Irritable Bowel Syndrome is caused by an inflammation or irritation of the intestines and  a good IBS diet eliminates the trigger foods that are most likely to trigger an abdominal pain  attack and includes the foods that soothe the gut and encourage regular bowel movements.

As a first step, it is well worth keeping a food diary to help identify the foods which worsen your IBS symptoms – before and after you make changes to your diet. Having notes to refer back to can help you and your doctor with future treatment plans including an IBS diet plan. Some medical authorities suggest following an elimination ibs diet as this can sometimes be helpful in identifying the food items to avoid in the future.

IBS Diet Treatment

Good IBS diet advice not only considers what and what not to eat but also how to and when to eat also avoid rushing and overloading your system with large meals which can only exacerbate stress on the condition.
Dietary advice for IBS can vary but the one point that the experts agree upon is the need to restrict and reduce fat intake.  The digestion of fat during the body’s digestive process is known to stimulate the gut, which is why it is considered to be a trigger food. You may well find that you have a general intolerance to fat or that only certain products and sources of fat trigger the bloating and pain of the abdominal cramps indicative of an irritable bowel attack. This is where an elimination diet can help identify the culprit food.

By eliminating all fats from your irritable bowel syndrome diet you can measure how much your condition improves and then reintroduce food types, one at a time, whilst monitoring the effect they have. You may well find that fatty meats and dairy cause constipation or diarrhoea whilst olive oil or other vegetable oils do not. There is no definitive guideline here the advice is simply that fat is a known irritant and it is up to you to identify which ones you tolerate best and how best to ensure better controlling of a potential spastic colon.

Fibre or fiber is another contentious food stuff. Early IBS diets advocated the use of a high fibre diet which many IBS sufferers will tell did nothing but make their symptoms worse. A distinction needs to be made between soluble and insoluble fibre.

IBS Diet Plan

Insoluble fibre has been proven to keep the colon healthy in that it encourages elimination of waste by a mechanical action – it cannot be digested or absorbed and it transits through the digestive tract swiftly. The problem is that it can irritate the gut and cause diarrhea which is the last thing an IBS sufferer needs.

Soluble fibre is still not digested by the body but the difference is that it does dissolve in water. Its effect on the gut is less scouring and irritating. In fact soluble fibre can add bulk to the waste that transits the gut, encouraging the retention of fluid in the waste, which makes bowel movements easier. This all encourages the peristaltic movement of the intestine to ease waste through the bowels without the telltale spasms and cramps usually experienced by IBS sufferers.

In addition to restricting fat intake and increasing soluble fibre in the diet, other foods to avoid are those which contain caffeine such as coffee, tea and chocolate. Alcoholic beverages and carbonated drinks. Increase water intake and be mindful of dairy products; eat frequently throughout the day dividing your food into smaller meals and avoid those foods you know cause gas and bloating.

The IBS treatment that works best for you will have elements that are personal to your digestive system. Keeping a food diary will help you make the best food choices for your IBS diet.

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