruits like berries, bananas, and citrus that do not contain too much fructose.
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Caffeine
Caffeine increases the likelihood of diarrhea, which is one main symptom of IBS. The caffeine triggers your gut to function quickly, hence increasing the mobility of the gut. Some of the high sources of caffeine could include cola drinks, coffee, chocolate, tea, and over-the-counter pills like Excedrin. While most patients tolerate caffeine consumption in modest amounts, it’s worth noting that limiting their caffeinated drink consumption to 2 or fewer cups/day will significantly relieve the disorder’s symptoms. However, if you’re particularly sensitive, you can try half strength, decaf coffee, or switch to tea, which has lower caffeine amounts than coffee.
- Chewing Gums
Sugar-free gums have artificial sweeteners like xylitol and sorbitol. These sweeteners cause diarrhea and result in more discomfort. Some of the other potential foods that can cause digestive discomforts include brussels sprouts, beans, cruciferous veggies like broccoli, and of course, some weight reduction and nutritional supplements.
Besides avoiding all these foods, patients are also advised to minimize the consumption of highly refined and processed foods. Alcohol, gluten, and insoluble fiber are no go zones!