How to Choose a Diet for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is no fun! But take comfort knowing that you certainly are not alone, and you have nothing to be embarrassed about. Choosing a diet for IBS can be tough, because we all react differently to different types of things. Doctors can give you guidelines, but the key is to learn when your IBS flares up, and try to pinpoint what is causing it.

Instructions

1. Begin by writing down what you are eating, and when your IBS flares up. Treat this like keeping a journal for your digestive system. Do not leave anything out. If you had a half a cup of coffee, or a piece of chocolate, write it down. Also include the time of day, and how much stress you are feeling. Anxiety can sometimes aggravate IBS as much as food. So these notes will be a very important start.

2. Learn the typical IBS trigger foods. Foods that are high in fat, and certain animal products are the most difficult to digest. Red meat is pretty high on the list when it comes to foods that will aggravate your condition. So these are the first areas you should target to eliminate. This does not mean you cannot EVER enjoy foods that fall into this category. You just need to figure out what your body will tolerate. Let's say you enjoy a little bacon and eggs for breakfast. Try some turkey bacon and egg whites. If that does not satisfy your taste buds, try just one slice of bacon, and an omelette made of one egg white and one whole egg with the yolk. That one yolk will give you the color and flavor you crave. And leaving out the other yolk should help prevent aggravating your IBS.

3. Watch out for dairy products, too! Even if you are not lactose intolerant, these foods can aggravate your IBS. If you just love cheese, or cannot live without your milk in the morning, try light/low-fat cheese and skim milk. See if your body adjusts better to this. If it doesn't, you may have to choose alternatives such as soy milk.

4. Stay away from fried foods, especially in restaurants where you are not certain exactly how this food is being prepared. Some of the onion rings, fries and chicken are so deep friend, the grease will certainly aggravate your IBS. If you MUST have some sort of fried foods in your diet from time to time, experiment at home with light oils and see how your body reacts. Again, everyone with IBS reacts differently to certain things. You can also bake fries, onion rings and chicken and fish coated with bread crumbs. Get that same "crunch" you get with fried foods, without the oils that will aggravate your condition.

5. Avoid hot sauces and spicy food. This usually triggers a reaction in anyone with IBS. It may take some time to wean yourself off of this if you love adding the hot stuff! But your taste buds will change over time.

Tips & Warnings

• Always keep an open mind, and don't be afraid to try things in very small portions. If you really crave that one bite of red meat, take it. Just don't eat the whole thing until you are sure your body can handle it.

• Ask questions when you are ordering at restaurants. You are paying, so you have the right to know how your food is prepared, and the right to ask if the chef can put sauces on the side, among other things, to make sure you don't aggravate your IBS.

• Stick to that journal! Your body can adjust over time, and you may discover you can eat some of those IBS "trigger foods" that you love in very small portions.

• Maintain regular visits to your doctor to make sure you are doing the right things to keep your IBS under control.