Irritable Bowel Syndrome- Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

The irritable bowel syndrome, also known as IBS is a functional bowel disorder linked to constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain and general discomfort. Its a popular disorder and researches show that up to 15% of the US population suffer from it. Some theories say that the irritable bowel syndrome is caused by stress, other state that a digestive infection is the reason for it. The biggest problem is that none of these theories is yet proven, which makes prevention and treatment very hard and unclear. Although there is uncertainty in how IBS should be treated, there are some things that could be done to make it easier to cope with, and of course some that should be avoided at all cost. I will start with something very important, something that might be considered the key to controlling the IBS symptoms.This "key" is your diet. Food affects the symptoms of IBS in a number of ways. First of all there are foods that can make your life easier, those are the foods you want to include in your diet: Fiber- soluble fiber is very important for people with irritable bowel syndrome, and the best sources for it are white rice, brown rice, psyllium husk, oat bran, corn grits, pinto beans, kidney beans, broccoli, carrots, apples, peaches, oranges, tangerine and grapefruit. Probiotics- sometimes referred to as a "friendly" bacteria, probiotics are thought to be beneficial for ones health thanks to the fact that it can suppress the growth of potentially harmful bacteria, improve the immune function, enhance the protective barrier of the digestive tract, and help the production vitamin K. You can find probiotics in the form of supplements or in foods such as yogurt, miso, tempeh, kefir and buttermilk. These are the two must haves in your diet, but what should you avoid? Now this list is a bit longer: Fatty and fried foodsrnFoods and drinks containing artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutesrnChocolaternMilk products, if you have a lactaose intolerancernAlcoholrnCaffeine rnSoda dinksrnFruits, if you have a fructose intolerance As I said food affects the symptoms of IBS in a number of ways. It is not only what you eat and what you don't. Size also matters, so even if you eat all the right things, if your meal is too big it will again trigger the symptoms. Eating also affects your ability to exercise and go out, and what is a normal life without these two? Its important to follow these rules if you intend to work out or go partying: Try to time your workouts so you exercise at the times when your intestines are quieter.rnAvoid eating two hours before exercise.rnAvoid caffeine or hot drinks before exercising. Both have the potential for speeding up contractions.rnAvoid eating fatty or gas-producing foods prior to exercise. Having a great diet and timing your meals is just half of what you need to do in order to have a normal life with IBS. Since stress is consider a major factor for the development of irritable bowel syndrome, avoiding it is something you should always do. Try having more fun with your activities and also try going to the spa or other relaxing things. Also exercising is known to relief stress, so make sure you do it often enough. For more information on the causes, symptoms and treatments of IBS make sure you check out Irritable Bowel Syndrome- Symptoms, Causes and Treatment Good Luck!